Murphy Mobilizes National Guard To NJ Food Banks

Governor Phil Murphy has deployed the New Jersey National Guard to support food banks, as many families continue to go without Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits.

"The Trump Administration’s failure to fund SNAP benefits has left hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents feeling scared and unsure of where their next meal will come from," said Murphy.

On Monday, the Air National Guard mobilized to deliver refrigerated storage containers to the Community Foodbank of New Jersey and Fulfill, enhancing the cold storage capacity at critical hubs for emergency feeding organizations.

"When our neighbors are in need, the New Jersey National Guard stands ready to serve," said Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays, The Adjutant General of New Jersey and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

SNAP, which provides food assistance to more than 827,000 New Jerseyans and around one in eight people nationwide, was set to pause this past Saturday amid the government shutdown, which just hit day 34 on Monday.

Of the more than 800,000 New Jerseyans who rely on SNAP to meet their basic nutritional needs, almost half are children, one in three are individuals with a disability, and one in five are over the age of 60.

"The ongoing lapse in SNAP benefits will make it difficult or impossible for these residents to obtain nutritional assistance and, as a result, they may go hungry," according to Murphy's release.

On Friday, two federal judges ordered that the Trump Administration, specifically the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), tap into funds to keep the program afloat. The administration previously said it had no plans to tap into the billions of dollars in contingency funds before the rulings.

On Monday, the Trump Administration announced it will partially fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through November. Read More: SNAP Benefits Partially Restored: What It Means For NJ

At this time, November federal benefits are not yet available to New Jersey families. The U.S. Department of Agriculture must take further action to effectuate the distribution of the contingency funds so that they can become available to recipients.

The State anticipates continued gaps in access as a result of these delays caused by the federal government, and will continue to provide updates about when SNAP benefits will be issued.

Even before the SNAP issues, local food pantries felt the strain. Steve Katz, Executive Director of The Food Bank Network of Somerset County, said the number of clients visiting the 501(c)3 nonprofit food bank has been rapidly growing and "will only get worse."

To put it in perspective, in 2021, the food bank had 12,000 client visits. In 2023, that number jumped to 27,000 client visits. In 2024, the food bank saw more than 32,000 visits. This marks a 166 percent increase from 2021 to 2024. Read More: Somerset County Food Bank Sees 166% Increase In Demand, Fundraiser Launched To Help Hungry

SNAP food assistance recipients should check their accounts at NJFamiliesFirst.com; call 800-997-3333; and visit njsnap.gov or nj.gov/snapshutdown for updates on the status of their SNAP benefits.

A number of pantries offer fresh produce in addition to stable, non-perishable foods, shopping appointments, and information about additional services. To locate food pantries and community kitchens, residents should check out NJ 211 here.

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