Food is most meaningful when it reflects who we are and where we come from. That’s why at CFBNJ, our work goes beyond providing basic staples to include cultural food options that honor the rich diversity of our neighbors and help them to observe traditions with dignity.
Every culture and religion has its own culinary traditions, and our Food Sourcing team ensures CFBNJ’s shelves reflect that by requesting donations and purchasing from cultural brands. This means that neighbors in need like Raphael, who began visiting a CFBNJ partner pantry when a serious car accident put him out of work on disability, can enjoy meals that remind them of home. At the pantry, he gets ingredients to make mangú con los tres golpes – a dish from his home country of the Dominican Republic that features mashed plantains, eggs, cheese, and salami.
CFBNJ also works to source halal and kosher meat for the Muslim and Jewish families we serve.
Imane, a mother of two who’s received support from CFBNJ’s Garfield Unity Pantry while she pursues a career in substance abuse counseling, appreciates that she can often find halal meat there. “I always get what I want at the pantry,” she said. “There are a lot of things that fit my background and Muslim customs, and also, it’s healthy.”
Halal and kosher products can be challenging to find and expensive to purchase, making them especially difficult for food insecure New Jerseyans to access. CFBNJ works closely with our network of more than 800 food pantries, soup kitchens, and more to ensure that these foods reach the right communities and make their way into the homes of people like Igor, an 84-year-old Holocaust survivor who visits the kosher food pantry at Jewish Family Service in Elizabeth.
“I’m very traditional,” he shared. “It’s very important for me to have kosher food.”
Igor arrived in the United States in 1992 from Ukraine after the fall of the Soviet Union. For 27 years, he worked his way up through better jobs, and he and his wife raised a family together. Now retired and living on a fixed income, he needs a little extra help putting food on the table that follows his household’s religious traditions. At Jewish Family Service, he gets everyday kosher staples, as well as special food for the Jewish holidays.
“I’ve built a life here, and I’m so thankful for everything I get at the pantry,” Igor said.
In addition to distributing cultural food, CFBNJ also integrates it into our long-term solutions to food insecurity. Through CFBNJ’s Growing Healthy Pantries initiative, we help partners incorporate these items into their pantries. CFBNJ also advocates for ethnic food stores to accept food assistance benefits.
When the food available at pantries is familiar, it encourages our neighbors to seek out the assistance they need. At CFBNJ, we’re proud of our work to ensure that everyone has access to food that’s affirming and meaningful to them.