A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 Paterson, New Jersey which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - Paterson Corps
Services provided :
- Bible Study - Correspondence
- Camping Activities
- Character Building Programs
- Disaster Services
- Military Personnel Assistance
- Missing Persons
- Residential Camping Activities
- Seasonal Services
- Women's Ministries
- 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 (973) 790-4817 to book your appointment.
Address :
541 W Broadway, #545,
Paterson, NJ 07522.
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Passaic County
The Salvation Army Paterson Corps
Paterson Food Pantry: Serves roughly 80 households a month. Provides 3 full meals for 3 days for every member of the household. Monday - Friday: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
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 (973) 790-4817 to book your appointment.
Address :
541 W Broadway,
Paterson, NJ 07509.
Get Directions
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Paterson, 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 1 Church Food Pantry locations in Paterson, New Jersey which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
True Witness Church of Jesus Christ Food Pantry
Did you know that 1 person out of 11 goes hungry in NJ? It’s statistics like this that promoted our Ladies' Ministry to open The Pantry Our church doors are open every second and fourth Saturday from 9am to 1pmEST. Canned goods and pre-packaged food items are provided for those 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 (973) 569-1166 to book your appointment.
Address :
377 Hamilton Ave,
Paterson, NJ 07501.
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
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 Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 Paterson, 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 11 Food Pantry locations in Paterson, New Jersey which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
CUMAC
CUMAC feeds people and changes lives. It works to alleviate hunger and its root causes for those in need in Paterson, Passaic County, and northern New Jersey. CUMAC has been fighting hunger for over 30 years. With the help of our supporters and community partners, CUMAC operates an impressive array of programs that serve as a social safety net within the community of Paterson and beyond. FOOD PANTRY & REFERRAL OFFICE: CUMAC regularly fills over 3,000 requests for food a month for children, adults and seniors in need of regular and emergency assistance. The food we distribute is purchased for a nominal handling charge at the Community Food Bank or in bulk at retailers, collected via large-scale and local food drives, and donated by generous individuals, groups and grocery stores. We are grateful for all of our supporters - like Table to Table who rescues fresh food that would otherwise be wasted and sends it to our pantry - who continue to inspire us with their loyalty and kindness.
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 (973) 742-5518 to book your appointment.
Address :
223 Ellison St,
Paterson, NJ 07505.
Get Directions
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
Deliverance Holy Tabernacle Food Pantry
We offer food with dignity and respect to all our guests. Our aim is to provide a humble, empowering environment where food and personal necessities are available to individuals who need assistance in the community. Any in need are welcome. Hours: Monday â€Â Friday 8:00 a.m. â€Â 6:00 p.m; Every 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month: 11:00a.m. â€Â 3:00 p.m.; Persons must bring ID, proof of income, address, and children.
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 (973) 595-1624 to book your appointment.
Address :
2 Barnet Pl,
Paterson, NJ 07522.
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
Oasis
Oasis currently serves those fighting poverty by meeting numerous basic needs: Daily breakfast and lunch; Food bags from our pantry; Clothing for women and children in need; Diapers/other baby needs. For many of the women and children who come to our doors, Oasis provides the only nutritious and hot meal they receive all day. The Oasis soup kitchen is a reliable, welcoming, and safe place for the women and children we serve. From July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016, Oasis served 70,000 meals and distributed over 10,000 food bags, diapers, and baby supplies. During the holidays, Oasis also hosts special meals and distributes food and gift items donated from private sources.
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 (973) 881-8307 to book your appointment.
Address :
59 Mill St,
Paterson, NJ 07501.
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
Madison Avenue Crossroads Community Ministries Inc.
Groceries provided (3 meals per day for 3 days per person). One visit per month per family with children and seniors aged 62 and up. Need determination by referral or MACCM evaluation. OPEN Mon & Wed (10am-noon) at 498 Madison Avenue. CLOSED 1st week of each month. OPEN for emergencies.
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 (973) 278-5627 to book your appointment.
Address :
498 Madison Ave,
Paterson, NJ 07514.
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
Center Of Grace Food Pantry
Center of Grace was founded in 2003 by Marie Ligon, to provide case management and referral services to women facing major life transitions, including moving from prison to re-entry and from addiction to sobriety. Since its beginning, the Center has served approximately 3,000 women, helping them transition toward greater stability in their lives. Marie is a community resident and has deep ties to the people and institutions of Paterson, allowing her to build authentic relationships and develop partnerships quickly.
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 (862) 239-9375 to book your appointment.
Address :
175 Fair St,
Paterson, NJ 07501.
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
Seventh Day Adventist Food Pantry
Food Pantry – Every third Wednesday and Thursday of the month
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 (973) 279-6256 to book your appointment.
Address :
343 Eleventh Ave,
Paterson, NJ 07514.
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
The Community Kitchen at Eva's Village
Eva's Kitchen was founded in 1982 to help feed the hungry. To begin the feeding ministry, the first meal of hot dogs and beans was served in the basement of St. John’s Cathedral to 30 individuals. In the early 1990's an expanded kitchen was built on Main Street with capacity for 240 people. To help feed the growing number of homeless and working poor, an expansion in 2011 increased the capacity to 400. The Kitchen now serves a nutritious breakfast and lunch for up to 400 individuals, and is open 365 days a year. In addition to the meals served to guests in our Kitchen, daily meals are prepared for the 350 men, women and mothers with children who reside in our recovery and sheltering programs, amounting to 1,300 meals each day. Guests dining in our Community Kitchen do not stand in line to be served. We seat them at tables and serve them with dignity and respect. We serve all who come; we turn nobody away. During the extreme cold of winter and the summer months of July and August, the number of homeless and working poor needing a meal increase and another partial seating is added. Additional seating is provided to help feed the hungry on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Outside the dining hall is a large courtyard that is an area of social interaction. It is a safe and welcoming place closed off from the busy streets of Paterson. As relationships form, clients come to understand the many homeless, addiction treatment & health care resources available to them and may choose to take the next step, whether it is shelter, substance abuse treatment or free medical care. Volunteers to help feed the hungry are an essential ingredient in the Community Kitchen, and we welcome the participation of individuals as well as local businesses, religious, civic and educational groups.
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 (973) 523-6220 to book your appointment.
Address :
393 Main St,
Paterson, NJ 07501.
Get Directions
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
Christian Fellowship Center Community Food Bank
Christian Fellowship Center Community Food Bank provides food to all individuals and families who need assistance. It also supports families during emergencies with food and clothing. The community food bank operates from the multipurpose building adjacent to the church and serves the Paterson and Passaic County community. FOOD BANK HOURS OF OPERATION: Every Third Tuesday of the Month, Hours are 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm Unless otherwise told.
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 (973) 742-2334 to book your appointment.
Address :
343-359 Van Houten St,
Paterson, NJ 07501.
Get Directions
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
Community Outreach Services, Inc.
Community Outreach Services, Inc.'s (COS's) core mission is the eradication of homelessness, hunger and poverty within the surrounding community. The COS Food Pantry is a powerful tool in the fight against hunger. The COS Food Pantry provides nutritious foods and household goods to over 1,200 families each month.
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 (973) 341-9985 to book your appointment.
Address :
199 6th Ave,
Paterson, NJ 07524.
Get Directions
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
HMPSC Food Pantry
HMPSC distributes a bag of donated food and grocery products to individuals and homeless facing hunger in the area. This service is available three days a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
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 (973) 684-3320 to book your appointment.
Address :
911 E 23rd St,
Paterson, NJ 07513.
Get Directions
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
SPCDC Food Pantry
The St. Paul's Community Development Corporation (SPCDC) Food Pantry began as a volunteer project of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in 1970. It has since outgrown its closet-sized beginnings and now encompasses a large space in the undercroft of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, maintaining an industrial freezer, accepting fresh vegetable donations daily, and maintaining a leadership role as one of the largest distributors of donated food in Passaic County, NJ. The purpose of the SPCDC Food Pantry is to provide supplemental food assistance to individuals and families who are unable to financially meet their daily nutritional requirements. Our ultimate goal is to develop self-sufficiency in our clients. Our food assistance program is intended as a "hand-up," not a "handout" in helping individuals and families achieve greater stability in their lives. Clients who demonstrate need receive emergency grocery packages each containing an equivalent of 15 meals. We also distribute over 400 turkeys in November during our Thanksgiving Holiday Drive, and provide food to our Emergency Men's Shelter Program. The SPCDC Pantry is operated with help from AmeriCorps*State Members, volunteers from local area churches, civic organizations, as well as Work First NJ and PathStone volunteers. North Porch, an organization operated by a group known as Episcopal Church Women, supports Pantry operations by annually providing emergency supplies and food to over 100 women and new mothers, with special consideration for those awaiting Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) eligibility. Because SPCDC carefully monitors clients through our Efforts to Outcomes Data Management System (ETO, Social Solutions, Inc.), we know that most clients use the SPCDC Pantry only once per year. This is consistent with our mission, which is to be an emergency resource for food assistance. Our goal is not to have participants depend on the SPCDC Pantry for assistance indefinitely. If this pattern emerges, SPCDC connect clients with relevant aid programs throughout the agency, as well as referrals for public assistance, general assistance, social security, and other types of emergency services. In 2014, the SPCDC Food Pantry provided services to 3,880 Heads of Households who in turn were supporting 4,247 dependents (adults & K-12). This level of support equated to 415,620 meals distributed.
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 (973) 710-3900 to book your appointment.
Address :
456 Van Houten St,
Paterson, NJ 07501.
Get Directions
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- Paterson
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- Passaic
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 Paterson, 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.