According to Feeding America,

1 in 9 New Jerseyans are facing hunger.

NEEC provides immediate assistance to those in need with The Free Little Food Pantry program.

The Free Little Food Pantry program provides shelf-stable groceries 24/7 to meet the immediate food needs of the local community. While it began in response to the increased need for food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has continued to grow, and now there are pantries across Montclair, East Orange, Bloomfield, Clifton, and Cedar Grove. Pantries are stocked by volunteers to help their neighbors in need.

The program is sustained by individual donations.

Through food donations, food drives, and monetary contributions, NEEC volunteers keep the pantries stocked. The program exemplifies the strength of grassroots community action. Providing accessible food resources and opportunities for neighbors to help one another feeds individuals but also nourishes the spirit of community and mutual support.

The impact of this program demonstrates both the great need as well as the community’s willingness to help. In 2024 alone, the program distributed more than 380,000 pounds of canned and dry food. For 2025, the expectation is to reach 270,000 pounds, bringing the total to an impressive 1.3 million pounds distributed over five years. These numbers reflect not just the scale of need, but the power of community action in meeting it.

Free Little Food Pantry Hosts

We are grateful to the faith-based organizations, businesses, schools, and individuals who play host to the Free Little Food Pantries, which are open 24/7.

Free Little Food Pantry Locations:

• Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad Street (front yard garden), Bloomfield
• Brookdale Reformed Church, 10 Bellevue Avenue, Bloomfield
• Community Church Cedar Grove, 65 Bowden Road (front yard), Cedar Grove
• 106 Viola Avenue (front yard), Clifton
• Church of The New Covenant, 343 Dodd Street, East Orange
• Bnai Keshet Reconstructionist Synagogue, 99 South Fullerton Avenue (Hawthorne Place side of the building), Montclair
• Congregation Shomrei Emunah, 67 Park Street, Montclair
• First Congregational Church, 40 South Fullerton Avenue (front yard lawn), Montclair
• Grace Presbyterian Church, 135 Grove Street, Montclair
• Our Lady of Mt Carmel, 94 Pine Street, Montclair
• Renaissance School, 176 North Fullerton Avenue, Montclair
• St. James Episcopal Church, 581 Valley Road, Upper Montclair
• St. Paul Baptist Church, 119 Elm Street, Montclair
• Trinity Temple, 115 Greenwood Avenue, Montclair
• Tommy’s Laundromat, 84 Maple Avenue, Montclair
• Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, 67 Church Street (end of driveway), Montclair

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US AT: info@NEEarth.org.