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."
