A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Elizabeth, New Jersey distribute groceries to individuals or families who are in some form of an emergency situation.
There are also meals, free bags of food, personal toiletries and household goods for low to moderate income families from food pantries near you.
Distribution centers can include churches, non-profit organizations, community action agencies, and many other local charities as well as non-profits.
Salvation Army Food Pantry
The Salvation Army is dedicated to eliminating food insecurity.
The Salvation Army operates free local food banks around Elizabeth, New Jersey from almost all of their local social service centers. The charity organization is involved in feeding millions of families each year, with a large percentage of those assisted being children as well as the elderly.
We have located 2 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Elizabeth, New Jersey which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - Elizabeth Temple
Services provided :
- Bible Study - Correspondence
- Camping Activities
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Disaster Services
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Emergency Shelter
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Military Personnel Assistance
- Missing Persons
- Music & Arts Programs
- Residential Camping Activities
- Seasonal Services
- Senior Citizens Residences
- Visitation Services
- Women's Ministries
- Worship Services - Children's / Teen
- Worship Services - Church
- Worship Services - Sunday School
- Worship Services - Youth Ministries
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (908) 352-7057 to book your appointment.
Address :
1005 E Jersey St,
Elizabeth, NJ 07201.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Union
The Salvation Army - Austin Worship and Service Center
Services provided :
- Bible Study - Correspondence
- Camping Activities
- Casework Services
- Day Camp Activities
- Disaster Services
- Emergency Shelter
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Music & Arts Programs
- Seasonal Services
- Women's Ministries
- Worship Services - Children's / Teen
- Worship Services - Church
- Worship Services - Sunday School
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (507) 437-4566 to book your appointment.
Address :
409 1st Ave,
Elizabeth, NJ 07206.
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Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Union County
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Elizabeth, New Jersey have food pantries for those in their neighborhoods who are in need of food items.
Churches operate with food donations gathered and deliver to the food pantry nearest you by individuals using food drives.
Some churches also deliver food items to elderly who are unable to drive to a nearest community food pantry. Please contact your local church directly.
We have located 2 Church Food Pantry locations in Elizabeth, New Jersey which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Liberty Baptist Church - Food and Clothing Ministry
The Culinary Ministry and Kindness Kitchen consists of a faithful Assembly of God’s servants who possess a heart of compassion for those who lack life’s basic needs. A weekly feeding program provides physical nourishment and spiritual enrichment to encourage everyone in Christ. This ministry also offers clothing, toiletries and whatever other resources may be needed. In addition, we offer “Operation Warmheart†in conjunction with Social Services during the winter months to offer overnight shelter and food for the homeless.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (908) 354-3362 to book your appointment.
Address :
515-517 Court St,
Elizabeth, NJ 07206.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Elizabeth
Help Residents of Counties:
- Union
Mount Teman Church Food Pantry & Soup Kitchen
For 155 years, God has blessed Mt. Teman African Methodist Episcopal Church and the church has stood at the very center of life in Elizabeth’s African American community. This site provides a pantry and soup kitchen
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (908) 351-2625 to book your appointment.
Address :
160 Madison Ave,
Elizabeth, NJ 07201.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Elizabeth
Help Residents of Counties:
- Union
Catholic Charities Food Pantry
Resources provided by the Catholic Charity organization focus on addressing food, holiday, and immigration needs.
Families of all religions, backgrounds, and cultures can contact Catholic Charity centers for help.
Catholic Charities in Elizabeth, New Jersey are open to families on a first-come, first-serve basis. The centers operate during normal business hours, and provide walk-ins with groceries, food boxes, and items to prepare a meal.
The food pantries are like grocery stores, allow clients the ability to choose the items they need from the groceries that are available on site.
First-time clients of the food pantry will need to apply, and this is done from a one-page application. An applicant will need to provide basic household member as well as demographic information.
We have located 0 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Elizabeth, New Jersey which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Elizabeth, New Jersey almost entirely by volunteers.
It provides a 7-day supply of groceries and personal care items free of charge to people in need, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Helping Hands is supported entirely by donations from individuals, service organizations, churches, and businesses in our community.
Find a local helping hands food pantry open near you.
We have located 0 Helping Hand Food Pantry locations in Elizabeth, New Jersey which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Mobile Food Pantry
The mobile food pantry program distributes food directly to families in communities around Elizabeth, New Jersey in need during large-scale one-day distributions.
A typical mobile pantry serves 200-250 families distributing up to 10,000 pounds of food. This past year over 6.6 million pounds were distributed through this program.
Mobile food pantries usually visit churches, community centers, schools, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. They usually go to areas where there aren't grocery stores or other food pantries.
Mobile Food Pantry Schedule 2024
Unlike traditional food pantries where you go to them, mobile pantry trucks come to you. Food banks sometimes have an online mobile food pantry schedule.
Mobile food pantry scheduled to visit a community once a week or once a month. There may be last-minute cancellations or changes so recheck the mobile food pantry schedule before you plan to go.
We have located 0 Mobile Food Pantry locations in Elizabeth, Model.Content.StateName which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry operates around Elizabeth, New Jersey much like a grocery store where people in need can choose their own food. It helps to enhance their personal dignity and reduces waste due to unwanted food items.
It also helps them to be proactive in addressing any underlying health issues. This is our model of choice for food pantries in the future.
We have located 0 St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry locations in Elizabeth, New Jersey which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Food Pantry Delivery Program
Food Pantry Delivery Program delivers food and other products once a month at twenty points in around Elizabeth, New Jersey area. This makes it just a bit easier for some of more remote rural agencies to receive their products. About 70% of members take advantage of the Food Pantry Delivery Program.
Food Pantry
We have located 6 Food Pantry locations in Elizabeth, New Jersey which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
New York City Relief (NYCr)
The Relief Bus outreach consists of two former school buses now customized into mobile resource centers to help the poor and homeless. Friendly faces serve up a delicious, hearty vegetable soup that truly tantalizes the taste buds, fresh Portuguese rolls and hot chocolate or iced tea. People on the streets show up for the great food, but come away with so much more.
Staff and volunteers go out of their way to really LOVE people. Many people on the streets are in a hard place in life and need a friend- someone to talk to who will really listen. Visit the website for a full list of times and locations, as it is subject to change.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- personal hygiene
- meals
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (800) 736-2773 to book your appointment.
Address :
295 Walnut St,
Elizabeth, NJ 07201.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- New York
Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey - Food Pantry
JFS is the only Kosher Food Pantry in Union County. We provide a monthly non-perishable food package to eligible individuals and families.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (908) 352-8375 to book your appointment.
Address :
655 Westfield Ave,
Elizabeth, NJ 07208.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Elizabeth
Help Residents of Counties:
- Union
Elizabethport Presbyterian Center - Food Pantry
Our Food Pantry and Clothing Distribution programs serve those in need of food assistance and clothing. Most of our clients are either laid off, disabled, elderly, or underemployed. The pantry is open on the last week of every month on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (908) 351-4850 to book your appointment.
Address :
184 First St,
Elizabeth, NJ 07206.
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Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Elizabeth
Help Residents of Counties:
- Union
St. Joseph Social Service Center Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry
Soup Kitchen: Thanks to our many community partners, St. Joseph’s provides a hot meal on Saturday at 11:30 AM to people in need. Food Pantry: Together with the Community Food Bank, our dedicated volunteers, and community contributors, St. Joseph's distributes food to clients in our geographic service area. Hungry people are not always who you would imagine; they come from all walks of life. Some receive public assistance, but many are children, seniors and the working poor. Many people do have jobs but, no matter how hard they work, they are simply earning too little to feed their families and also pay basic expenses. We know that our work helps to feed these people in need.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (908) 352-2989 to book your appointment.
Address :
118 Division St,
Elizabeth, NJ 07201.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Elizabeth
Help Residents of Counties:
- Union
StreetLight Food Pantry
The StreetLight Food Pantry served approximately 2,000 households in 2014. This equated to 21,000 food pantries. While operating under other names the food pantry has been providing groceries since July of 1997. We assist guests in accessing food stamps, food pantries and meals from other resources. Presently, the StreetLight Food Pantry distributes an average of 890 nutritious Lunch/snack bags each month. For many people this is the only food they will have for the day. For the past 10 years we have provided a light dinner on Sunday evenings. These meals are prepared by various groups once a month. This year, we have already served more than 16,000 meals.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (908) 820-8324 to book your appointment.
Address :
1181 E Broad St,
Elizabeth, NJ 07201.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Elizabeth
Help Residents of Counties:
- Union
Cranford-Elmora Soup Kitchen
The Cranford-Elmora Soup Kitchen has been providing meals for our hungry neighbors for 25 years. FPCC members make up two out of eight teams that cook for and serve approximately 100 men, women, and children at the First Baptist Church in Elizabeth each week.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (908) 352-0519 to book your appointment.
Address :
402 Union St,
Elizabeth, NJ 07208.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Elizabeth
Help Residents of Counties:
- Union
Drive-thru Food Pantries
Since the start of the coronavirus, drive-thru food pantries have become the safest, most efficient way to provide food to our struggling neighbors.
Who can visit a drive-thru pantry?
Drive-thru pantries are open for anyone who needs help getting food. There are no eligibility criteria. Visitors do not need to provide any identification or income statements.
Only two piece of information is asked
- You Zipcode, and
- Number of people in their family.
You dont need to take appointment. Drive-thru pantries are first-come, first served so plan to arrive early.
How do drive-thru pantries actually work?
There are lot of volunteers help at Drive-thru food pantries. While not all drive-thru pantries operate in the same way, here�s how most work:
Staff and volunteers direct visitors to the parking area.
Visitors pull up to the pantry in their car and are usually guided into a clearly marked queue. As people move through the pantry, staff will continue to move the cars forward to get everyone through as quickly and safely as possible.
Checkin.
You are required to fill some information for Pantry's recording keeping.
Food is loaded into the cars.
Pre-packed bags of food, usually full of shelf-stable items like pasta, canned fruit and peanut butter, as well as fresh produce and meats are loaded by volunteers into the trunk of the car.
Pet Food Pantry
One in four pet owners who give up their pets to a shelter say it is because they cannot afford to care for them. Pet Food Pantries are designed to fill the void in the nation�s current assistance programs that exclude the purchase of food and supplies for family pets.
The Pet Food Pantry provides free pet food, for 3 months or less, to pet owners who cannot afford to feed their pets in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Who are eligible for Pet Food Pantry
Pet Food Pantry helps people who are:
- All ages, races and marital status
- Unemployed or underemployed
- Retired, living on social security or other limited income
- Physically or mentally disabled
- Experiencing homelessness or housing instability
Tips for Visiting a Food Pantry
Show up early.
This is very important. This means you will be first in line and have a chance to get the items that are sought after and in limited quantities such as fresh produce, dairy and frozen food.
You don't usually need to show up hours ahead of time but coming at least an hour before is usually a good idea.
Remember all documentation.
Many food pantries require documentation to prove who you are, and in some cases, where you live.
This is to make sure people are not coming more than they are allowed or using fake names to do so. Call ahead of time to find out what documentation is needed.
It's just your photo ID and a piece of mail that verifies your address.
Use several food banks.
Using more than one food bank (when available) is smart because you may be able to get something at one that you may not get at another.
For instance, one may have a deal with a local gardener that gives them their extras. This may mean this food bank has more produce.
Eligible for other programs?
Ask your Department of Social Services office if you are eligible for other assistance programs to supplement your household’s food supply.
They can easily tell you if you can apply for WIC (Women and Infant Children), USDA Commodities or SNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Ask about extras.
If you have special needs for infants or special diets, the pantries may be able to assist you.
Many times, they can help with diapers, baby formula, baby food, personal hygiene products, and even special diet items like gluten free or sugar free foods.
Go on different days of the week.
Depending on the food pantry, they may be open only one or two days a week or they may be open all seven days. When you have a choice, going midweek is often best as it is less crowded.
Be polite to workers.
Nearly everyone at a food bank is a volunteer. Be polite to the workers there as they often deal with highly emotional situations.
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food pantry?
Specifically, food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. Who can go to food pantry?
At the majority of food pantries, eligibility is based on self-attested need. You do not need to have a referral, and income is not a factor to receive food.
4. What is the difference between a food pantry and a soup kitchen?
A food pantry provides three-day food packages to families that have a place to live, but not enough food. These packages are designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals. Soup kitchens serve individuals in need of a hot meal, the only meal of the day for many of them.
5. How does a food pantry work?
Food Banks acquire large donations of edible but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Then they provide this food to family in a need.