TRENTON – As New Jersey families continue to go without their SNAP benefits, Governor Phil Murphy today announced that members of the New Jersey National Guard have been deployed to support Emergency Food Organizations (EFOs) and New Jerseyans in need.
“The Trump Administration’s failure to fund SNAP benefits has left hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents feeling scared and unsure of where their next meal will come from. New Jersey is deploying members of the National Guard to support the state’s whole-of-government response to this unprecedented crisis and offer aid to our food banks at a time of heightened need,” said Governor Murphy. “Today, members of the Air National Guard are mobilizing to deliver refrigerated storage containers to the Community Foodbank of New Jersey and Fulfill, enhancing the cold storage capacity at critical hubs for our emergency feeding organizations.”
“When our neighbors are in need, the New Jersey National Guard stands ready to serve,” said Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays, The Adjutant General of New Jersey and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Our Soldiers and Airmen are proud to work with state and local partners in ensuring families continue to have access to essential support.”
At the request of the Community Food Bank of NJ and of Fulfill, the State is deploying four refrigerated storage containers today from the State’s strategic stockpile. Three refrigerated storage containers have been delivered to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside, and one refrigerated storage container has been delivered to Fulfill in Neptune. As the EFOs adjust their inventories to address this unprecedented moment, this cold storage capacity will assist in making fresh foods available to New Jersey families.
This is made possible through the combined efforts of the Air National Guard, the New Jersey Department of Health, the Office of Emergency Management, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Members of the New Jersey National Guard are also mobilizing to support the Community Food Bank in Hillside with food distribution.
More than 800,000 New Jerseyans rely on SNAP to meet their basic nutritional needs. Of the 800,000, almost half are children, one in three are individuals with a disability, and one in five are over the age of 60 years. The ongoing lapse in SNAP benefits will make it difficult or impossible for these residents to obtain nutritional assistance and, as a result, they may go hungry.
At this time, November federal benefits are not yet available to New Jersey families. The U.S. Department of Agriculture must take further action to effectuate the distribution of the contingency funds so that they can become available to recipients. The State anticipates continued gaps in access as a result of these delays caused by the federal government, and will continue to provide updates about when SNAP benefits will be issued.
This situation continues to change, so SNAP food assistance recipients should check their accounts at NJFamiliesFirst.com; call 800-997-3333; and visit njsnap.gov or nj.gov/snapshutdown for updates on the status of their SNAP benefits.
A number of pantries offer fresh produce in addition to stable, non-perishable foods, shopping appointments, and information about additional services. Residents are encouraged to locate food pantries and community kitchens via NJ 211 here.
