Emergency Services During Covid

Essential Services

Updated 3/30/2023.

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.

Emergency Food Pantries & Food Distributions:

City of Orange Food Distribution, 234 Lincoln Avenue (between Jackson Street and Central Avenue). Food distributions Mondays and Wednesdays 10:30 am - 2:30 pm for Orange residents only. Bring your own bags!

The Pantry will be closed on Monday April 10 for the Easter holiday but will be open on Tuesday April 11 and Wednesday April 12 that week.

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 (March 16) and Fourth Thursday (March 23) of each month. Third Thursday is also diaper pantry for children up to age 3 (bring birth certificate). **East Orange residents only.

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.

The pantry will be closed on Friday April 7 (Good Friday). There is no pantry that week at Fellowship Civic Center,

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 (March 11 and 18), Food distribution, Mount Caramel Baptist Church, 381 Cleveland Street, Orange, 10 am - 12:00 noon. Please bring a bag.

Saturday March 11 and 25. 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.

Second and Fourth Sunday (March 12 and 26) - Community dinners - grab and go, walk up or drive through at Saint Matthew Church, 336 Oakwood Ave., Orange. 12:00 till meals gone. 4 meals per family. Details here

Third Sunday of Month (April 16) - Grab and go fresh produce 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.

Easter Turkey and Food Distribution Event, Monday April 3 at South Mountain Arena, West Orange. Details here and aqui en Espanol.

Infant Formula Shortage Resources: Resources can be found here.

Free At Home Covid tests:

Every U.S. household is now (again) eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests. Go to https://www.covid.gov/tests to order.

SNAP Assistance and Other Benefit Assistance:

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 on Wednesday, April 26. Until then, 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:

--NJ Snap Benefit Changes: What You Need to Know. (flyer)

--NJ211 (food and other resources)

--Important information on upcoming changes in Medicaid

Call the Community FoodBank of NJ Resource Access Team. 1-908-838-4831 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.

The Resource Access Team is at the IFPO pantry on our first Wednesday pantry day each month.

Essex County residents who want to apply for SNAP food assistance, cash assistance, or NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid, visit NJHelps.org.

Need help paying your energy bill? You may be eligbile for assistance through the LIHEAP (Low income home energy assistance program). Information here.

Covid Vaccinations

The county vaccination sites are now closed. For information on vaccinations and boosters at the Essex county mobile sites, go to www.EssexCOVID.org or call 973-877-8456.

Vaccines may also 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:

· www.essexcovid.org

· 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.

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 check before visiting as things are changing rapidly.