NJ speeds $42.5M in food assistance as SNAP funding runs dry

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The basics:

• Federal SNAP benefits paused starting Nov. 1 amid shutdown
• Murphy directs $42.5M to New Jersey food banks for relief
• +800,000 residents rely on SNAP; food insecurity expected to rise
• Local businesses and nonprofits boost donations to meet demand

With food assistance benefits expected to halt due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, New Jersey officials are stepping in to make sure residents have the resources necessary to put food on the table.

Despite the availability of approximately $6 billion in congressionally approved contingency funds for emergency circumstances, the United States Department of Agriculture announced it will not fund the program starting Nov. 1.

As the state braces for the loss of a crucial safety net program, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that $42.5 million in food and hunger grants are being expedited to support the following local nonprofits:

• Community FoodBank of New Jersey $22.525 million
• Food Bank of South Jersey $6.375 million
• Fulfill Monmouth & Ocean $6.375 million
• Mercer Street Friends Food Bank $4.675 million
• Norwescap $1.275 million
• Southern Regional Food Distribution Center $1.275 million

The funds are being drawn from $85 million set aside for food banks in the fiscal year 2026 budget, according to the governor’s office.

In a statement, Murphy said, “In communities across our state, food banks are on the front lines combating food insecurity and supporting New Jersey families in need. They are an integral part of our food security safety net, and our administration is proud to deliver funding to support their operations, especially at a time of increased uncertainty.”

He went on to say, “The Trump Administration’s decision to abandon the over 800,000 New Jerseyans who rely on critical SNAP benefits during one of the longest federal government shutdowns in our nation’s history is morally reprehensible. In New Jersey, we will continue to coordinate across government and with our partners on the ground as we navigate the fallout from the federal government’s failure to act in the best interest of the American people.”

What happens now

Often referred to as “food stamps,” SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) serves roughly 42 million low-income Americans. The programs were safe last month because states received federal funding before the shutdown began Oct. 1.

Since states administer the federally funded program, the shutdown’s impact on SNAP varies. According to the New Jersey Department of Health, local SNAP benefits have full funding through Oct. 31.

For households that are dual-enrolled in both SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, the state projects that, based on normal spending, WIC benefits and services will continue without interruption through the end of November.

Of the more than 800,000 residents in New Jersey who rely on SNAP each month, nearly 165,000 women and children depend on WIC benefits for healthy foods and nutritional support, the state said.

Economic impact

The New Jersey Department of Human Services also noted the economic impact of the federal government’s failure to fund the program. Locally, SNAP supports more than 5,000 stores, grocers, and farmers markets.

In Fiscal Year 2023, SNAP participants redeemed $2.5 billion in benefits at New Jersey retailers, accounting for 9.4% of statewide spending on food for consumption at home, the state said.

Acting New Jersey Health Commissioner Jeff Brown said, “Nobody deserves to go hungry, and it is unacceptable for our federal government to put essential nutrition programs in such a precarious position. SNAP and WIC are lifelines to our most vulnerable neighbors – babies and children, seniors and hard-working families – and we cannot let them down. New Jersey did not create this crisis, but we will do everything we can to help ensure New Jerseyans don’t miss meals.”

Bracing for a surge in demand

The state funding comes as food banks and pantries nationwide are bracing for a surge in demand due to the pause of SNAP benefits. Like New Jersey, several other states, such as Louisiana, New Mexico, Vermont, New York and Nevada, have announced help for low-income households that rely on SNAP to eat, The Associated Press reported.

New Jersey Democratic Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim are among 43 lawmakers who sent an Oct. 23 letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins demanding that she use contingency funding and other powers available to her as secretary to transfer money from other department programs to find the billions of dollars necessary to keep SNAP rolling.

Murphy has also called for the release of funding. Additionally, New Jersey joined a multistate lawsuit against the USDA and Rollins for unlawfully suspending SNAP.

What residents need to know

While new funds will not be made available Nov. 1, SNAP recipients will be able to access any funds in their account that have carried over from October 2025 or previous months. Balances can be checked here.

A number of pantries offer fresh produce in addition to stable, non-perishable foods, shopping appointments and information about additional services. Residents can locate food pantries and community kitchens via NJ 211.

All children in families receiving benefits from NJ SNAP are automatically eligible to receive free school meals. Students who do not currently receive free school meals should contact their school district to complete an application.

NJFC provides shopper resource

The New Jersey Food Council has also put together a resource for shoppers that includes information about local food rescue operations, government food assistance programs, food security partners and SNAP program updates.

Linda Doherty, the trade group’s president and CEO, said, “This is a time of significant uncertainty for many grocery shoppers and store operators, as we all hope the federal government will be operational and SNAP benefits can continue uninterrupted. But we need to prepare for the worst, and that includes ensuring that New Jerseyans are aware of all available emergency food resources.”

“It is our hope that SNAP recipients access the Linktree now and begin learning about the resources available to them,” Doherty said. “We all need to do our part to ensure New Jersey families are fed as our federal leaders work to reopen the government.”

We all need to do our part to ensure New Jersey families are fed as our federal leaders work to reopen the government.
– Linda Doherty, New Jersey Food Council president and CEO

A call for community

With more families expected to turn to local food pantries, organizations said their inventory of food and supplies may be under strain sooner than expected without more community support. The pause of SNAP benefits also comes as many nonprofit groups prepare for annual Thanksgiving food distribution efforts.

“With families facing financial pressure and now changes in SNAP benefits, we know that even more households will turn to The Salvation Army for support,” said Maj. Brett DeMichael, divisional commander of The Salvation Army New Jersey Division. “From experience, we see that the holiday season brings the highest demand for food, rent, and utility assistance, and this year that need is expected to be greater than ever. Our faith compels us to take action, serving everyone who turns to us for help and ensuring no one is left without support.”

“The best way to help those in need is to provide a financial contribution,” added DeMichael. “When you donate to The Salvation Army, your gift stays in your community and helps us make hope a reality for those who seek our assistance.”

David Ireland, founder of the CARE Center of New Jersey in Rockaway, said, “More families are coming in who’ve never needed help before. With federal aid going on pause, we anticipate the lines will grow, the shelves will empty faster, and the needs will become urgent. We’re ready to respond — but we need the community alongside us.”

Emergency funds

Steve Katz, executive director of The Food Bank Network of Somerset County, said, “The reduction in SNAP and WIC benefits is already being felt by working families across New Jersey. For many, these programs are the thin line between getting by and falling into crisis. When that safety net weakens, families have nowhere else to turn but to community organizations like ours.”

Katz said the repercussions of the cuts are expected to grow in the coming weeks, so the organization set up “emergency and unbudgeted expenditure of $100,000 to purchase food if necessary to meet the surge in need.”

“Thousands of Somerset County residents rely on SNAP benefits, and we can’t allow a funding gap to leave them without access to nutritious meals. This is a significant strain on our budget, but it’s the right thing to do because no one in our community should go hungry,” Katz added.

‘A real toll on mental health’

Jen Velten, senior director of trauma services at CarePlus NJ, noted that there’s “a clear and growing link between economic pressure and emotional distress.”

“When people are constantly worried about rent, groceries, or keeping their jobs, it takes a real toll on their mental health. Anxiety and depression intensify, sleep and focus decline, and that’s often when we see individuals reaching a crisis point,” she continued.

“Financial stress keeps people in survival mode. It’s not just about money, it’s about safety, security, and stability,” Velten explained. “When those are threatened, it becomes incredibly difficult to find space for self-care or to reach out for help. That’s why timely access to mental health services and community support is so critical right now.”

Financial stress keeps people in survival mode. It’s not just about money, it’s about safety, security, and stability.
– Jen Velten, senior director of trauma services, CarePlus NJ

Nancy Schneeloch, vice president of supportive housing, homeless outreach and justice involved services at Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services, reflected on what the disappearance of steady food access and stable housing means for those in recovery.

“At Bridgeway, we see every day how meeting those essential needs first transforms someone’s ability to recover and thrive. Once a person feels secure, with a roof over their head, a meal on the table, and the right supports in place, they can finally turn their attention to healing, finding purpose, and reconnecting with their community. That’s where real, lasting recovery begins,” she said.

Businesses lend a hand

Businesses are already answering the call for help.

Ridgefield-based family-owned commercial bakery Toufayan Bakeries is donating pallets of products, including croissant and breadsticks, to residents in New Jersey and those in Jamaica impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

“Our father, who founded Toufayan Bakeries, has always led by example. When someone’s in need, you show up. That’s as much a part of Toufayan as the care and quality that go into everything we bake. Whether there is need in New Jersey or Jamaica, we love knowing people are relying on Toufayan to help,” explained marketing vice president Karen Toufayan.

When someone’s in need, you show up.
– Karen Toufayan, marketing vice president, Toufayan Bakeries

Family-owned sauce brand Hoboken Farms is giving 5,000 jars of pasta sauce to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. It is also coordinating with family-owned grocer Inserra Supermarkets to donate 5,000 boxes of pasta to CFBNJ.

According to Hoboken Farms, donations will begin shipping early next week through Thanksgiving. If SNAP benefits are not restored by then, Hoboken Farms will continue sending products during the freeze.

Hoboken Farms founder Brad Finkel said, “Hoboken Farms got its start at local New Jersey farm markets where crowds line up every weekend for our pasta sauce That means, we spend thousands of hours face to face with New Jersey residents every weekend – in NJ that makes us all family. Of course we are eager to do what we can to help our community in time of need, a community that has supported us from our earliest days.”