Here’s where Newarkers can get free food during the pandemic

FLORIDA, USA - APRIL 15: A volunteer carries a box during an event organized by the food bank Feeding South Florida for handout groceries, in a drive-thru distribution site, during the ongoing new type of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Miami, Florida, United States on April 15, 2020. (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui Trinkl/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

As people across the country face financial challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, many organizations in Newark are making sure families have enough to eat. 

Newark Public Schools are giving out grab-and-go meals to students at these sites. Students who attend any Newark school — whether district, charter, or private — can pick up the meals from 9:30-11:30 a.m. each weekday.

The following food pantries, nonprofits, and community groups are also providing free food to residents:

Fresh vegetables

  • Volunteers are distributing donated vegetables each Friday. Anyone can walk or drive up to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (198 Chadwick Ave.) from 9 a.m.-noon, Community Church of God (13 Grant Ave.) from 9-11 a.m., and Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church (237 N 18th St.). For more info, email communitydevelopmentcorp@gmail.com.
  • Residents can request home deliveries, which cost $5, by calling 973-877-9772 or emailing community@southnewark.com.

Meals

  • National Action Network’s Newark Tech World (400 Hawthorne Ave.) is distributing hot and cold meals Monday through Saturday from 12-4 p.m. or until all meals are distributed. — (973) 494-9303
  • Willing Heart Community Care Center (555 Dr. MLK Blvd.) is distributing meals from 1-3 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. — (973) 622-2100

Groceries

  • Newarkers can call the mayor’s office at 973-733-5728 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. to request a ShopRite gift card. 

Food pantries

The following list of food pantries was compiled by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Please call ahead to check hours of operation.

  • Salvation Army - Newark West (699 Springfield Ave.) — (973) 375-5933 x 104
  • First Hopewell Baptist Church (525 Orange St.) — (973) 485-8100
  • St. James Social Service Corporation (604 Martin Luther King Blvd.) — (973) 624-4007 x 201
  • Franciscan Charities - St. Ann’s (212 Hunterdon St.) — (908) 347-5672
  • Blessed Sacrament Pantry (19 Van Ness Place) — (973) 824-6549
  • Zion United Church of Christ (17 Alexander St.) — (973) 373-1238
  • Mt. Zion Baptist Church (208 Broadway) — (973) 482-1915
  • Emergency Food and Nutrition Network (403 University Ave.) — (973) 266-7966
  • The Apostles House (18-24 Grant St.) — (973) 482-6609
  • Bethany Baptist Church Pantry (275 W. Market St.) — (973) 673-7468
  • House of Mercy Mission (573 Springfield Ave.) — (973) 642-6226
  • New Communities Corporation - Senior (220 Bruce St.) — (973) 623-6114
  • Toussaint Food Pantry (528 Martin Luther King Blvd.) — (973) 792-5790
  • Emmanuel Church of Christ (54 Irvine Turner Blvd.) — (973) 242-3552
  • Newark Emergency Services (982 Broad St.) — (973) 639-7620 x 202
  • Roseville Presbyterian Church (36 Roseville Ave.) — (973) 483-3361
  • Mt. Vernon Baptist Church (709 Clinton Ave.) — (973) 374-3154
  • Revival Temple (81-85 16th Ave.) — (973) 879-7457
  • F.O.C.U.S. (441-443 Broad St.) — (973) 624-2528 x 131
  • Emanuel Baptist Church (228 Chancellor Ave.) — (973) 849-6987
  • Hopewell Baptist Church (17 Muhammad Ali Ave.) — (973) 824-9120 or 9119
  • Franklin - St. John’s Community (142 Maple Ave.)
  • Clearview Baptist Church (314-320 Hobson St.) — (973) 926-0471
  • United Neighbors Development Corporation (491 Orange St.) — (973) 350-0567
  • New Born Holy Church (250 Bergen St.) — (973) 906-3317
  • Newark Spanish 7th Day Adventist (58 2nd Ave.) — (973) 388-8777
  • New Dawn Missionary Baptist Church (284 Peshine Ave.) — (973) 624-9008
  • Church of the Eternal God (190 Highland Ave.) — (973) 460-9334/(973) 483-1189
  • Trinity U.A.M.E. (226 Warren St.) — (973) 336-9085
  • St. Paul Tabernacle (530-532 Clinton Ave.) — (973) 643-8700
  • Canaan Baptist Church (131 Pomona Ave.) — (862) 520-1326
  • Maranatha SDA Church (890 South Orange Ave.) — (973) 416-5300
  • Igreja Evangelica Vida Nova (150 Broadway) — (973) 380-6906
  • Calvary Touch of God Church (636-638 Bergen St.) — (973) 848-1113
  • St. John Baptist Church (137 Fairmont Ave.) — (973) 623-0982
  • House of Love Soup Kitchen (589-595 Central Ave.) — (862) 899-3216
  • Deliverance Holistic Care Program (488 South Orange Ave.) — (973) 371-1460
  • Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (198 Chadwick Ave.) — (973) 824-9708
  • Hombres y Mujeres de Valor Par (63 Mt. Pleasant Ave.) — (973) 388-3406
  • Jobeth, Inc. (203 Johnson Ave.) — (917) 819-5687
  • United Community Corporation (332 South 8th St.) — (973) 642-0181
  • Eben-ezer Food Pantry (1152 S. Orange Ave.) — (973) 373-9205
  • Allen Village CDC (56 19th Ave.) — (973) 373-7753
  • The Kingdom Experience Church (667 S. 11th St.) — (973) 704-3669
  • Newark Bible Fellowship (30 Randolph Place) — (732) 763-1334
  • 1st Missionary Church Proclaimers of Righteousness (151 Park Ave.) — (973) 482-3903
  • Beulah Grove Church (59 Springdale Ave.) — (973) 482-4054

Soup kitchens

Please call ahead to check hours of operation.

  • Goodwill Rescue Mission, Inc. (79 University Ave.) — (973) 621-9560
  • St. James Social Service Corporation (604 Martin Luther King Blvd.) — (973) 624-4007
  • Franciscan Charities (103 16th Ave.) — (908) 510-8050
  • Zion United Church of Christ (17 Alexander St.) — (973) 373-1238
  • House of Mercy Mission (573 Springfield Ave.) — (973) 642-6226
  • Emmanuel Church of Christ (54 Irvine Turner Blvd.) — (973) 242-3552
  • Community Church of Faith (26 Irvine Turner Blvd.) — (973) 642-7949
  • Union Chapel Community Development (209 Wainwright St.) — (973) 282-0125
  • Greater Abyssinian Baptist Church (88 Lyons Ave.) — (973) 923-5205
  • St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (933 S. 17th St.) — (973) 466-0019
  • Jehovah Jireh Praise and Worship (505 S. 15th St.) — (973) 824-2006
  • Maranatha SDA Church (890 South Orange Ave.) — (973) 416-5300
  • Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (198 Chadwick Ave.) — (973) 824-9708

To add your organization to the list or request any changes, please email us at  newark.tips@chalkbeat.org.

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