Community FoodBank of New Jersey: Southern Branch

community assistance pantry

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

Pantry client requirements

Pantry intake form

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, Ventnor, 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

extra helping

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.
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.

food distribution

The Community FoodBank of NJ Southern Branch works with about 250 food manufactures, brokers and retailers statewide to encourage contributions of excess inventory which, once received, are offered to over 250 local charities. These charities include homeless shelters, emergency food pantries, day care centers, group homes for the disabled, substance abuse facilities, and senior citizen programs. We also collect leftover foods from several casinos through our Extra Helping program, distribute food on behalf of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, have a half-acre Community Garden, and run an onsite Community Assistance Pantry for residents of Egg Harbor Township.

community garden

The Community Garden is a half-acre organic garden located behind the FoodBank warehouse which provides a variety of vegetables and herbs during the growing season to the Community Assistance Pantry (CAP) and individuals from the community.

In addition to providing fresh and healthy vegetables the Community Garden also offers a variety of educational programs for students ranging from information tours to “hands-on” experience.
We even have curricula you can borrow to enhance the experience and we will help you develop a program that is specific to your students.

kids division

Kids Closet
The FoodBank collects and distributes winter coats and outerwear which is made available to all its member charities. CAP maintains a small coat closet on site but also refers individuals back to the main closet housed in the FoodBank warehouse.

Tools 4 Schools
The Tools 4 Schools program provides free school supplies to teachers from qualified elementary schools for distribution to their students who cannot afford to purchase supplies themselves. In addition to serving schools the program also supports qualified children from families who are clients of CAP. This is based on individual need of children that attend schools that do not qualify for the program.

bread pantry

The Bread Pantry provides donated bread from various manufacturers, bakeries and grocery stores is made available to all the Community FoodBank - Southern Branch member charities at no charge. CAP receives supplies daily when available and distributes to its clients.

Every week thousands of loaves of bread are distributed to subsidized senior citizen apartment complexes free of charge. Thanks to grants from the national Emergency Food and Shelter Program, our truck drops racks of bread at the high rises in Atlantic City, Millville, Pleasantville, Vineland, and Wildwood. The tenants associations in each building ensures that the bread is shared with their residents in need.