2025 Foodstock
Even before any disaster or crisis hits, food security can be a significant issue for ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families and those in poverty. ALICE was already navigating life without a safety net and was one crisis away from financial despair. The government shutdown and suspension of SNAP (food assistance) benefits is that crisis, creating a significant increase in food insecurity while pantries are already at capacity and experiencing shortages.
In response to this impact of the SNAP emergency, United Way is taking action and encouraging people and groups to collect needed items for local food banks/pantries. While Foodstock is a year-round project, we are strongly promoting its expansion during this critical timeframe, given the critical need right now. This will help ensure ALICE and poverty-level households have enough food while the SNAP program is on hold.
How to Help
Please sign up to support local food banks/pantries by running a collection drive or contributing food to YOUR local pantry.
To sign up, respond as an individual or as a team using the buttons to your right. Submit your name and email address—all other requested information is optional—and that’s it!
Once you’ve registered, please check out food pantry information and the types of foods most needed right now in the following counties:
Somerset County: Somerset County Emergency Food Box Needs (Food Assistance | Somerset County)
Morris County: Donate Food - Interfaith Food Pantry Network
Sussex County: food-pantry-update.pdf
Warren County: Food Bank
Essex County: Essex-County-Food-Pantries-pdf.pdf
You can also check out the Foodstock flyer, which contains all you need to get started such as a list of participating pantries in our five-county region, needed pantry items, and ideas for getting others involved in this effort.
Please make sure to connect directly with the local food pantry you plan to deliver your food donations to in advance of going there. Also, please consider making a financial donation to your local pantry to support their efforts to help your neighbors in need.
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of struggling families, children, seniors and those with disabilities in need of food throughout northern New Jersey!
