Changing policy and practice
to ensure all New Jerseyans
Have Healthy Food,
Every Single Day

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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.

Kids Breakfast

The 2023 Farm Bill

News About Hunger In New Jersey

family eating

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.

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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.

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Our Top Hunger Solutions

Feeding NJ Kids

Working with partners across New Jersey, Hunger Free New Jersey is advancing efforts that reduce childhood hunger through expanding and linking federal nutrition programs.

Strengthening SNAP

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, aka food stamps) is the nation's first line of defense against hunger. We work to protect and strenthen this important program.

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.