More families across New Jersey are seeking assistance from food pantries as inflation rises. Some locations are reporting a 280% increase in people showing up for help within the last year alone, said Adele LaTourette, senior director of policy and advocacy for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. The high costs of things like food and gas are causing many people to seek help for the first time in their lives.
Tanya Veltz, founder & Director of Tree House Cares, a food pantry in Newark’s West Ward, said, “We serve about 2,000 families each week. The lines are wrapped around the corner. We start at 3 p.m. We get fresh produce, dairy items; we give meats, protein, whatever we have.”
Support for “Hunger in NJ” has been provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
