Cape-Atlantic Food Banks Offer Help Ahead Of SNAP Pause

SOUTH JERSEY — As the government shutdown continues and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits won't go out Nov. 1, those in need can explore multiple local food banks who are offering assistance.

The Community FoodBank Of New Jersey, which has a pantry in Egg Harbor Township, is preparing for even more customers. The group has its own food pantry, along with supplying item to other pantries in South Jersey. Atlantic County has about 32,000 SNAP recipients.

"At CFBNJ, we’re preparing for a surge in need — because hunger doesn’t wait for paychecks or politics," the food bank shared on Facebook. "Please join us in standing with federal workers and families across the state. Donate, volunteer, and advocate for solutions that keep food on every table."

And in Cape May County, officials approved emergency funding for food pantries just before the SNAP pause goes into effect. The Cape May County Board of County Commissioners voted on Oct. 28 to authorize $112,000 in emergency funding to support local food pantries that serve thousands of county residents in need. More than 4,000 households in the county rely on SNAP each month, officials said.

“We will not stand by while the most vulnerable families in our community are left behind,” Board Director Leonard C. Desiderio said following the vote. “This is a stop-gap measure, not a substitute for the federal safety net that SNAP provides.”

The funding will be equally divided between the following:

• Wildwood / Lazarus House
• Lower Township / Seashore Community Church
• St. Barnabas
• Cape May / Cape May Food Closet
• Dennis / Woodbine, St. Vincent de Paul
• Ocean / Upper, St. Peter’s Methodist
• Bethel Commandment

“Every day this crisis persists, more Cape May County residents face the very real choice between putting food on the table and paying other essential bills. This is not a partisan issue; it is a human one,” Desiderio said.

Nationally, more than 62 percent of nearly 41.7 million SNAP participants are in families with children; 37 percent are in families with members who are older adults or disabled; and more than 38 percent are in working families, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The analysis of USDA Food and Nutrition Service data by the non-partisan research group that focuses on federal and state policies to reduce poverty and inequality also shows that 827,200 New Jersey residents, that’s 9 percent of the state population (1 in 11), depend on benefits to keep food on the table.

Those who are in need can visit these local food pantries. For those who aren't in need, these spots may also be in need of donations and volunteers. Check with each food pantry for individual needs.

Atlantic County

• Community FoodBank of NJ (6735 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Twp.)
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Appointment required, call 908-838-4981. Walk-ins welcome on Saturdays.
• Jewish Family Service (607 N. Jerome Ave., Margate)
  • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 609-822-1108 x 170
• Way Corporation (22 Lake Place, Pleasantville)
  • Every third Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • 609-412-7288
• AtlantiCare Pantry at the Plex (1401 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City)
  • Thursday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 609-441-8997
• Beacon Church Hope Chest (420 6th Ave., Galloway)
  • Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • 609-748-0001
• Hope Exists Foundation
  • First Thursday of the month 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (1 Mt. Carmel Lane, Hammonton) and fourth Thursday of the month 10 a.m. at Langston and Tilton Road, Pleasantville
  • 609-910-3395
• Salvation Army Atlantic City (22 S. Texas Ave., Atlantic City)
  • Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • 606-344-0660
• St. Vincent de Paul Parish (5021 Harding Hwy, Mays Landing)
  • Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • 609-625-5105
• Sister Jean's Kitchen (108 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Atlantic City)
  • Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • 609-236-8353
• Atlantic Cape Family Support Organization (950 Tilton Road Suite 108, Northfield)
  • Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • 609-992-4478
• Main Street Food Pantry (6011 Main St., Mays Landing)
  • First four Wednesdays of the month, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • ID required. 609-625-9446
• Catholic Charities (9 N. Georgia Ave., Atlantic City)
  • First and third Tuesday of the month, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • 609-345-3448
• No1hungryinEHC (233 Philadelphia Ave., Egg Harbor City)
  • Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., third Saturday of the month 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • 609-965-3890

Cape May County

• Catholic Charities (1304 Route 47 S. Unit C1, Rio Grande)
  • Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • 609-886-2662
• Ocean City Community Food Pantry (821 Central Ave., Ocean City)
  • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Must fill out a form and prove Ocean City residency. 609-525-9288
• Lazarus House (Burke and Pacific Avenues, Wildwood)
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • 609-522-1500
• Seashore Community Church (446 Seashore Road, Cape May)
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • ID is required, see details here. 609-886-6196
• Saint Barnabas By-the-Bay Church (13 West Bates Ave., Villas)
  • Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 609-886-5960
• Cape May Community Food Closet (500 Hughes St., Cape May)
  • Distribution twice a month, see schedule here
  • 609-600-7715
• Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish
  • Resurrection Church (200 Tuckahoe Road, Marmora) first and third Wednesdays, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Upper Township families only
  • Saint Casimir Church (304 Clay St., Woodbine) Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Dennis and Woodbine families only
• The Ecumenical Council of Ocean City (501 E. 8th St., Ocean City)
  • Monday and Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • 609-398-3191

This article contains additional reporting by Sarah Salvadore.