Food Ministry & Pantry

Who We Help

Our food pantry is open to any household in Union County. Additional food from the USDA program is available to people who participate in government assistance programs such as: Food Stamps / SNAP, Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veteran’s Aid or Those people with a household income that does not exceed USDA thresholds. In accordance with the federal and state guidelines, we require a person to sign in and provide their address, the number of people residing in their household, and their signature. New persons coming to the food pantry must fill out an entry application for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. By providing their signature, the recipients are verifying that they are currently receiving one of the benefits mentioned above.

Food Pantry Schedule – •  every fourth Saturday at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, 716 Watchung Ave, Plainfield, NJ

Food Ministry Donations

FOOD DONATIONS: The most desirable Food donations are: canned tuna fish, peanut butter jars, canned soups and vegetables, beans, macaroni and cheese, pasta, pasta sauce, juice (preferably in plastic containers), juice boxes, cereal, Parmalat and dry milk. NOTE: We cannot distribute food that is past its “sell by” date.

The Food Ministry of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield is one of our most important and beloved outreach programs. For almost 128 years, the First Unitarian Society has shared our table and fed our community. Presently, we offer an all-volunteer monthly food pantry and holiday meals on usually on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Our holiday meals are a great success! We serve 250-300 people at each event. More than 75 people volunteer to help make homemade food and serve at these events. We welcome volunteers and recommend that you call ahead if you can volunteer. Other faith-based community-based organizations and schools have partnered with us, making the holiday dinners a joyous and meaningful inter-generational community service opportunity.