Marking the largest hunger-relief investment in its history, the FirstEnergy Foundation has awarded $1.3 million in grants to 25 food banks and pantries across New Jersey in recognition of Hunger Action Month.
The funding is part of a broader $5 million regional initiative by the foundation to support nearly 150 organizations across six states and the District of Columbia. In New Jersey, the grants are projected to help provide more than 3.8 million meals for families, seniors, and children navigating food insecurity in communities served by Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L).
Feeding America data indicates that over 1.2 million New Jersey residents—roughly 13% of the state’s population, including one in six children—experienced food insecurity. To address this rising demand, the Foundation distributed grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 to a diverse network of regional partners.
The FirstEnergy Foundation awarded grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 to the following 25 New Jersey organizations:
- A Need We Feed – Serving Ocean County (First-time recipient)
- Bradley Food Pantry – Serving coastal Monmouth County
- Community FoodBank of New Jersey – Serving Essex, Morris, Passaic, and Union Counties
- Feeding Middlesex County – Serving Middlesex County
- Food Bank Network of Somerset County – Serving Somerset County
- Freehold Area Open Door – Serving central Monmouth County (First-time recipient)
- Fulfill – Serving Monmouth and Ocean Counties
- Hands of Hope for the Community – Serving Middlesex County
- The Helping Hand Food Pantry – Serving Monmouth and Ocean Counties (First-time recipient)
- Hope House Food Pantry – Serving Morris County
- Interfaith Food Pantry Network – Serving Morris County
- Interfaith Neighbors – Serving coastal and southern Monmouth County
- Jersey Shore Dream Center – Serving coastal Monmouth County
- Lacey Township Food Bank – Serving Ocean County
- Lunch Break – Serving northern and coastal Monmouth County
- Mercy Center – Serving coastal and southern Monmouth County
- N.J. Rise – Serving Mercer County
- Nourish Asbury Food Pantry (operated by Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Monmouth County) – Serving coastal Monmouth County
- nourish.NJ – Serving Morris County
- Norwescap – Serving Hunterdon, Sussex, and Warren Counties
- Project Self-Sufficiency – Serving Sussex County
- Salvation Army Dover Corps – Serving Morris County
- Somebody C.A.R.E.S. – Serving Ocean County
- Table of Hope – Serving Morris County
- Trinity Center For Community – Serving Monmouth County
