30 New Jersey nonprofits to receive $17.5M in grants through new phase of NJEDA program supporting restaurants, families in need
Sustain & Serve NJ Program on Track to Purchase Five Million Meals from 430+ New Jersey Restaurants
NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Friday announced plans to award grants totaling $17.5 million to 30 nonprofit organizations through Phase 3 of its successful Sustain & Serve NJ program.
Sustain & Serve NJ provides eligible entities with grants to support the purchase of meals from New Jersey restaurants that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and the distribution of those meals at no cost to recipients. The additional $17.5 million in awards announced today brings total program funding to $52.5 million.
Sustain & Serve NJ launched during the pandemic as a $2 million pilot program to boost restaurants impacted by COVID and has grown into an over $50 million program that continues to bring much-needed food to people across New Jersey. Since February 2021, Sustain & Serve NJ has already supported the purchase of more than 3.5 million meals from over 400 restaurants in all 21 counties with grants totaling $35 million.
Phase 3 of Sustain & Serve NJ is funded by $10 million allocated by Governor Phil Murphy from the federal American Rescue Plan and approximately $7.5 million in State funding. Funding from this latest phase is expected to support the purchase of an additional 1.5 million meals.
“Sustain & Serve NJ has become a national model for addressing food insecurity, supporting small businesses that are the heartbeat of our downtowns, and providing funding to the nonprofit entities that deliver vital services,” said Acting Governor Sheila Y. Oliver. “Combatting hunger remains a top priority and it is more critical than ever that nonprofits have the resources they need to feed the people within their communities.”
“Throughout the pandemic, Governor Murphy has challenged us to employ innovative methods for supporting businesses, nonprofits, and New Jerseyans in need and Sustain & Serve NJ has been a tremendous asset in helping us meet that goal,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “We have an obligation to aid our fellow New Jerseyans who face food insecurity every single day. Nonprofit organizations and restaurants are critical allies in that mission and supporting them is an important part of our commitment to eradicating hunger, creating jobs, and fueling the economic growth and security of our state.”
Sullivan noted that Sustain & Serve NJ is a key part of the NJEDA’s efforts to strengthen the economic security of all New Jerseyans. The Authority is putting forth a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate food deserts within the state and to bolster the child care sector, an industry whose critical importance was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NJEDA is also working with partners statewide to create a Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in Trenton as part of First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ initiative to make New Jersey the safest and most equitable place to give birth in the country.
“Real economic prosperity can only be achieved when everyone’s needs are being addressed, including the most basic need for food security,” said NJEDA’s Executive Vice President of Economic Security Tara Colton. “Sustain & Serve NJ grantees are extraordinary nonprofit organizations who are committed to feeding their neighbors and supporting their communities with respect and dignity.”
Pending the outcome of final reviews, the NJEDA anticipates making awards to the following non-profit organizations to participate in Phase 3 of the Sustain & Serve NJ program. Organizations marked with an asterisk (*) are new to the Sustain & Serve NJ Program for Phase 3.
| Organization | Location of Participating Restaurants | ||
| Name | Headquarters | Municipality(ies) | County(ies) |
| A Need We Feed Inc. | Jackson | Red Bank, Manahawkin, Seaside Heights, Farmingdale Borough, Lakehurst, Toms River | Monmouth, Ocean |
| All Access Community Development Corporation* | Hackensack | Bergenfield, Maywood | Bergen |
| AtlantiCare Foundation | Egg Harbor | Galloway, Ventnor, Egg Harbor, Galloway, Hammonton | Atlantic |
| Chef Lou’s Army | Manasquan | Manasquan, Wall, | Monmouth |
| Coalition for Food and Health Equity | Jersey City | Montclair, Newark, Englewood, Jersey City, Kearny, North Bergen, Livingston | Essex, Hudson, Bergen |
| Newark Working Kitchens (Community Foundation of New Jersey) | Morristown | Newark | Essex |
| Congregation Bnos Devorah | Lakewood | Lakewood | Ocean |
| Eva’s Village, Inc.* | Paterson | Haledon | Passaic |
| FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (Fulfill) | Neptune | Red Bank, Manasquan, Freehold, Asbury Park, Toms River, Seaside Heights, Neptune, Brick, Wall, Belmar, Long Branch, Holmdel, Ocean City | Monmouth, Ocean |
| Front Line Appreciation Group of Millburn Short Hills | Short Hills | Millburn | Essex |
| HealthBarn Foundation | Lyndhurst | Ridgewood | Bergen |
| HMH Hospitals Corporation | Edison | New Milford, South Hackensack | Bergen |
| Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy Inc. | Livingston | Livingston | Essex |
| Meals on Wheels of Mercer County | Ewing | Pennington, Ewing, Trenton, Lawrenceville, | Mercer |
| Metuchen Downtown Alliance* | Metuchen | Metuchen | Middlesex |
| Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center | Pennsville | Pennsville, Salem | Salem |
| Morristown Rotary Club | Morristown | Morristown, Verona | Morris, Essex |
| New Jersey Chaplains Association* | Lakewood | Lakewood | Ocean |
| New Jersey Farmers Cooperative | Cape May | Cape May | Cape May |
| Our Community Dinner Table | South Hackensack | Bergenfield, Englewood, Fort Lee, Palisades Park | Bergen |
| Power Changes Lives | Morris Plains | Bergenfield, Bordentown, Bridgeton, Clark, Clementon, Clinton, Englewood, Englishtown, Freehold, Jersey City, Keyport, Linwood, Mahwah, Monmouth, Montclair, Morristown, New Brunswick, Newark, Ocean City, Parsippany, Princeton, Ringos, River Vale, Rochelle Park, South Amboy, Teaneck, Washington, Wayne, West Windsor | Atlantic, Burlington, Bergen, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Union |
| Rescue Mission of Trenton | Trenton | Trenton, Ewing | Mercer |
| Share My Meals | Princeton | Princeton, Skillman, Montgomery, | Mercer, Somerset |
| Soup Kitchen 411 (FeedNJ) | Hightstown | Montclair, Union, Hightstown, Belmar, Ringwood, Metuchen, Linden, Ewing, Englishtown, New Brunswick, Tinton Falls, Morristown, Hoboken, Toms River, Piscataway, Belford, Hamilton, Asbury Park, Freehold, Middletown, Jersey City, Roselle, Camden, Lawrenceville, Medford, Morristown, Penns Grove, Cranford, Englewood, Fairview, Perth Amboy, Vineland, Glassboro, Haddon, Newark, Raritan, Belleville, Summit, Sayreville, Eatontown, Princeton, Leonardo, Branchville, South River, Bayonne, East Brunswick, Wharton, Brick, South Amboy, West Windsor, Long Branch, Neptune, Monroe, Nutley, Netcong, Parsippany, Westfield, Scotch Plains, Red Bank, Elizabeth, Bradley Beach, Ridgewood, Shrewsbury, Wallington, Fairview, Haledon | Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Mercer, Passaic, Middlesex, Union, Ocean, Camden, Burlington, Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester, Bergen, Somerset, Sussex |
| Toni’s Kitchen, a food ministry of St. Luke’s Church | Montclair | Montclair, Caldwell | Essex |
| TASK Inc (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen) | Trenton | East Windsor, Ewing, Hamilton, Lawrenceville, Pennington, Princeton, West Windsor | Mercer |
| The Cliffside Park Hall of Fame Foundation | Cliffside Park | Cliffside Park, Hillsdale, Northvale, River Vale, Rochelle Park, South Hackensack, Washington Township, Westwood | Bergen |
| The Foundation for University Hospital | Newark | Belleville, Newark, Rutherford | Bergen, Essex |
| The Summit Foundation | Summit | Summit | Union |
| Family Food Relief of New Jersey (Tomchei Shabbos D’Lakewood)* | Lakewood | Lakewood | Ocean |
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.
To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit www.njeda.com.
