Programming Update

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See how your support has helped grow and deepen our community-driven programming in 2022, through this video:Video Credit: Lifetime Tales Productions

MEND on the Move Increases Fresh Food Access

MEND launched “MEND on the Move,” a program designed to extend access to fresh and healthy food beyond the food pantry walls, in mid-2021.

Through this program, MEND leverages its partnerships and volunteers to source, pack, and deliver a regular supply of fresh and healthy food each week for up to 1,500 food-insecure Essex County residents identified and screened by community partner organizations. These residents are typically unable to access the food pantries due to lack of transportation, work and school schedules that do not coincide with food pantry hours, etc.

MEND on the Move removes the food access barriers by meeting people where they are through both home deliveries and free mobile markets.

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Fresh Food Hub

With initial funding from a grant of $120,000 from Impact100 Essex, MEND secured space for a new Fresh Food Hub in Orange, NJ, to support its pantry network and community partners, in June of 2020.

Having a physical home (and new “Sweet Pea” cargo van to complement the Green Bean bus) allows MEND to source, store and transport more fresh and healthy food – the logistics of which had always been a challenge for individual pantries.

Volunteer with MEND!