Beginning in October 2022, Interfaith Neighbors organized a collaboration amongst a network of area food pantries and local farmers called the Community Food Connection. The mission of the Community Food Connection, a community-led coalition, is to work passionately to shift the power, health, and wealth of historically marginalized communities by developing community-driven solutions to inequities within the Monmouth County NJ regional food system. 

In May 2022, we took the bold step of creating our Farm to Food Pantry Initiative. This 25-week initiative focused on providing free, seasonal, farm-fresh produce to 200 families each day of the week through a network of 12 participating food pantries, plus the Asbury Park Senior Center, Asbury Towers, Asbury Park Housing Authority Robinson Towers, and the Monmouth County Boys & Girls Club.  Our beautiful, chemical-free seasonal produce is grown by Fernbrook Farms, a 5th generation farm family near Chesterfield, NJ.

This year—2023—will see an expected growth in families served each week from 200 to 400 families, and from 11 to 17 sites covering a broader area of Monmouth County, including Red Bank, Long Branch, and Lincroft.

The Community Food Connection is the first ever Asbury Park area food pantry coalition, and is driven by the leadership of the members. The power of this collaboration lies in our decision and ability to collaborate to end nutritional insecurity in our community.

2023 Pick Up Locations include: 

Asbury Park

• Oceans FSC,@ APHA Robinson Towers 1000 1/2 Third ave, Asbury Park, Mondays, 10 AM
• Trinity Church, 503 Asbury Ave, Asbury Park, Tuesdays, 11 AM-1 PM
• People’s Pantry @ Mount Carmel Church, 1143 Pine St., Asbury Park, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 4:00-6:30 PM
• Monmouth County Boys & Girls Club, 1201 Monroe Ave, Asbury Park, Wednesdays, 4-5:30 PM
• Mercy Center, 1108 Main St, Asbury Park, Wednesdays, 1:30-4:00 PM
• St. Vincent de Paul @ St. Peter Claver, 1419 Springwood Avenue, Asbury Park  Every 2nd and 4th Thursdays 10 AM-1 PM
• Jewish Family & Children’s Services, 705 Summerfield Ave, Asbury Park, Fridays, 7:30-9:30 AM
• Asbury Park Senior Center, 1201 Springwood Ave, Asbury Park, Fridays, 10-10:30 AM (Not open to the general public)
• Asbury Towers, 1701 Ocean Ave. N. Asbury Park, Fridays 11 AM to 1 PM (for residents only)
• United Fellowship Baptist Church Manna Pantry, 603 Third Ave, Asbury Park, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 9:30-11 AM
• St. Augustine Church, Atlantic & Prospect Ave, Asbury Park, 1st and 3rd Sundays, 9:30-11:30 AM
• The Rebirth Church Coop Pantry, 115 Dewitt Ave., Asbury Park, Sundays, 12 Noon-2 PM.

Bradley Beach

• Bradley Food Pantry, 605 Fourth Ave, Bradley Beach, Wednesdays, 10 AM-Noon

Lincroft

• Brookdale Community College Helping Hands, Parking Lot 3, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, Every Third Thursday, 11:30 to 1 PM
• Lunch Break, Various locations in Red Bank, Tinton Falls and Lincroft, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Long Branch

• New Hope Church of God, 200-206 Garfield Ave, Long Branch, 1st and 3rd Sundays, 7:45-9:45 AM
• Ezekiel’s Wheels, Rotates between Kennedy Towers, Chester A. Arthur, and Hobart Manor, Long Branch, Wednesdays 1-3 PM

Other partners who distribute free, local, seasonal food include:

Jersey Shore Food Not Bombs, Sundays, 3:30 to 4:30 PM, AP Train Station

AP Community Farm, Saturdays, 9 AM, Bangs Avenue near the railroad tracks, Asbury Park

Other Collaborative Partners include: Asbury Park Food Collective, Kula Farm, Home Depot, Fresh Markets and SNAP with Asbury Fresh, Fernbrook Farms, Monmouth University Nest Food Pantry, Community Affairs Resource Center, and others.

Please donate to these organizations so they can continue to help local families.

Facebook

Instagram

Please call BHEC Coordinator Karyn Moskowitz @ 502-475-8979 or email [email protected] for information on how to volunteer and with any other questions.

Age Groups	Children Adolescents Adults Seniors
Community Services	Basic Needs / Assistance Food Pantry / Soup Kitchen
Payment Options	Free
Areas Served	Monmouth County

Last Updated: 04/27/24