What we heard: Stories from people navigating New Jersey’s food aid system
From operating hours to pantry inventory, area residents share their experiences and suggestions for New Jersey’s food aid system.
In Essex County and New Jersey, at least one in nine people don’t have enough food each week. To meet their needs, residents turn to a network of food pantries and soup kitchens to put food on the table.
The Jersey Bee spoke to food pantry guests from across East Essex County to help us understand and report on food accessibility. Six pantry guests shared their experiences navigating New Jersey’s $168 million network of food pantries and providers, from the kinds of food they received to the changes they hope to see.
Anonymous, Essex County resident
On pantry inventory – “They don’t give us a lot of meat or chicken. There’s very little. They give us cans and cans and cans. Spaghetti and a few vegetables. But they give us very little meat.”
On food she’d like to receive – “Meats, pork chops, fish, stew. But it’s our lot to make do with what we have right now.”
On how food insecurity affects her – “If you don’t have work, it’s hard to get food. I’m here by myself. So when there’s no work, I go look for places with food because food is the most important thing you need to live, so I’m so grateful for what they give us here.”
Anonymous, Orange resident
On pantry hours – “They don’t work out with my work hours. Most of the pantries are early morning and that’s the time I work, so whenever I can, I go because right now it’s not easy. I’m a single mom of two boys, so I do have to go.”
On pantry inventory – “Most of the food they give out is not the food we’re used to eating. It’s a lot of canned food, but it’s not food that we’re used to. Sometimes, whatever I don’t use, I just pass it along.”
On foods she’d like to receive – “Fresh fruit. Vegetables. Meat.”
Anonymous, Irvington resident
On dietary accommodations – “My mom has a lot of allergies. She’s lactose intolerant. She’s allergic to seafood. She is allergic to eggs and a bunch of things, and she’s gluten-free. So a lot of the food that we do get, a lot is processed…When I asked them [at the pantry], they’re confused. Like: ‘What is that? What does that mean?’”
On overall pantry experience – “I’m surprised the lines are crazy long. They’re unorganized. You know, standing hours in the cold. It’s awful.”
On pantries by neighborhood – “There isn’t enough good, healthy, quality food in the areas that I live in, and honestly my area of Irvington, because I’m [at] the border of Maplewood and Hillside, is little better. But I used to live towards Newark, and that was much more difficult.”
Anonymous, Newark resident
On pantry inventory – “They give good food here. Good food. Bananas, water, potatoes. It’s good stuff here…I’ve lived here for like 20 years. I’ve been here a lot of years.”
Anonymous, Bloomfield resident
On overall pantry experience – “Approximately 20 minutes in line. When I travel to the mini outside food pantries, it’s usually when I’m heading to that area. I don’t make specific trips since it can be empty at times.”
On pantry inventory – “I appreciate their amazing efforts to help the community, but at times the offerings aren’t of quality, so my personal selections are slim. Everyone is always very friendly and courteous. It’s a great option, which helps out tremendously. I’m very thankful.”
Anonymous, Brooklyn resident who traveled to Newark
On finding food as a newly arrived migrant – “When we arrived, it was really hard. Really hard. We didn’t know anything, and as you know, there are very few people who pass on information. They say ‘They’re giving food over here or go over there.’ There are very few people who help us with that information.”
On what would make it easier to access food – “It would be helpful if they [would] distribute flyers so that way people can learn what [is available] here. Because it’s impossible. There are very few people who tell the community [about these resources.]”
On food they’d like to see – “What would we like? Ecuadorian food. (laughs) But no, it’s a really good resource because they help us out so much. We accept what they give us with humility. I wouldn’t be able to say I need more because it would just be egotistical of me. What they give is really good.”
Share your experience navigating food access
We’d love to hear from you! People who’ve received food assistance, food aid organizers, and food security advocates are welcome to complete this form (or find it below) to help guide our reporting.
You can also send stories, tips, or other information you’d like to share to Kimberly Izar at kimberly@jerseybee.org.
The images throughout this article were licensed through Canva.
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