The Food Brigade offers several types of free assistance to New Jersey residents, including:

• In-person "client choice" Community Markets, which offer refrigerated, frozen, perishable, and non-perishable food items, plus personal care items (shopping is by appointment);
• Diapers (infant & adult) and diaper wipes, as available (for registered food clients);
• Period supplies, as available (for registered food clients); and
• Thanksgiving Distribution Program (November).

HOW TO REQUEST HELP

FIRST, YOU MUST QUALIFY: A participant in one or more local state or federal programs at or below the income threshold established by the state agency for TEFAP eligibility will automatically qualify for TEFAP USDA foods. To qualify for assistance, you must fall within at least one of the following three categories:

1. Low income - SELF DECLARATION (185% of Poverty - see the schedule below)
2. Existing local, state, or federal program participant (example: WIC)
3. Disaster (other - can be divorce, domestic violence, unusual expense, loss of employment) (explanation required)

SECOND, YOU MUST BECOME REGISTERED: If you qualify, you may then apply to become registered with us. Our food distributions are for registered clients only, by appointment. If you satisfy at least one of the above three qualification criteria, you can request to receive a registration form by contacting us at https://forms.gle/2LEsw71k1yfVQQ8RA. We will then respond to you with information about our registration process. (NOTE: the contact form is not registration, it is merely the first contact, like calling us on the phone to inquire.)

QUESTION: "WHAT TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED?" Since we service only New Jersey residents, you may be asked at your first visit to show us some proof of New Jersey residency - such as your New Jersey driver's license, utility bill or bank statement bearing your name and address, etc. You do NOT have to provide us with paperwork showing proof of income, proof of enrollment in a government benefits program, or other official documentation.

VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS IN ENGLISH:

VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS IN SPANISH:

 REFUSAL OF SERVICE

Our rules and procedures exist:

• To protect the interests of all of our clients as a whole and to secure equity in the provision of services;
• To ensure that only qualified and eligible New Jersey residents receive our services and resources; and
• To provide safe, dignified, and efficient food assistance operations for all.

Therefore, although our mission is charitable in nature, you may be refused services if:

1. You do not qualify for assistance.
2. You make untrue or inaccurate statements in your application or registration form, or otherwise provide untrue or inaccurate information, in connection with requesting or receiving services.
3. You are abusive, harassing, or threatening toward our staff or volunteers, our clients, or others present at our facilities.
4. You fail or refuse to follow our stated rules and procedures, or the instructions and direction of our staff or volunteers.
5. You deliberately exceed permitted food quantities, or take food with the intent to distribute it to others who are not our registered clients (for example, to send to people in your country of origin).
6. You fail to come to a scheduled appointment to receive food without directly contacting us in advance to let us know that you were unable to come (or if homebound/disabled, to be at home to accept delivery).

Click here for Non-Discrimination Statement.