INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY OF THE ORANGES INC

The Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges, Inc. Is a collaboration between 4 faith based congregations in Essex County —Congregation Beth El, Christ Church Short Hills, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, and Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, The Interfaith Food Pantry provides supplemental and emergency food to residents in need of Orange and East Orange every Wednesday from 8:30-11:00 am, with the exception of the first Wednesday of the month. The pantry operates at the Church of the Epiphany, 105 Main Street, Orange. We are not the primary source of food for people but provide additional and emergency food to those in need. Since moving to our current location in Orange, our population of clients has grown significantly and we now routinely serve approximately 250 individuals and families per week. During the holidays, the number of people requesting assistance more than doubles. We receive limited state funding. We are supported by food donations, food drives, and monetary donations from our member congregations, businesses and private individuals as well as schools, clubs, teams and other organizations. We qualify to purchase lower cost food from the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, located in Hillside. We ask our clients to provide, annually, proof of address (they must live in Orange or East Orange), proof of need (Medicaid, Food Stamps benefits, disability or referral letter) and proof of dependents. Our clients include single men/women, veterans, senior citizens, families with young children, new immigrants to this country, single parents, people with disabilities and individuals who are employed but do not make sufficient income to meet their basic food needs. Even if a person does not have a referral letter or other proof of need, we do our best to make sure no one goes hungry.
Our goal is to reduce hunger in Orange and East Orange and to fight hunger in New Jersey.