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Covid-19 Food Crisis - How to Help and Get Help, Locally

4/28/2020 | Agroecology, Stewardship at Home, Community Garden (Garden Talk), Farm Market Melissa Almendinger, Community Garden Coordinator

The Duke Farms Community Garden has operated a food donation program for several years. Our gardeners regularly donate to area food pantries and domestic shelters in Somerset County. 

While the Community Garden is closed due to Covid-19, our farm staff is currently donating produce, eggs, and beef produced on the property. We encourage you to also help in any way you can. 

Please see the following NOTES from food banks & shelters in Somerset County. If you are in a position to make a donation at this time, please see the notes regarding their specific needs during this crisis. Also, if you are in a position of need, please see information about utilizing the services from these organizations.

Safe + Sound Somerset - Domestic Abuse Services
Somerset County

  1. Are monetary donations helpful and where should people make them?
  2. Are there supplies people may purchase? 
  3. If people have produce (grown or purchased), are you accepting that? When and where should they drop this off?
    • Information forthcoming.
  4. If you are in need of services from the Safe-Sound Somerset:

Bound Brook Salvation Army - Food Pantry
108 Hamilton Street, Bound Brook, NJ

  1. Are there supplies people may purchase? If so, what do you need and how should they get them to you?
    • We have set up a Walmart “Registry for Good” Those who seek to help by purchasing items may do so by using this link. Stock is constantly changing, so we will continue to update and add items on a regular basis; but if you see a similar item, please know that will work perfect as well. During this time, our priority is to have these items for our community.
  1. Are monetary donations helpful and where should people make them?
    • Monetary donations are definitely helpful as we are able to purchase needed items on our end as well.
    • For check donations: it can be made out to “The Salvation Army” and sent/dropped off at our offices at 108 Hamilton Street, Bound Brook.
    •  For credit card/ online donations, please use this link. (Please be sure to select Bound Brook as the “Salvation Army location” to support our local community)
    •   https://give.salvationarmy.org/give/280315/#!/donation/checkout
  1. If people have produce (grown or purchased), are you accepting that? When and where should they drop this off?
    • We can definitely accept produce. It can be dropped off at our offices 108 Hamilton Street, Bound Brook Tuesday @ 10am-2pm. We will distribute these items during our food pantry on Wednesdays between 9-11 am.
  2. If you are in need of services from the Bound Brook Salvation Army:
    • We strongly believe that no one should be without food during this time. We are not turning anyone down! Our pantry and diaper bank program is available Wednesdays 9-11 am. We ask for ID, proof of address, children’s birth certificates (if they have children and need diapers). If there are further questions, they can contact our office at 732-748-1146. If it’s an emergency and it’s their first time, they can come anytime during our office hours Tuesday through Thursday 9-2pm or Fridays 9-12 noon. 

Hillsborough Township Community Assistance Network (CAN) - Food Pantry
379 South Branch Rd, Hillsborough, NJ

  1. Are there supplies people may purchase? 
    • Non-perishable food items, cleaning products and toiletry items are what we need. The items can be dropped off at the food bank, we have a cart outside of the building which is there 24/7.  It is located outside of our doors directly across from the wooden Gazebo- use the back parking lot. The address is 379 South Branch Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
  2. Are monetary donations helpful and where should people make them?
    • Monetary donations are also welcome, as once the products are easier to order we can purchase larger quantities to fill our shelves.  Checks (made out to Hillsborough CAN) can be mailed to us at Hillsborough Municipal Building, Attn: Social Services, 379 South Branch Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844. We now also have the ability to accept online donations at https://www.hillsborough-nj.org/departments/social/
  3. If people have produce (grown or purchased), are you accepting that? When and where should they drop this off?
    • We will accept produce, we just ask that you drop it off during our business hours M-F 8am-4:30pm if it needs to be refrigerated. Otherwise, it can be dropped off after hours.
  4. If you are in need of services from the Hillsborough Food Bank:

Feeding Hands - Food Pantry
100 Grant Ave, Somerville

  1. Are there supplies people may purchase? 
  2. Are monetary donations helpful and where should people make them?
    • Monetary donations are always needed. Please visit http://www.feedinghandspantry.org/ or donate by check, mail to: Feeding Hands, 601 Route 206, Suite 26-217, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
  3. If people have produce (grown or purchased), are you accepting that? When and where should they drop this off?
    • We can accept produce on Tuesdays from 10am-noon. Drop off is located at 100 Grant Ave, Somerville (across the emergency room at RWJ hospital)
    • With the onset of the COVID 19 Virus, Feeding Hands is confronted with many challenges we have not encountered in the past.  Right now, from the safety and comfort of our homes, we have the opportunity to make a difference!! We need to shift our supply lines to create prepackaged supply boxes prepared offsite to respond to food and other needs at the neighborhood level.  We seek to partner with you from your home to accomplish this goal through Neighbor Connect. http://www.feedinghandspantry.org/neighbor-connect/
  4. If you are in need of services from the Feeding Hands:
    • We are here to give food to those in need. We strive to treat you as we want to be treated ourselves while providing food in an atmosphere of empathy, compassion and dignity. Our hours are Tuesdays 1pm-3pm & 7pm-8:30pm. You do not need an appointment for your first visit but please come 30 minutes before closing. Please bring documentation for all members of your household, photo ID, WIC/Snap/Other Assistance & Income Information.

Jewish Family Services - non-sectarian social services & food pantry
150-A West High St, Somerville, NJ

  1. Are there supplies people may purchase?
    • At this time, I don’t think we are in need of specific items, but thank you.
  2. Are monetary donations helpful and where should people make them?
    • Monetary donations are always welcome. Especially now, we are anticipating receiving an increase amount of requests for emergency food assistance and we usually offer those in need a gift card to shop rite. Additional funds to purchase gift cards are welcome. Please donate here https://www.jewishfamilysvc.org/
  3. If people have produce (grown or purchased), are you accepting that? When and where should they drop this off?
    • I think we could accept produce. People could probably drop off the produce and leave on our back porch. We could put out a container labeled for produce. And then we will distribute to those in need.
    • We also need volunteers for our Senior Shopper Program. Please consider volunteering by visiting https://jewishfamilysvc.org/senior-shopper.php or contact us at 908-725-7799 or admin@jewishfamilysvc.org
  4. If you are in need of services from the Jewish Family Service (non-secular):
    • If anyone needs our services, they can call our regular number 908 725-7799 x104 to reach Jerry Starr. I check my messages several times a day and will call them back to discuss their concerns and how we can be of help.

 

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