Changing policy and practice
to ensure all New Jerseyans
Have Healthy Food,
Every Single Day
Fueling Change. Feeding All
Hunger haunts every corner of New Jersey. That’s why a statewide response is critical. Hunger Free New Jersey, a program of Center for Food Action, leads that effort, educating the public and decision-makers about hunger — its causes, its solutions. We mobilize diverse organizations. We push for sweeping changes so every single New Jersey resident has healthy food to eat — every single day.
The 2023 Farm Bill
News About Hunger In New Jersey
The 2024 Good Food Bucks Application for Farmers and Markets is Now Open!
All farm and market partners in 2024 will receive grants up to $10,000 in Good Food Bucks!
Food Insecurity Increased in 2022, With Severe Impact on Households With Children and Ongoing Racial Inequities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual report on food security, showing that 44.2 million people (in 17.0 million households) in the U.S. could not afford enough food to eat at some point in 2022. Overall, food insecurity increased from 10.2 percent in 2021 to 12.8 percent in 2022 — resulting in 10.3 million more people, including 4.1 million more children, who lived in households that experienced food insecurity in 2022 compared to 2021 — reflecting higher food costs and the phasing out of many pandemic relief measures.
As Many as 124,200 Young Children and New Parents in New Jersey Could Be Turned Away From WIC or Have Their Benefits Cut Under Pending Appropriations Bills
Funding in fiscal year 2024 Senate and House appropriations bills for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) falls far short of what is needed to provide all eligible families who apply with the full nutrition assistance benefit. Across the states, these proposed funding levels would result in WIC turning away 600,000 eligible new parents and young children, and the House bill would sharply cut benefits for another 4.7 million.
Looming WIC Funding Shortfall Would Jeopardize Access to WIC’s Proven Benefits and Disproportionately Harm Black and Hispanic Families
Unfortunately, WIC is facing a funding shortfall for the first time in decades due to higher-than-expected participation and food costs, jeopardizing access to this highly effective program and risking disproportionate harm for Black and Hispanic families.
Our Top Hunger Solutions
Feeding NJ Kids
Strengthening SNAP
More About Hunger in New Jersey
Faces of Hunger
“We had the American dream. In the blink of an eye, it turned to a nightmare. SNAP gave me peace of mind, knowing my kids wouldn’t go to bed hungry.''
College Hunger
In partnership with NJ’s colleges and universities, we are advancing solutions to campus hunger so students don't have to choose between food and school.
Senior Hunger
Seniors are particularly vulnerable to hunger. Many receive meager assistance or no aid at all. We are working on solutions to senior hunger.
Our Latest Reports & Fact Sheets
Boosting NJ SNAP: Eliminating Barriers to Participation
REPORT | May 2021
NJ Summer Meals for Kids, 2020
REPORTS | FEBRARY/JUNE 2021
Missed Dollars, Bare Cupboards: Improving NJ SNAP Participation
REPORT | APRIL 2020
The State of NJ Afterschool Meals
REPORT | SEPTEMBER 2019
The State of NJ Summer Meals
REPORT | JUNE 2020
The State of NJ School Breakfast
REPORT | APRIL 2019
NJ Summer Meals Legislation Explainer
FACT SHEET | JANUARY 2019
Federal Food Aid Data by Congressional District
FACT SHEET | JANUARY 2020
