Community Corner
Hunger-relief nonprofit The Food Brigade launches online pantry
Bergen-based charity implements Instacart-like solution to feed the hungry and food insecure in North Jersey
DUMONT, N.J. - The Food Brigade Inc., one of the largest hunger-relief operations in northern New Jersey, has launched an online pantry system to assist local residents who are dealing with food insecurity.
The organization's new online shopping portal allows those in need to self-enroll as clients, place orders from the storefront's available inventory items, and schedule appointments to pick up their food orders.
"It's extremely easy for our clients to use," said Karen DeMarco, President of The Food Brigade. "We wanted people in need to be able to do their own pantry shopping online, just like Instacart. Our online pantry even allows clients to tailor their food order to any dietary restrictions their family may have."
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The online pantry includes such features as a distribution calendar, individual appointment scheduling, and a self-service kiosk.
The system assigns scannable UPC bar codes to clients, so they can quickly be checked in upon visiting The Food Brigade's pantry and food distribution events.
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Clients can choose from a variety of languages to automatically translate the storefront items to match their native language.
DeMarco added, "Rather than having to settle for what they might receive in area bulk food distributions, local people in need will now be able to order the items they specifically want from our available inventory. This will give those who come to us for help greater food choices. It will hopefully also give them an increased feeling of autonomy and self-determination in the process of receiving charity assistance. At The Food Brigade, we want to be able to provide sustenance not just to the body, but to the heart and soul as well."
The Food Brigade Inc. is a New Jersey nonprofit corporation and registered 501(c)(3) tax exempt public charity. Based in Dumont, The Food Brigade is a Partner Agency of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, and Table to Table. It distributed over 2.3 million pounds of food between October 1, 2020 and July 1, 2021. To learn more about The Food Brigade, visit https://foodbrigade.org
