The third annual Feeding New Jersey Conference, held on Tuesday, June 17th at Rutgers University’s Livingston Student Center, was a collaborative effort organized by New Jersey’s five major food banks: the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Food Bank of South Jersey, Fulfill, Mercer Street Friends, and NORWESCAP. The event brought together hundreds of food security leaders from across the state for a day of learning, networking, and collaborative problem-solving.
The conference featured engaging breakout sessions focused on topics including volunteerism, data management, and the implementation of the Growing Healthy Pantries toolkit. Derek Smith of Franklin Food Bank served as host on stage, leading a fireside chat with Speaker Coughlin that set the tone for a day of open dialogue and shared learning.
For the breakout sessions, participants could choose from five targeted tracks: From Toolkit To Practice – Growing Healthy Pantries; Better Serving Neighbors With Trauma Informed Care; Finding & Recruiting Volunteers In New Places; Getting To Root Causes With Wrap Around Services; and Why Data Matters And How It Informs The Future. Each session featured experienced food bank facilitators, alongside agency panelists who shared their real-world experiences and best practices. These interactive sessions provided practical, implementable strategies that partners could take back to their organizations.
“This was undoubtedly our best conference yet,” shared Lois Bennett from Feeding Hands in Hillsborough, NJ. “It provided a wonderful opportunity not just to learn, but to truly connect and be heard by our peers and partners. What made it particularly special was the genuine respect shown to front-line feeding organizations and the meaningful chance to interact directly with policy makers. Through open dialogue and collaborative idea sharing, we were able to tackle common challenges together. We left with a greater unity and greater understanding that we’re not alone and we’re all pushing through together.”
Nicole A. Davis from Center for Food Action, which serves multiple locations throughout Bergen County including Englewood, Saddle Brook, Hackensack, Mahwah, Ringwood and Bergen Community College, noted, “The convening of CFBNJ and the other state food banks to support the work of our collective food panties including Center for Food Action is essential in moving the needle forward as we collaborate to ensure access to sufficient and sustainable amounts of nutritious food for our guests and neighbors facing food insecurity.”
Partners particularly appreciated the conference’s practical resources and tools. John Scotland of Friends of Jean Webster in Atlantic City emphasized this value: “The Feeding NJ Conference was truly inspirational! It provided us with hope in these difficult times. CFBNJ continues to give us the tools and resources necessary for us to continue providing 3500 meals weekly to our hungry neighbors. The 400 page online tool chest for continuing to improve our Client Choice Pantry is incredibly helpful. And the workshop on the value and use of data was very informative! Thanks to all who helped organize and lead the conference. It was especially gratifying to know that all of the major foodbanks in NJ are collaborating and partnering with each other and the NJ State government!”
The success of this year’s conference underscores the power of collaboration and shared purpose in the effort to address food insecurity in New Jersey. As partners returned to their communities, they carried with them new tools, strengthened relationships, and renewed inspiration to continue their vital work.