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                                          -- Charities & Associations

​                                                  - Homeless/Food Banks/Housing



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Youmg workers at Bridgeton Glass Co. in 1909. Image: Library of Congress
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Men line up to apply for work digging for Newark Subway in April 1935 during Great Depression. Image: Library of Congress
- Homeless/Low-income Support
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Salvation Army-New Jersey Division (Union)
International organization founded 1865 in London for relief of poor and disabled by former Methodist preacher, expanded to Ireland, Australia and US in 1886, now in some 130 countries. Modeled on military organization and command structure, US membership some 1.5 million. NJ Division founded 1880 in Newark. Divisional Headquarters in Union, some 29 other centers in NJ providing religious and social services adapted to their communities. Also operates Hazlet Long-Term Case Management Center, Salem County Service Center,  residential camp (Tecumseh) in Pittstown, three shelters (Elizabeth, Montclair and Perth Amboy) and 101 active service units (comprised of approximately 500 volunteers who administer Salvation Army services where there is no Army facility), four Adult Rehabilitation Centers and 19 Salvation Army Family (or Thrift) Stores).


United Way of Northern New Jersey (Cedar Knolls)
One of some 1,200 local United Way organizations affiliated with United Way of America based in Alexandria, VA, coalition of community charitable organizations pooling efforts in fundraising and contribution support. United Way of Northern New Jersey regional organization resulting from mergers in 2011 and 2014 of local United Ways in Morris, Somerset, Essex, Sussex, and Warren counties Headquarters in Cedar Knolls, other offices in Millburn, Montclair, Bridgewater, Newton, Hackettstown. Three areas of focus: Education, Income, and Health. ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) program supports low-income individuals and families who are working, but unable to afford basic necessities of housing, food, child care, health care, and transportation, estimated at 890,000 households in NJ. Education programs seek to support positive culture and climate in schools for social and emotional learning. Health initiatives include support of unpaid caregivers with access to  resources, services and education.

Community Foundation of New Jersey (Morristown)
Established 1979, alliance of philanthropic funds created by individuals, families, businesses and foundations. Provides various services to over 1,100 family and other philanthropic foundations, corporations and individual donors, including investment management, advice on grants. Network of affiliates in Newark, Mercer, Monmouth and Morris counties, and in South Jersey. Granted average of over $30 million annually to charitable organizations and currently oversees over $400 million in charitable assets.

Goodwill Industries New Jersey (Maple Shade)
Operates national network of retail thrift stores, provides job training, employment placement services for those with special needs. Some $5 billion in annual revenue funds employment programs and administration. Subject of past criticism for high levels of executive compensation, also use of federal law to pay disabled workers at rates below minimum wage.  NJ headquarters in Harrison and Maple Shade.

Family Promise (Summit)
Founded 1986 by Karen Olson in NJ after chance meeting with homeless woman, initially through partnerships with network of local places of worship. 1988 formed National Interfaith Hospitality Network, grew to become national organization with 130 affiliates in 39 states aiding low-income families. 18 locations in NJ. Provides shelter, meals, housing and job placement for more than 31,000 homeless family members annually, 60% of them children, also programs for transitional housing, childcare, and homelessness prevention. In 1992, designated one of 21 Points of Light in US, out of field of more than 4,500 nominees, by President George H.W. and First Lady Barbara Bush.

PictureHomeless shelter of Rescue Mission of Trenton. Image: Rescue Mission of Trenton
Rescue Mission of Trenton (Trenton)
Origins in 1915 founding of The City Rescue Mission by Evangelical Christians seeking to minister to the spiritual needs of homeless, soon expanded to provide material needs for beds and meals, by 1918, place of refuge for over 100 people each per night. Programs developed over years into  comprehensive Work Therapy/Life Skills program, also provides substance use services including residential recovery program with counseling, as well as ambulatory services. 
Counselors and adult education program that offers GED preparation, basic literacy tutoring, parenting classes, and computer/word processing skills. Thrift store and online purchases produce approximately 30% of operating budget each year through sales of clothing, restored and donated furniture, housewares. Awarded highest 4-star rating from CharityNavigator.org

- Food banks

Community Foodbank of New Jersey (Hillside)
Largest NJ distributor of food to low-income families and others with special needs. Sponsors include major supermarkets, other food retailers, banks and other supporters providing in-kind and cash contributions, distributes annually over 44 million pounds serving over 1,000 food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, child care centers, battered women's shelters and senior programs in 17 NJ counties. In addition to food distribution, offers job training program in which unemployed or underemployed individuals receive knowledge and skills needed for jobs in food service industry. Work focused on children includes Kids Café, Family Pack and summer feeding. Received highest 4-star rating from CharityNavigator.org

Food Bank of South Jersey (Pennsauken)
Annually provides nearly 10 million pounds of food with approximately 250 charitable food providers, such as food pantries, community kitchens and shelters in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester and Salem counties. Over 18% of children in its four-county area children face food insecurity, but many do not qualify for assistance from federal nutrition programs. Mobile pantry carries truckloads of food to areas lacking access to viable network of food sources.

Elijah's Promise (New Brunswick)
Established 1989 when three local churches (St. John’s Episcopal, Emanuel Lutheran, and Christ Episcopal of New Brunswick) joined together to start small soup kitchen. Expanded through additional support from local student groups, community health organizations, local businesses and others. Created 1997 culinary arts training program with professional culinary curriculum to hundreds of students, preparing and placing them at jobs in food service industry. In order to provide on-job training for culinary graduates, started catering business in 1998, provides hundreds of healthy meals every day to children in New Brunswick and to elderly and homebound through New Brunswick’s Meals on Wheels program. Recipient of highest 4-star rating from CharityNavigator.org

Table to Table (Englewood Cliffs)
Founded 1999 by Claire Insalata Poulos, a  chef trained, marketing professional, as first and only food rescue program in NJ. Seeks to recover and distribute healthy, usable, fresh food previously thrown out and wasted by restaurants, grocery stores etc. to local soup kitchens. Now operates fleet of five refrigerated trucks serving over 80 hunger relief agencies throughout northern NJ, program used as model throughout US. Since inception, Table to Table delivered enough food for over 105 million meals, in 2016 rescued enough food for more than 17 million meals. Recipient of highest 4-star rating from CharityNavigator.org

Center for Food Action (Englewood) 
Founded 1976, provides emergency food, housing, utility and heating assistance services to low-income and homeless in northern NJ. Sites also in Fairview, Hackensack, Mahwah, Ridgefield, Ringwood, Paramus, and Saddle Brook, active in more than 100 towns, Created New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition 1980 as statewide group advocating public policies that improve food quality and access and support food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency food providers with technical assistance.

Mercer Street Friends Food Bank (Trenton)
Channels 2.7 million pounds of food and groceries annually to network of 80 Mercer County local food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, meal sites,schools, senior and disabled programs and low-income housing sites reaching over 30,000 people. Preschool program provides “free” high-quality early childhood education and nutritious meals and snacks to 90 children aged 3 to 5 who reside in Trenton. Partner Distribution Organization with Community FoodBank of NJ and Feeding America.

Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) (Trenton)
Founded 1982 by small group of individuals from local churches and service organizations to feed needy of Trenton, now provides more than 4,000 free meals per week, also outreach programs such as adult education, computer training, health care counseling, screening and referrals, social services, children's activities, and arts and crafts. Recipient of highest 4-star rating from CharityNavigator.org

Arm in Arm (Princeton)
Formerly known since founding in 1980 as The Crisis Ministry until adopted present name 2016, originally formed by leaders of Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton and Trinity Church in Princeton to help families and individuals struggling financially. Now provides healthy food for more than 4,000 families, financial assistance and support for more than 600 families threatened with homelessness, and job training and support for employment. Recipient of highest 4-star rating from CharityNavigator.org

The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (Neptune)
Began 1984 when small group of people at Jersey Shore purchased and renovated dilapidated warehouse in Spring Lake. After one year serving 25 charities with 100,000 pounds of food. Now based at facility built 1998 in Neptune, distributes more than 10 million meals annually through network of over 300 feeding programs.  Other programs include Culinary Training Program and nutrition education, and outreach programs.

Interfaith Food Pantry (Morris Plains)
Established 1994 when group from local houses of worship decided to address hunger by consolidating their food assistance programs. Provides food and groceries to eligible Morris County residents collected from houses of worship, businesses and schools, community service programs, individuals and families. Currently distributes more than 15,000 pounds of food to 325 families each week, primarily senior citizens living on fixed incomes, low-income working families and unemployed.

Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center (Morristown)
Founded 1984, sponsors include houses of worship, businesses, professional firms. Provides nutritious meals free of charge to anyone who comes seeking nourishment, also assists in accessing community resources, services and educational programs.  Relies entirely on private contributions and volunteers. Received highest 4-star rating from CharityNavigator.org

- Housing

Habitat for Humanity New Jersey (River Edge)
Part of parent Habitat for Humanity organization founded 1970s in Georgia, has built housing in 1,400 communities across US and in nearly 70 countries. Operates in NJ through 20 regional and county affiliates which serve as independent, locally managed organizations coordinating own construction, selecting local homebuyer applicants, recruiting volunteer help, soliciting contributions of materials and tools and may operate local home improvement centers (7 in NJ). 

Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey (Trenton)
Founded 1989, supports network of over 250 non-profit community housing and development corporations to strengthen their capacity to create housing and revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Provides targeted technical assistance and educational programs, pursues additional resources and improved public policies, and conducts research on ways to enhance effectiveness of community development sector.
​Charities & Associations
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