Project
Self-Sufficiency recently announced the expansion of its food pantry with a
grand opening event featuring tours, music, and presentations from special
guests. The agency’s new Nourish to Flourish market-style food pantry is part
of the first cohort of Growing
Healthy Pantries sweeping the state and reshaping access to food for those
in need.
Food insecurity
across the state has grown exponentially in recent years due to a variety of
factors. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that in
2022, approximately 994,800 people, including 262,260 children, in New Jersey
were food insecure, translating to 10.7% of individuals and 13.2% of children
who lived in home without consistent access to the food necessary to live
healthy, active lives. In Sussex County, 8.4% of residents were food insecure
during 2022.
In the last year,
the Project Self-Sufficiency food pantry served 6,177 families, including 3,906
adults, 2,271 children, and 687 senior citizens. This effort was equal to the
provision of 329,322 meals during the past year.
Project
Self-Sufficiency has had a food pantry since its inception more than 35 years
ago. Prior to the pandemic, agency
participants were allowed to select items from pantry shelves in a small room
with limited shelving and refrigerator space. With the burgeoning need during
and after the pandemic, the food pantry began to serve the public and was
expanded to three additional rooms.
During this period, food pantry guests were required to receive bags of
previously packed food rather than select the items themselves.
With support from
New Jersey’s five Feeding America food banks, Project Self-Sufficiency
converted and furnished unused space in the original farmhouse located on the
agency’s Newton campus. The new
market-style food pantry features commercial refrigerators and freezers with
glass fronts, along with shelving and signage, to create a food selection
experience that simulates a retail experience for guests.
“Food insecurity
is growing at an alarming rate for many individuals and families in Sussex
County. Insufficient access to nutritious food can cause irreparable harm to
people of all ages, but it is particularly devastating to children,” remarked
Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency. “At Project Self-Sufficiency, we have seen an
explosive need for food among people of all ages since the pandemic. We are
grateful for the support of Growing Healthy Pantries and NORWESCAP in the creation
of this expanded facility and we are looking forward to serving our neighbors
with dignity and compassion.”
Lisa Weber,
NORWESCAP Senior Director, Food Security and Healthy Equity, concurs, “We were
excited to have Project Self Sufficiency join the first cohort of 19 pantries
in the Growing Healthy Pantries statewide initiative. Launching their
marketplace-style pantry is a powerful step toward healthier communities. They
are prioritizing dignity, compassion, and giving individuals and families the
ability to choose what’s best for them.”
“Today we open more
than just a pantry - we open a promise to our neighbors,” added Helen Le Frois,
Mayor of the Town of Newton. “In Sussex County, over 8,800 residents - 6.1% of
our population - face food insecurity. These numbers are not just statistics,
they represent families, seniors, and children in our own community, who
struggle to put food on the table. The opening of this market-style food pantry
at Project Self-Sufficiency is a powerful step forward in how we care for one
another. By offering families the opportunity to choose the foods that best
meet their needs, we’re not just addressing hunger — we’re restoring dignity,
respect, hope and empowering choice. This pantry reflects the heart of our
community: compassionate, innovative, and deeply committed to ensuring that no
one faces food insecurity alone."
