New Jersey’s five food banks celebrated the first graduating class of Growing Healthy
Pantries earlier this month, honoring 17 local food assistance organizations that spent
the past year reworking how they serve their communities.
The ceremony, held at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, capped a program that gave
each participating pantry up to $20,000 last summer to fund improvements —
renovations, better accessibility, and a shift toward full-choice shopping models that let
visitors pick their own food rather than receive prepackaged boxes. Grant recipients
then spent a year in a peer-learning “community of practice” run by the food banks,
sharing what worked and identifying further improvements.
Jenny Schrum, director of research and evaluation for the New Jersey Office of the
Food Security Advocate, delivered the keynote.
Elizabeth McCarthy, CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, one of the
initiative’s five partner food banks, said the initiative helps to refocus the narrative on
food banks.
“At the heart of Growing Healthy Pantries is the belief that food pantries should be
places of empowerment,” she said. “This year’s community of practice members — the first cohort to complete the program — dedicated their time, energy, and creativity to
strengthening food access and creating better experiences for the communities they
serve.”
Growing Healthy Pantries launched in 2022 as a joint effort of the Community
FoodBank of New Jersey, Food Bank of South Jersey, Fulfill, Mercer Street Friends and
Norwescap, funded by Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Feeding America, ADP,
Goodman, Holman, Johnson & Johnson, NJPAC, North to Shore Festival, Stop & Shop, Valley Bank and Wakefern Food Corporation.
The graduating pantries span the state, from Bessie Green and HomeFront to the
Salvation Army chapters in Bridgeton and organizations in Newark, Camden, Toms
River and the Jersey Shore. A second cohort of 18 organizations — concentrated in
Passaic, Newark, Trenton and South Jersey — has already been selected for the next
round.
Randall West, CEO of Mercer Street Friends, said the impact of food banks cannot be
overstated.
“Healthy, nourishing food is the foundation of healthy communities,” he said. “Mercer
Street Friends is thrilled to be part of this transformative statewide effort, helping
pantries across Mercer County and New Jersey create welcoming spaces where
healthy foods are accessible and every neighbor can choose what best meets their
family’s needs.
“Together with Horizon, Feeding America, our corporate partners, and New Jersey’s
food banks, we are building a stronger, healthier future for the communities we serve.
This initiative shows what is possible when partners unite around a shared vision. We
congratulate this year’s Community of Practice members on laying the groundwork for future cohorts.”
Growing Healthy Pantries is made possible by funding from Horizon Foundation for New
Jersey, Feeding America, ADP, Goodman, Holman, Johnson & Johnson, New Jersey
Performing Arts Center, North to Shore Festival, Stop & Shop, Valley Bank and
Wakefern Food Corporation.
The graduating organizations included:
- Bessie Green – Newark
- Better Tomorrows – Camden
- Bridgeton Union Baptist Temple Pantry- Bridgeton
- Church of Grace and Peace – Toms River
- Community Presbyterian Church – Brigantine
- Fish Inc. – Piscataway
- Holy Redeemer Food Pantry – Swainton
- HomeFront – Lawrenceville
- Jewish Family Service of Atlantic County – Margate
- Jewish Family Service of Central Jersey – Elizabeth
- Mercy Center, Fulfill – Asbury Park
- New Hope Ministries – Delran
- The Outreach Connection Food Pantry – Washington Twp.
- Project Self-Sufficiency – Newton
- RISE – Hightstown
- Salvation Army – Bridgeton
- St John United Methodist Church – Fairfield Township
The next cohort of Growing Healthy Pantries grant recipients and community of practice
members was recently selected and includes the following organizations:
- Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children – Paterson
- Father English Emerg. Food Pantry – Paterson
- Spanish Community Center – Landisville
- Greater New Point Missionary Baptist Church – Irvington
- Chances @ MCC Emergency Food Pantry – Newark
- William Paterson University – Wayne
- United Passaic Organization – Passaic
- United Community Corporation – Newark
- The Food Brigade Inc. – Clifton
- The Salvation Army – Passaic
- Catholic Charities – Phillipsburg
- Panther Valley – Hackettstown
- Our Lady of Guadalupe – Lakewood
- HABcore – Oceanport
- Beacon of Hope – Mount Holly
- Glorious Light Christian Ministries – Paulsboro
- Alliance Restoration Center – Hamilton – Mercerville
- Mother Estelle Clark Food Pantry @ Bible Way Cathedral of Deliverance –
Trenton
To learn more about Growing Healthy Pantries, visit growinghealthypantries.com
