Hoboken Food Pantry Celebrates One Year Anniversary of Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Local Organization Distributed Over 11,000 Bags of Food with Help of 200+ Volunteers

Press conference for the One Year Anniversary at the Hoboken Community Center

March 26, 2021 (Hoboken, NJ) -- The Hoboken Food Pantry (HFP) -- a part of the Hoboken Community Center (HCC) -- celebrated its one year anniversary of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic yesterday with local dignitaries, residents, public workers, and volunteers who have all helped to feed the community during this time of need.

 “For over a year, the Hoboken Food Pantry has served as a lifeline for our community members impacted by the pandemic,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “I’m incredibly proud of all of the hardworking volunteers who have given hundreds of hours of their time to assist our residents with food insecurity and in need of critical resources. The Hoboken Food Pantry is here to stay, and we as a City are glad to support them as they continue to serve Hoboken. On behalf of our Mile Square – thank you to everyone involved for all you do for our City.”

“When the Pantry started a little over one year ago, we were operating out of closet-sized room  in the Hoboken Community Center to feed about 35 individuals,” said Ken Nilsen, Hoboken Community Center Board President. “Now, thanks to more than 1,200 amazing partners and donors and 220 volunteers who worked 1,750 hours, we’ve grown into a larger space and dramatically expanded our operations to include biweekly distributions that have provided 11,615 bags of food to 1,280 households.”

The HFP was opened in December 2019 by the Hoboken Community Center (HCC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located at 1301 Washington Street, to address food insecurity among the 96 low-income tenants in the HCC’s Single Room Occupancy affordable housing program that has served the Hoboken and North Hudson communities since 1927. By early 2020, in partnership with the Hoboken Housing Authority, the HFP began to provide food to the most vulnerable senior citizens in public housing. 

When the first confirmed case of coronavirus in Hoboken was announced on March 13, 2020 with a statewide lockdown announced soon after, the HFP quickly scaled up its operation. A partnership was formed with the Mayor’s Office, City Council, Office of Emergency Management, the Hoboken Departments of Health and Environmental Services, and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to coordinate the collection and distribution of thousands of pounds of food each week. Twelve days later, an emergency food resource center opened in the HCC with deliveries to residents in need.

Over the summer, HFP volunteers created and now run a robust operation that distributes grab-and-go bags of groceries on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at three Hoboken locations: the HFP at 1301 Washington Street, the Multi-Service Center at 124 Grand Street and the Jubilee Center at 601 Jackson Street. Clients also have the opportunity to “shop” for non-food items, such as diapers, toiletries and cleaning products twice per month at the HFP during Family 2 Family hours.  

According to the most recent U.S. Census, approximately 1 in 9 Hoboken residents live below the poverty level. Food insecurity is a serious issue for many residents, especially senior citizens who live alone. The HFP has seen a sharp rise in the numbers of individuals and families struggling with food insecurity during this public health and economic crisis. 

To learn more about the HFP, including how to donate or shop the Amazon Wish List, visit hobokencc.org. 

About The Hoboken Food Pantry

The Hoboken Food Pantry is a community resource for a hunger-free Hoboken. The Pantry is a part of the Hoboken Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which also provides affordable housing to 96 low-income men. The Pantry gives essential food and personal hygiene supplies to residents of the affordable housing program and any community residents experiencing food insecurity. The Pantry is a member agency of the Community FoodBank of NJ.