There are a staggering number of Americans dealing with food insecurity - 1 in 7 overall and 1 in 5 children. Food banks and pantries play an important role in providing assistance to those who are struggling to make ends meet. Although they are working towards a common goal, a "food pantry" will often get mistaken as a "food bank." It's important to note the distinction.
Food Pantries:
- Sponsored by local churches and/or community coalitions
- Self-governing and usually distribute food on a monthly basis
- Directly serve those in the community
Food Banks:
- Store and gather food from donations
- Sort the food
- Distribute that food to local agencies and partners
Ultimately, both have the same mission: to help feed their community.
The Jesus Family Ministry Church in Jersey City, NJ aims to do just that on the last Friday of every month.
The church's food pantry has been in service for 4 1/2 years and helps locals in the area get access to home-cooked meals and food items to take home to their families. Residents gather to eat lunch made by Rozanna Fernandez, who is in charge of the food pantry. A volunteer, Fernandez's mission is to give back by providing meals to her neighbors in need. In the process, she gets to meet new people in her community.
The food pantry begins with a meal, and the locals in the area are able to gather together and have a main course, a snack, and dessert. Many clients take food home for family members w
ho were unable to come that day, as well.
Afterwards, food is distributed to all the individual members in attendance. These bags are filled with non-perishable food items that can last families for up to one week. The bags include a variety of items, such as pita bread, cans of vegetables, and macaroni and cheese. The remaining bags of food which are not distributed to locals in the community are donated to hunger relief efforts in Haiti.
Volunteering or donating to a food pantries can be a great way to reach out and help your community! Join the movement to end hunger today!
