Free Food & Services

    Free Food & Services

    Find a food pantry near you and explore the free services that can help you and your family.

    Learn More

    Apply for Food Assistance

    Apply for food assistance programs

    Get free help applying for food assistance programs and accessing the benefits available to you and your family.

    Apply For WIC 
    Apply For SNAP
    National School Meal Program

    Learn More

    Job Training

    Job Training

    Sign up for one of CFBNJ’s free job training programs that can prepare you for a career in the culinary or logistics industries.

     

    Learn More

    Healthy Recipes

    Healthy Recipes

    Healthy recipes, cooking videos, and tips are all here. Browse through the info provided by our Nutrition Education team to get the most out of your grocery budget without compromising on nutrition.

    Learn More

    Donate

    Donate

    Learn about all the ways to give a monetary gift, including recurring donations, planned gifts, tributes, and more to CFBNJ to lift up our neighbors.

    Learn More

    Volunteer

    Volunteer

    Explore the many opportunities to volunteer – whether that is packing food with your company, family, and friends at either our Hillside or Egg Harbor Township locations, distributing healthy food at one of our partners, or making phone calls from the comfort of your home.

    Learn More

    Advocate

    Advocate

    Take action to support our advocacy efforts that address the root causes of hunger and learn more about how CFBNJ collaborates with legislators.

    Learn More

    Fundraise

    Fundraise

    Coordinate a virtual or in-person fundraiser with friends, family, or coworkers.

    Learn More

    Donate Food & Goods

    Donate Food & Goods

    Over one-third of our food is donated by generous supporters like you. Set up a food or special product drive, join our retail food donation program, and more.

    Learn More

    Make a Corporate Donation

    Make a Corporate Donation

    Manufacturers, retailers, corporations, and small businesses can donate food, funds, and time.

    Learn More

    Events

    Events

    Attend a CFBNJ event to show your support and meet other like-minded supporters.

    Learn More

    Youth

    Youth

    Opportunities for youth engagement includes fundraising, food drives, and service days.

    Learn More

    Sign Up to Volunteer

    Sign Up to Volunteer

    Sign up to sort and pack food with your company, family, and friends at either our Hillside or Egg Harbor locations.

    Learn More

    Corporate Groups

    Corporate Groups

    Use your next company outing to give back to your community.

    Learn More

    Special Volunteer Programs

    Special Volunteer Programs

    View the opportunities available for regular volunteers to level up their participation at CFBNJ.

    Learn More

    Youth

    Special Volunteer Programs

    Opportunities for youth engagement includes fundraising, food drives, and service days.

    Learn More

    About Us

    About Us

    Discover how our journey began almost 50 years ago, and how we are committed to ending hunger in New Jersey.

    Learn More

    Our Programs

    Learn about what we do to help our neighbors in need.

    Learn about what we do to help our neighbors in need.

    Learn More

    How a FoodBank Works

    How a FoodBank Works

    Understand how food and hygiene supplies get from our two warehouses to your community.

    Learn More

    Leadership

    Leadership

    Meet our executive leadership team and Board of Directors.

    Learn More

    Annual Report & Financials

    Annual Report & Financials

    Get a clear picture of our finances, how our programs impact the community, and how it all ties together.

    Learn More

    Careers

    Careers

    Check out our career opportunities and don’t miss a chance to put your talents to work for a great purpose.

    Internships Available

    Learn More

    News & Press

    Keep up to date with the latest news about our work to end hunger.

    Keep up to date with the latest news about our work to end hunger.

    Learn More

    Our Locations

    Locations

    We have locations in Hillside and Egg Harbor Township, each with their own events and volunteering opportunities.

    Learn More

    Strategic Plan

    Strategic Plan

    Explore the roadmap of the future of CFBNJ and how we plan on helping hungry neighbors going forward.

    Learn More
    CFBNJ Blue Jean Ball 2025

    Blue Jean Ball

    This year’s Blue Jean Ball marks the culminating celebration of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s (CFBNJ) 50th anniversary and our ongoing mission to build a food-secure Garden State.

    Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, awards ceremony, and a special performance by The Big Little Band featuring Mark Rivera—saxophonist for Billy Joel and musical director for Ringo Starr—joined by Neil “The Dude” Pawley and Chris Anderson from Southside Johnny’s legendary horn section.

    This year’s honorees include:

    Visionary Award

    Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin
    A leading champion for anti-hunger legislation who supports food access and dignity for all New Jerseyans.

    Amplifier Award

    CBS New York
    A treasured media ally dedicated to spotlighting hunger issues and CFBNJ’s work.

    For more information about this year’s event or for ticket and Sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Special Events office at events@cfbnj.org / 908-440-7405 or click the button below.

    CFBNJ Leadership Circle

    Blue Jean Ball Highlights & Photos

    • Blue Jean Ball 2024

      Blue Jean Ball Chairs

      Lyn and Dan Cregg
      D’Maris and Joe Dempsey
      Patty and Chris Perry
      Judy and Bob Spires

      Blue Jean Ball 2024 Honorees:

      FOOD AWARD

      Our signature Check-Out Hunger Sponsor and Partners

      Premio Food, Inc.
      Wakefern Food Corp.
      The Wawa Foundation
      Wegmans

       

      HELP AWARD

      For decades of volunteerism and philanthropy

      Peerless Beverage Company

       

      HOPE AWARD

      Our Newark-based program partners and champions of change in fighting food insecurity

      FOCUS Hispanic Center for Community Development, Inc.
      North Jersey Community Research Initiative
      New Jersey Devils, Prudential Center, and Devils Youth Foundation
      Rutgers Biomedical and Health Services Food Pantry
      Rutgers University-Newark pantryRUN
      St. James Social Service Corporation
      Tree House Cares

    • Blue Jean Ball Chairs

      Polly and Terry O’Toole
      Patty and Chris Perry
      Judy and Bob Spires
      Jane and Mark Wilf

      Master of Ceremonies

      Adam Sank

      Featuring Entertainment

      Lexi Lawson

      Blue Jean Ball 2023 Honorees:

      FOOD AWARD

      New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher

      For his vision and support to advance access to fresh, nutritious, and delicious food statewide, and to nurture the healthiest of outcomes for the state’s most vulnerable.

      HELP AWARD

      Roby and Josh Weinreich

      For their decades of leadership and personal commitment to CFBNJ’s mission, and their incredible efforts in response to the pandemic.

      HOPE AWARD

      Eastern Fresh Growers
      Meadowlands YMCA
      Mid-Atlantic Regional Cooperative
      Saint John United Methodist Church

      Our dedicated partners, who provide essential fresh produce and inspire healthy and positive lifestyles for our neighbors in need.

      THANK YOU SPONSORS:

      Blue Jean Hero

      Jess Chang and Wayne Paglieri

      Denim Diamond

      J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
      Rachel and Michael Rimland

      Dungaree Idol

      Appaloosa L.P./The Tepper Foundation
      Larry L. Luing Family Foundation
      Frances Burns and Richard S. Nitzberg
      Polly and Terry O’Toole
      Roby and Josh Weinreich

      Boot Cut Savior

      Amerigroup
      Patty and Chris Perry/Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
      The Leon and Toby Cooperman Family Foundation
      Jane and Mark Wilf

      Bell Bottom Benefactor

      ACME Markets Foundation
      Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
      CA Ferolie
      D’Maris and Joseph Dempsey
      Pamela and Andy Federbusch
      Jill and Cameron Gateman
      Goya Foods
      Karen and Ralph Izzo/PSEG
      Kings Foundation
      Melanie and Alan Levitan
      Mazars USA LLP
      Peerless Beverage Company
      Pfizer
      Prudential Financial
      PSEG
      RWJBarnabas Health
      Sanofi
      Summit Health Cares
      Wakefern Food Corp.

    • Blue Jean Ball Chairs

      Denise & Tony Ferolie
      Patty & Chris Perry
      Roby & Josh Weinreich

      Honorees

      Food Award

      Acme & Kings Nourishing Neighbors
      A leading partner of CFBNJ in food donations, financial support, awareness and volunteerism.

      Help Award

      Bank of America
      Decades of philanthropic investment in CFBNJ
      and an extraordinary commitment to pandemic response.

      Hope Award

      A Salute to Bergen County
      Our strong alliance, with whom we have been working hand in hand, side by side fighting the effects of COVID-19 and its impact on our New Jersey neighbors in need.

      Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Silna Zur
      The Russell Berrie Foundation
      Center for Food Action in New Jersey
      Varick Memorial Food Pantry

      Sponsors

      Blue Jean Heroes

      ACME/Kings: Nourishing Neighbors
      Bank of America
      Wayne Paglieri and Jess Chang

      Denim Diamond

      J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

      Dungaree Idols

      Luing Family Foundation
      Terence and Paula O’Toole
      Roby and Josh Weinreich

    • Because of the generosity of sponsors, honorees, performers, and nearly 400 virtual attendees, we raised over $1.3 million for CFBNJ’s mission during this time when it’s needed most. THANK YOU to all who attended and supported the beloved annual event!

      Special thanks to event chairs Alma DeMetropolis, Polly & Terry O’Toole, Patty & Chris Perry, Roby & Josh Weinreich.

      HONOREES

      FOOD AWARD

      Stop & Shop

      HELP AWARD

      First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Snyder Murphy
      New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund

      HOPE AWARD

      Partners in Disaster & Pandemic

      Thank you, sponsors:

      BLUE JEAN HERO
      Bank of America
      Wayne Paglieri
      Stop & Shop
      Manny & Mila Teixeira Foundation Inc.

      DENIM DIAMOND
      JPMorgan Chase & Co.

      DUNGAREE IDOL
      Luing Family Foundation
      Polly and Terry O’Toole
      Roby and Josh Weinreich
      Josh Weston
      Wilf Family Foundations

      BOOT CUT SAVIOR
      Dottie Litwin-Brief and Donald Brief
      Leon and Toby Cooperman Family Foundation
      Frances Burns and Richard S. Nitzberg
      Patty and Chris Perry/Broadridge
      PNC
      Prudential

      BELL BOTTOM BENEFACTOR
      Alma DeMetropolis
      D’Maris & Joseph Dempsey and Melanie & Alan Levitan
      ESM Ferolie Group/ Beacon United Brokers
      Pamela and Andrew Federbusch
      Jill and Cameron Gateman
      Goya Foods
      Mazars
      New York Giants
      Peerless Beverage Company
      Pfizer
      PSEG
      Eileen and Les Quick
      Wakefern Food Corp.

    • Heartwarming support from all fronts plus months of planning with our devoted partners, the Blue Jean Ball 2019 came to an end with more than $1.36 million raised to help the Community FoodBank of New Jersey to continue providing Food, Help and Hope to our hungry neighbors.

      Special thanks to our event chairs Alma DeMetropolis, Patty & Chris Perry, Liz & Tom Pryma and Roby & Josh Weinreich and the Board of the FoodBank for their leadership.

      Photos by Turtlebox Pictures.

      FOOD AWARD

      WAKEFERN FOOD CORP.
      One of our founding partners, Wakefern Food Corp., a retail cooperative, is the largest food donor to the FoodBank. Wakefern and the fifty member families that own and operate ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, Dearborn Market and The Fresh Grocer stores also provide leading financial support and engage thousands of employees in our volunteer efforts while bringing awareness to the issue of hunger in their stores.

      HELP AWARD

      JUDY & JOSH WESTON
      Judy and Josh Weston are two of the FoodBank’s most dedicated philanthropic leaders. For decades, their unwavering guidance has been instrumental in maximizing our impact as we nourish our hungry neighbors in need.

      HOPE AWARD

      SUMMIT MEDICAL GROUP FOUNDATION AND SEVEN AGENCY PARTNERS
      Our collaboration with Summit Medical Group Foundation on the pilot initiative – Food, Health and Hope: An Answer to Diabetes, helps clients with diabetes by providing a twelve month program offering health screenings, diabetes-friendly food and nutrition education. Agency partners being honored include: Father English Community Center; FOCUS: Hispanic Center for Community Development, Inc; House of Prayer Baptist Church Food Pantry; Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges; Salvation Army of Plainfield; SDA Church of the Oranges; Solid Rock Baptist Church Food Pantry.

    • Thanks to the event chairs, sponsors, and more than 450 attendees, the All New Blue Jean Ball raised more than $1.1 million to support CFBNJ’s mission! The event featured food truck fun with Premio Foods, Compass Group, Harvest Restaurant Group, and Stone Soup, our own on-site catering service. The formal program was emceed by Adam Sank of The Adam Sank Show and included dinner, an awards ceremony, comedy by Colin Jost (co-anchor of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update), and an appearance by special guest Jon Bon Jovi. We are so grateful for our sponsors: JP Morgan Chase & Co, Appaloosa Management LP, and Nokota Management LP.

      Congratulations again to our honorees:

      FOOD AWARD

      Goya Foods, Inc.

      HELP AWARD

      David Tepper, Founder & President of Appaloosa LP

      HOPE AWARD

      Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Prudential Financial, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., Wakefern Food Corporation, Lafayette Elementary School, Kean University, Seton Hall Preparatory School, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Bob Griffin, Carol Haws, Betsey Bernhardt, and Nancy & John Shaw.

    The event is finished.

    Date

    Jun 12 2025
    Expired!

    Time

    5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

    Location

    New Jersey Performing Arts Center
    1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102
    Loading...