Our amount of food distribution has increased from approx. 5000 lbs/month Pre-Pandemic, to now frequently over 100,00 lbs/month. The level of food insecurity in Orange and surrounding towns have exploded due to the pandemic. With many families depending on income from highly affected industries like retail, we do not expect a decrease in need until the economy recovers well enough for brick-and-mortar retail operations to hire more aggressively. The costs to finance our entire operation have grown significantly. We do not receive any financial assistance, outside of the small grant we currently have through CFBNJ, so any additional financial help is needed and appreciated.

The donations that CFBNJ was receiving prior to the pandemic have decreased tremendously, therefore the small financial help we were receiving has decreased as well.

Over the past 2 years, we have had to purchase freezers to accommodate our frozen food storage. We’ve installed air conditioning in the fellowship hall to keep volunteers cool during the warmer weather. We have also had to upgrade our electrical (the church is old and the electrical system could not handle the increased need for power).

Storing the increased volume of food has taken over our entire fellowship hall and other rooms, which is why we are seeking to move our food pantry operation to another location. With the donations received we are using the funds to renovate the new location that is desperately needed to continue to provide to the community.

We have posted some before pictures as well as some current pictures, we have come to the end of the road of resources, and looking to resume construction. We are seeking to raise $50,000 to continue the renovation.