Frequently Asked Questions
For service providers

What is the Food Stamp Program?

The Federal Food Stamp Program helps low-income families to buy nutritious food. These families get the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards that can be used at authorized food stores. The program is part of the federal food assistance program. It provides crucial support to low-income households and those moving from welfare to work. Click here for a listing of the county Social Services Agencies that administer the Food Stamp Program.

What is Women, Infants and Children (WIC)?

The Women, Infants and Children program helps protect the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. WIC provides nutritious foods, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. Click here for a listing of local WIC offices.

What is The Emergency Food Assistance program (TEFAP)?

TEFAP is a program of the US Department of Agriculture. TEFAP provides commodity foods to local agencies, like food banks, which in turn provide food to soup kitchens and food pantries. People who receive TEFAP food must meet the criteria set by the state. Click here for more information on TEFAP.

What are school lunch and breakfast programs?

These USDA programs are found in schools and residential child care institutions. They provide nutritious, low-cost or free meals to children each school day. Contact your local school district for more information.

What is the Summer Food Service Program?

The USDA Summer Food Service program provides meals and snacks to children during the summer months. Click here for a listing of summer food service programs in your area.

What are the elderly food programs?

The most common elderly feeding program is the federally funded Nutrition Program for the Elderly. This program works through each County's Office on Aging. It provides meals served in group settings at locations in each county. It also provides home-delivered meals for homebound individuals. People age 62 or older without regard to income can participate. Click here for a listing of the County Offices on Aging. Contact your local senior center for information on other senior food programs in your area.

What are emergency food providers (EFP)?

Emergency food providers give donated food items to people with limited income. The food is given out at shelters, soup kitchens, and food pantries. These programs are often run by private, nonprofit community organizations. Click here for a listing of local emergency food providers.

What is a food bank?

A food bank solicits, receives, inventories, stores and distributes food and grocery products from various sources. A food bank may buy food using money provided by government agencies or grants or it may receive food donated by manufacturers, retailers, or individuals. The food bank makes sure that all the food it receives and distributes meets industry and regulatory standards. The food is given to human service agencies, which provide the food directly to people with low income. Click here for a listing of the food banks in your area.

What is a food pantry?

A food pantry is a non-profit organization that gets donated food items. The food pantry then gives the food to low income people; who prepare the food at home. Click here for a listing of food pantries in your area.

What is a soup kitchen?

A soup kitchen is a non-profit organization that gets donated food and serves prepared meals to people with low incomes. Click here for a listing of soup kitchens in your area.

Am I eligible for food stamps?

You can use the food stamp screening tool to find out if you are eligible for food stamps. Click here for the food stamp screening tool.

How do I find a food pantry or soup kitchen near my home?

Click here to find the food pantry or soup kitchen closest to your home. Click here to find out about transportation in your area.

Are food pantries and soup kitchens open every day?

Each program has specific days and hours when they are open. You must call the food pantry or soup kitchen to find out when they are open. Click here to find the food pantry or soup kitchen in your area.

Do clients need to bring anything with them to the food pantry?

Most food pantries will require some form of identification such as a Social Security card, Public Assistance card, or picture I.D. Many pantries also require a referral letter from a social service agency such as the welfare or food stamp office, a community organization, or a place of worship to verify your need for food assistance.

How much food will clients receive?

Most pantries offer a 3 to 5 day supply of healthy food for a family. When possible, pantries provide special dietary items for those family members on restricted diets.

Why are so many people hungry in New Jersey ?

Many people in New Jersey are hungry because housing, health care, fuel, and utility costs are high. Sudden illness, disabilities, low paying jobs, and fixed incomes make it difficult for many people to afford food.

How can I make a donation?

Food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens welcome the donation of non-perishable foods, money, and volunteer time. For specific information on how to donate, contact the agency directly. Click here for a listing of food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries.

What is food insecurity?

The limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods, including involuntarily cutting back on meals, food portions, or not knowing the source of the next meal.

What is hunger?

The discomfort, weakness, or pain caused by a prolonged lack of food. In addition, many experts consider hunger to be chronically inadequate nutritional intake due to low incomes, that is, people do not have to experience discomfort, weakness, or pain to be hungry from a nutritional perspective. The long term effect of hunger is malnutrition.

What is malnutrition?

Malnutrition is a serious health impairment that results from substandard nutrient intake. Malnutrition may result from a lack of food, a chronic shortage of key nutrients, or impaired absorption and metabolism associated with chronic conditions or diseases.