Citing a need to assist homeless and low-income Hoboken families and individuals, the city of Hoboken has established a food pantry at Iglesia Del Avivamiento/Center for Family Need at 1312 Hudson St.
The food pantry will provide a bag of non-perishable grocery items to local community members in need of assistance.
A wide variety of canned, boxed and frozen foods is distributed every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some of the items that may be available are soup, pasta, instant potato mixes, cereal, crackers, canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned tuna, canned stew, juice, and peanut butter.
According to city Director of Human Services Carmelo Garcia, each week, the program has been providing food packages for up to 50 local families.
"The city recognizes that with the current state of the economy, we need to make efforts to make sure every Hoboken family has access to the basic necessities, like food," said Garcia. "We hope that – even if just a little bit – this program helps to preserve and strengthen the quality of life for Hoboken families."
The program, which is just a month old, was created by the Department of Human Services, the Office of Hispanic and Minority Affairs, the American Red Cross, and the Middlesex County Economic Opportunities Corp., a non-profit organization that is state and federally funded.
"Food is a basic essential, and it’s paramount that the city and its partners in this pantry provide for Hobokenites in need," said Mayor David Roberts Tuesday. "We are committed to ensuring that families, seniors and all those in need receive the basic staples of life."
The program is open to only to Hoboken residents. For information about eligibility requirements or to learn how to donate food or to volunteer, call the Department of Human Services at (201) 420-2012.
Other benevolent local charities
The Hoboken Homeless Shelter at 300 Bloomfield St. serves over 27,000 meals a year and has 30 beds, which are full most nights. The shelter is always looking for volunteers to help maintain the facilities and serve meals from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It also accepts contributions of money, clothes, toiletries, and food left over from parties and entertainment functions.
For more information on how to help, contact Sister Norberta Hunnewinkel at (201) 656-5069.
The Salvation Army continues to serve those in need through its corps community centers in New Jersey, New York and around the country.
To give a tax deductible donation, call (201) 653-3071 or visit the Hudson County stores at 248 Erie St. in Jersey City or 515 43rd St. in Union City.
The United Way of Hudson County is a community-based organization that funds health and human care services. For every dollar raised, 89 cents of that dollar goes to help people in need, according to United Way officials. For more information, e-mail info@unitedwayofhc.org or call (201) 434-2628.