The Food Brigade offers several types of free assistance to New Jersey residents, including:
- In-person "client choice" Community Markets, which offer refrigerated, frozen, perishable, and non-perishable food items, plus personal care items (shopping is by appointment);
- Diapers (infant & adult) and diaper wipes, as available (for registered food clients);
- Period supplies, as available (for registered food clients); and
- Thanksgiving Distribution Program (November).
HOW TO REQUEST HELP
FIRST, YOU MUST QUALIFY: A participant in one or more local state or federal programs at or below the income threshold established by the state agency for TEFAP eligibility will automatically qualify for TEFAP USDA foods. To qualify for assistance, you must fall within at least one of the following three categories:
- Low income - SELF DECLARATION (185% of Poverty - see the schedule below)
- Existing local, state, or federal program participant (example: WIC)
- Disaster (other - can be divorce, domestic violence, unusual expense, loss of employment) (explanation required)
SECOND, YOU MUST BECOME REGISTERED: If you qualify, you may then apply to become registered with us. Our food distributions are for registered clients only, by appointment. If you satisfy at least one of the above three qualification criteria, you can request to receive a registration form by contacting us at https://forms.gle/2LEsw71k1yfVQQ8RA. We will then respond to you with information about our registration process. (NOTE: the contact form is not registration, it is merely the first contact, like calling us on the phone to inquire.)
QUESTION: "WHAT TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED?" Since we service only New Jersey residents, you may be asked at your first visit to show us some proof of New Jersey residency - such as your New Jersey driver's license, utility bill or bank statement bearing your name and address, etc. You do NOT have to provide us with paperwork showing proof of income, proof of enrollment in a government benefits program, or other official documentation.
VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS IN ENGLISH:
VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS IN SPANISH:
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: Can I just walk in to one of your locations and receive food?
A: No. We provide food assistance to qualified and registered clients only, who schedule appointments in our online scheduling system to visit us during our hours of operation.
Q: How do I know if I qualify for assistance?
A: You are eligible for assistance if you fall within one of our three qualification grounds, which are listed above on this page.
Q: Once I'm registered, how long can I continue to receive food?
A: You must register with us once a year. Eligibility to receive food from us lasts for a period of one year only.
Q: How do your food distributions actually work?
A: We operate free Community Markets, where our clients shop for themselves in a grocery-store setting. We do not hand out prepacked food bags, boxes, or crates. Our clients browse our markets and pick out the food they want.
Q: How often can I shop?
A: You can make appointments to shop every two weeks.
Q: How do I make an appointment?
A: Detailed information about how and when to make appointments is included in the introductory email that clients receive from us, which explains our procedures.
Q: Do I need to bring my own shopping bags?
A: Yes, you must bring your own shopping bags. We do not have bags to give you.
Q: I forgot to make an appointment, so can I just come in?
A: All food assistance is by appointment only, during designated time slots with a set number of families scheduled in each time slot. Since our appointment slots are already reserved by other clients, it is unfair for their shopping visits to be infringed upon by clients who failed to follow the appointment scheduling process as they did. Access to our facilities is restricted to existing clients who have appointments, staff and volunteers, and authorized guests only. Do not go to any of our facilities without an appointment or without advance authorization.
Q: I wanted to make an appointment during the scheduling period, but was unable to because I didn't have Internet service, or my phone/computer wasn't working. What should I do?
A: You must call us during the time frame that the online scheduler is open for the making of appointments for the location at which you shop; for example, before 11:59PM on Sunday night for Dumont, before 11:59PM on Tuesday night for Clifton, etc.
Q: I'm not sure whether I successfully made an appointment or not.
A: If you successfully completed the appointment scheduling process, you would have reached the Appointment Confirmed! barcode screen (which you are supposed to bring with you to your appointment). You should also have received an automated email through our scheduling system confirming your appointment date and time. If you do not have these, then you do not have an appointment.
Q: Am I only allowed to receive food from you if I live in the town where you are located?
A: No. We serve any qualified New Jersey resident who is able to come shop at our locations.
Q: I am receiving food from another food pantry. Does that mean I am unable to receive food from you, too?
A: No, it does not mean that. There are many people in need who use the services of more than one food pantry.
Q: Do you provide home delivery service?
A: No, we do not currently offer home delivery service to new clients.
Q: What if I am unable to get to your pantry, because I lack transportation, am homebound, or am at work during your market hours?
A: Any adult member of your household who is included in your registered account may do the shopping for your household. If there are no other adult household members who can do your shopping, we also have a proxy procedure, whereby you may designate another individual to do your shopping for you: please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to request a proxy form.
Q: I can't make it to my appointment. Can my relative or friend who also receives food from you pick up for me, too?
A: The only people who can pick up food for you are other adult members of your household, or your designated proxy of record.
Q: Am I allowed to shop in the market with my family members?
A: Your minor children may accompany you inside the market, but only one adult member per household is permitted in the market. This is to preserve the quality of the shopping experience for our clients, including avoiding overcrowding and potential security issues, and to maintain the equitable distribution of our food inventory.
Q: What if I am disabled? Can I have another adult in the market with me?
A: Yes. If you are disabled, you may be assisted by another adult in the market with you. Call us at 201-483-4488 in advance of your visit and we will make the necessary accommodations for you.
Q: Are your locations handicap-accessible?
A: Yes.
Q: I know someone else in need of food assistance. Can I bring them with me to my appointment?
A: No. Access to our facilities is restricted to existing clients who have appointments, staff and volunteers, and authorized guests only. If you know someone in need of assistance, direct them to this web page. If they do not have Internet access, they can call us at 201-483-4488.
Q: What type of documentation is required?
A: Since we service only New Jersey residents, you may be asked at your first visit to show us some proof of New Jersey residency - such as your New Jersey driver's license, utility bill or bank statement bearing your name and address, etc. You do NOT have to provide us with paperwork showing proof of income, proof of enrollment in a government benefits program, or other official documentation.
Q: Can I share the food I receive from you with other people outside of my own household?
A: No. You cannot redistribute the food that you receive from us. That includes giving that food to other food pantries. You should be taking only the food you need for your own household. Taking more food than you need in order to redistribute it to others is grounds for discontinuation of service.
Q: What should I do if I can't make it to my appointment?
A: You must immediately call us at 201-483-4488 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know if you cannot make it to your appointment, so that your appointment time slot can be made available to ANOTHER local family in need of food. Failure to come to a scheduled appointment without contacting us in advance is grounds for suspension of service.
Q: Which of your locations is the "best" for me to shop at?
A: All of our locations distribute virtually the same food inventory. We do not have one location that regularly has "better" or a greater variety of food than the others.
Q: Why do we have to follow rules to be able to receive food from you? I know of other pantries that don't have rules like you do.
A: Our rules and procedures exist to protect the interests of all of our clients as a whole; to secure equity in the provision of services; to ensure that only qualified and eligible New Jersey residents receive our services and resources; and to provide safe, dignified, and efficient food assistance operations for all, including our clients, staff, volunteers, and authorized visitors.
REFUSAL OF SERVICE
Our rules and procedures exist:
- To protect the interests of all of our clients as a whole and to secure equity in the provision of services;
- To ensure that only qualified and eligible New Jersey residents receive our services and resources; and
- To provide safe, dignified, and efficient food assistance operations for all.
Therefore, although our mission is charitable in nature, you may be refused services if:
- You do not qualify for assistance.
- You make untrue or inaccurate statements in your application or registration form, or otherwise provide untrue or inaccurate information, in connection with requesting or receiving services.
- You are abusive, harassing, or threatening toward our staff or volunteers, our clients, or others present at our facilities.
- You fail or refuse to follow our stated rules and procedures, or the instructions and direction of our staff or volunteers.
- You deliberately exceed permitted food quantities, or take food with the intent to distribute it to others who are not our registered clients (for example, to send to people in your country of origin).
- You fail to come to a scheduled appointment to receive food without directly contacting us in advance to let us know that you were unable to come (or if homebound/disabled, to be at home to accept delivery).
Click here for Non-Discrimination Statement.