Emergency Response Continues to Support Families & Seniors Despite Temporary Reprieve
The City of Jersey City mobilized quickly to expand its emergency food and meal distribution efforts to ensure continued support for the thousands of families, seniors, children, and individuals who depend on essential Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. While November SNAP benefits have now been made available, it is still unclear when full benefits will reach Jersey City residents.
The initiative, led by the
Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), is being coordinated with HealthierJC Partnerships, Hudson County, local restaurants, faith-based groups, and nonprofit organizations to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry during this period of uncertainty. Partners include the
We Project, Mt. Pisgah C.A.R.E.S., Old Bergen Church, The Sharing Place, Inc, and
Triangle Park Community Center.
“When our neighbors are in crisis, we show up. We are Jersey City. We take care of each other,” said
Mayor Steven M. Fulop. “Hunger doesn’t wait, and neither will we. Every child, every senior, every resident in our city deserves access to the food they need. This response isn’t about short-term relief; it’s
about protecting dignity, restoring stability, and standing up for the people who make Jersey City strong.”
SNAP, commonly known as “food stamps,” is the federal program that helps low-income households afford groceries. It plays a vital role in reducing hunger, improving nutrition, and supporting health and wellbeing. With the federal government shutdown threatening future benefit disbursements, many Jersey City residents are facing heightened uncertainty, forced into impossible choices between rent or groceries, medication or meals. Food insecurity is directly linked to poorer health outcomes, increased hospital visits, and reduced ability to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
“Our health is intimately tied to our nutrition,” added
Stacey Flanagan, Director of Health & Human Services. “Ensuring every resident has enough food isn’t just a moral responsibility, it’s a public-health priority. Hunger weakens the body, fractures the mind, and erodes the foundation of wellbeing. We must act swiftly to protect our vulnerable neighbors.”
To meet the moment, Jersey City is implementing a priority-based food and packaged meal distribution system for those affected by the SNAP instability. Key elements include:
• Priority access for SNAP-eligible households, seniors, and children.
• Expanded partnerships through HealthierJC, local restaurants, nonprofits, and faith organizations to scale food availability and outreach.
• Mobile food vans serving all wards, bringing meals directly to neighborhoods with the greatest need.
• Centralized updates on locations and times via the City’s website and social media.
• Expanded city programs that accept SNAP/EBT, senior vouchers, and WIC benefits at farmers markets.
Seniors over the age of 60 are encouraged to sign up for congregate lunches, which are served at the two Jersey City-operated senior centers, Monday – Friday 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Joseph Connors Center, 394 Central Avenue and Maureen Collier Center 355 Bergen Avenue.
Residents can support Jersey City’s SNAP Emergency Response in several ways. You can donate food or funds to local food pantries, community kitchens, or the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, where every dollar
helps provide multiple meals to families in need.
Businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations are encouraged to volunteer or partner by hosting pop-up distribution sites, transporting meals, or sponsoring food drives across the city.
Residents can also spread the word by directing neighbors in need to
jcnj.org/SNAPemergency for realtime updates on food distribution sites and resources. To stay informed, follow @HealthierJC on
Instagram and
X for ongoing updates, volunteer opportunities, and donation information.
All media inquiries should be directed to Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione at
[email protected].