Emergency Services During Covid
Essential Services
Updated 9/30/2023.
The IFPO serves clients at 357 S. Jefferson Avenue, Orange, on Wednesday mornings. We are not open the first Wednesday of the month
You can find another convenient pantry through the lists below. We suggest you call to confirm current hours and information before going to a pantry.
· Community Food Bank of NJ's "Food Finder" where you can search for a pantry by zip code or you can text "FindFood" or "Comida" to 908-224-7776.
· MEND also offers a list of food pantries in Essex County.
· ESSEX COUNTY provides a list of food pantries. Call to confirm current operations before visiting as Covid has changed many operations.
The services and programs listed below are not run by the IFPO. These services are offered by other state, local and non-profit community groups. The IFPO is continually updating this page as we learn of emergency response programs.
COVID TESTS: Free covid tests are now again available by mail. Four free kits will be delivered directly to your home once you fill out the form. Go to https://special.usps.com/testkits to order. Test kits will be shipped the week of Oct. 2. Tests may show “expired” dates on the box, but FDA has extended those dates.
Emergency Food Pantries & Food Distributions:
City of Orange Food Distribution, 234 Lincoln Avenue (between Jackson Street and Central Avenue). Food distributions Mondays and Wednesdays 10:00 am - 2:00 pm for Orange residents only. Bring your own bags! The pantry will be closed on Monday Oct.. 9 (Columbus Day) but will be open Tuesday Oct. 10 and Wednesday Oct. 11.
Holy Trinity Food Pantry, 315 Main Street, West Orange, Tuesdays 9 am - 12 pm serving residents of the Oranges. Please bring a photo ID and proof of address. Diaper Day - Tuesday October 30 -the last Tuesday of each month during regular food pantry
Joi's Angel food pantry, 114 S. Arlington Ave., East Orange. 9 am - 12 pm. Third (Sept. 21) and Fourth Thursday (Sept. 28) of each month. Third Thursday (Sept. 21) is also diaper pantry for children up to age 3 (bring birth certificate).
East Orange - Food Distributions Fridays, 9:00 AM - 12:00 pm. Fellowship Civic Center, 1 Fellowship Circle (Greenwood Ave.) . Walk up only. ** Must be an East Orange Resident.
Saturdays 11:00 am - 1:30 pm. Free bagged lunch and groceries, Emergency food pantry of Church of the Epiphany and Christ Church, 105 Main Street, Orange. Rain or shine in the Church parking lot.
Saturdays 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm, Christine's Kitchen, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 315 Main Street, West Orange. Free bagged lunch to go. All are welcome.
Second and Third Saturdays of each month (Oct. 14 and 23), Food distribution, Mount Caramel Baptist Church, 381 Cleveland Street, Orange, 10 am - 12:00 noon. Please bring a bag.
Saturday Oct. 14 and 28. 8:00 am – 10:00 am. Our Lady of Sorrows Food Pantry, 4th St (btw Prospect & Academy), South Orange. Vehicles can pull up to the area marked with cones and pop the trunk to receive food.
Sunday Oct. 1 (First Sunday of each month) - Free Sunday dinner at 12:00, 4 meals to go per family. St. Matthew's African Methodist Episcopal Church, 336 Oakwood Ave., Orange. Details here.
Third Sunday of Month - Oct. 15 - Grab and go food distribution for Essex County residents. Bring photo ID with address and a bag. 10 am. 37 Evergreen Place, East Orange. East Orange Community Development Corporation. They will also be providing free clothing and other items to those in need. Information here.
Essential Services Pantry - for hygiene supplies and necessities (no food) every Friday from 12 pm - 2 pm, East Orange Family Success Center, 132 South Harrison Street, East Orange. Open to all. Details here.
Infant Formula Shortage Resources: Resources can be found here.
Diaper Resources:
---Holy Trinity Food Pantry, 315 Main Street, West Orange, Tuesdays 9 am - 12 pm serving residents of the Oranges. Please bring a photo ID and proof of address. Diaper Day - the last Tuesday of each month during regular food pantry.
---Joi's Angel food pantry, 114 S. Arlington Ave., East Orange. 9 am - 12 pm. Third Thursday is a diaper pantry for children up to age 3 (bring birth certificate). **East Orange residents only.
---UVSO Community Center, 462 Sanford Avenue, Newark. Every third Thursday of the month. 2 pm - 4 pm. Bring birth certificate. Up to two children.
---East Orange Family Success Center, 132 South Harrison Street, East Orange. Call first! 973-395-1442. Diapers and formula available to Essex County residents.
SNAP Assistance and Other Benefit Assistance:
Please see important information about current SNAP scams here.
The Emergency Allocations for SNAP that have been in effect for the last 3 years have now ended. The monthly minimum in NJ is now $95.
A flyer in 21 languages on the end of this Emergency Allocation and how you can check your benefit amounts can be found here (scroll down for flyer).
Information on getting help with SNAP through a "SNAP Navigator" can be found here.
If you are worried about the reduction in SNAP benefits, you should find out what other food assistance programs you may be eligible for, including WIC for women and children under 5, free or reduced school meals, or the commodity supplemental food program for adults 60 years of age and over. Visit www.nj211.org/njsnap to find more information and resources.
The SNAP Resource Team will next be at the IFPO Wednesday, September 27, and the fourth Wednesday of every month.
You can speak to our walk up Registration team during IFPO pantry hours to connect with a WIC representative about accessing WIC benefits.
Important Information can be found here:
Information on How Recent Changes in Government Assistance Programs Affect IFPO Clients
--NJ Snap Benefit Changes: What You Need to Know. (flyer)
--NJ211 (food and other resources)
--Important information on upcoming changes in Medicaid
You can directly call the Community FoodBank of NJ Resource Access Team at 1-908-838-4831 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. In addition to helping with SNAP, the Team can provide direct referrals to other agencies with your contact information submitted, which they can then track and follow-up upon. You can also schedule an appointment with the Resource Access Team by utilizing the following link https://outlook.office365.com/.../ResourceAcces.../bookings/
Input “IFPO” for the “Referring Agency Name”/“Which agency referred you to CFBNJ?”.
Essex County residents who want to apply for SNAP food assistance, cash assistance, or NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid can also visit NJHelps.org.
Need help paying your energy bill? You may be eligible for assistance through the LIHEAP (Low income home energy assistance program). Information here.
Need help paying your water or sewer bill? You may be eligible for assistance through the LIHWAP (Low income household water assistance program). Information here.
Covid Vaccinations
The CDC has recommended that adults 65 and over and those with weakened immune systems receive another dose of the bivalent booster. Additionally, individuals who have not yet been vaccinated now only need one shot of the reformulated vaccine to start, not two. More information here.
The county vaccination sites are now closed. For information on vaccinations and boosters at the Essex county mobile sites, call 973-877-8456.
Vaccines may be available for adults and some younger children at some local pharmacies. Call your pharmacy directly to ask.
Federal law makes the vaccine totally free. You will not be billed. There are no co-payments.
Anyone who lives, works, or studies in New Jersey is eligible to be vaccinated – regardless of immigration or insurance status.
IFPO will help you find a free vaccine. Ask at our Registration Desk, or click here for the NJ Vaccine Finder. https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/finder.
How to Schedule a Vaccine Appointment:
·
· https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/finder
· Text your zipcode to 438829 for a list of vaccine locations near you.
· Call NJ Vaccine Center : 855-568-0545 (8:00 am - 8:00 pm)
· Check https://covid19.nj.gov/ for additional guidance.
You can report positive at-home test results here. Reporting positive test results to your local public health department helps experts understand the prevalence of a new disease in different communities.
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Rental and Housing Assistance:
Housing Assistance may be available to renters, landlords and homeowners. Call 888-691-3002 or visit www.HousingHelpNJ.org. Details here.
If you are facing eviction from your home, New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund can help. Protect yourself from eviction by self-certifying and applying for rental assistance.
Call 1-888-654-3893 or email evictionprevention@njcitizenaction.org.
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Benefits:
Financial assistance for actual funeral costs up to $9,000 may now be available for Covid-related deaths (as indicated on death certificate) in the US. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien. There is no requirement for the decedent to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien. Details here.
Covid-19 Crisis Counseling Services:
Covid Connect offers adults support for mental health and addiction issues related to Covid 19. Details here.
Coronavirus Information:
· CDC Coronavirus Page - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
·
New Jersey Dept. of Health - Covid19 information hub: click here.
· NJ Coronavirus questions call: 211
* Most programs listed on this page are NOT run by the IFPO. All information is based on information the IFPO found on local websites including the City of Orange Township, Orange Township Public Schools, East Orange, and West Orange public school, MEND webpages, or their related Facebook pages. We have not verified locations and times. Please confirm operating hours before visiting.