Your gift helps strengthen and support a collaborative network of 22 food pantries located throughout Essex County, NJ. The MEND network includes eleven pantries in Newark, four in East Orange, and the remaining seven in Bloomfield, Irvington, Maplewood, Montclair, Orange, South Orange, and West Orange.

In an effort to increase fresh food access for those who cannot visit the pantries, you are also helping MEND distribute food through select nonprofit partners using innovative and adaptive food distribution models, such as free farmer’s markets and at-home delivery.

Beyond food, MEND also provides funding, volunteers, and a collaborative forum for shared ideas and resources - all with the overarching mission of alleviating hunger, addressing the root causes of food insecurity, and improving the health and well-being of everyone in our community.

Who MEND’s Network Serves

MEND’s network provides food and other essentials, social service referrals, advocacy, information, and encouragement to all those who turn to them for support. In 2020, MEND member pantries served over 397,000 people, of whom 36% were children.

Since the pandemic, the food pantry managers have seen increases of 3 to 5 times their pre-COVID numbers, with many “newly hungry” (i.e., first-time food pantry visitors). While COVID safety precautions made it difficult to collect reliable data for 2020 of the specific numbers of people served, MEND’s food sourcing efforts increased from 50,000 pounds of food in 2019 to 400,000 pounds of food in 2020 – a 700% increase!

We are honored you chose to give through Stein IAS's Holiday Campaign - thank you!

Thank You for "Sharing the Dough!"

By Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity

Thank You for "Sharing the Dough!"

Your Support Helps End Hunger & Increase Fresh Food Access!