The Community Assistance Pantry (CAP) is an independent agency but wholly subsidized by the FoodBank and meets all the qualifications of a participating charity. Located adjacent to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch, CAP provides food for individuals living in mainland Atlantic County.

CAP must adhere to the Community FoodBank of NJ Southern Branch’s entire contract requirements including ordering, appropriate storage, non-discriminatory distribution and timely reporting.  All policies, procedures and maintenance of CAP are the responsibility of the pantry coordinator.

How CAP Works

Client Qualification
CAP provides food for individuals living in mainland Atlantic County.  Individuals living outside our service area seeking assistance are given food once and referred to a pantry in their area.  This includes Atlantic City, Margate, Ventnor, Longport, Brigantine, Ocean County, Cumberland County and Cape May County.  To that end, an identification document should be presented upon intake and each time the client returns for food.

Once qualified, a client may return every 30 days for a food order.  The bread pantry is available to anyone in need as often as they wish.  We ask that they take only as much as they need.  Occasionally, other items besides bread may be stocked in the bread pantry.  These items fall under the same guidelines as the bread.

Referrals are not necessary to access CAP.  We distribute Federal government USDA food items and the USDA forbids mandatory referrals.  Occasionally clients may bring a referral from a local social service agency.  We may use the referral to conduct an intake; however, these referrals are shredded once the intake is completed.

Operating Hours
Monday through Thursday; 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Friday; 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 to 11:30 AM

Where CAP Gets Food
CAP is one of over 300 designated food pantries or soup kitchens in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties that receives food through the Community FoodBank of NJ. 

This food we receive is divided into three programs.  United States Department of Agriculture provide free of charge USDA commodities are received monthly and may include canned vegetables and fruit, dried beans, shelf-stable milk, cereal, pasta, dried fruit, tuna, peanut butter and frozen meat. 

The second program is donated products either from large companies or individual food drives which is purchased for a .18 per pound handling fee. We also can “shop” for donated foods in the FoodBank warehouse at the .18 per pound fee.

And, third co-op foods which are purchased a set rate depending on the cost to the FoodBank.  Orders are placed on a weekly basis and usually delivered on Monday. 

• Extra Helping is a prepared food rescue program and the only one of its kind in South Jersey.
• Extra Helping picks up prepared, leftover, frozen foods from commercial buffet style kitchens and distributes it to non-profit, on-site meal programs feeding people in need in our area.
• Last year, the program generated over 54,000 lbs. of top quality fully prepared foods; a 35 percent increase over the previous year.
• Extra Helping is a cost efficient program for the food donors, providing all the supplies and support they need in order to participate.
• Extra Helping assumes responsibility for timely pick-up and delivery arrangements of the food in a refrigerated vehicle relieving the donor of any safety concerns.
• Food donors are protected from liability under the Good Samaritan Act of the State of New Jersey and the national Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.
• Donations to Extra Helping are tax deductible as provided for by law.
• Currently, five casino hotels participate on a regular basis, one of them everyday; another two are signed up on an “on call” basis.
• Annual funding for this program is provided by South Jersey Gas and The United Way

Click Here for the Extra Helping Guidelines