Food banks in our area provide nourishment for neighbors in need while also building stronger communities.
Creating a ripple effect of love and hope, these banks allow us to share what we have with the most vulnerable members of our communities. Shelves are stocked with groceries, toiletries, ready-to-go meals, and more — shared by one community member to another.
In our area, the Ridgewood YMCA’s Beyond Pantry and the Parkside Food Pantry in Westwood provide a safe and welcoming space for individuals who are in need, offering fresh groceries, household items, freshly prepared meals, and so much more.
The Ridgewood YMCA’s Beyond Pantry
Beyond Pantry is a recent addition to the Bergen County community, having started in 2023. During and after COVID, there was an influx of community members experiencing food insecurity.
Megan Nayden, VP of Membership and Mission Advancement at the Ridgewood YMCA, explains: “The YMCA began a food box distribution every Tuesday. We were working with Feed the Front Lines, the Community Food Bank, and the New Jersey Alliance as a location where people could come and get healthy meals.”
Due to the need for a location offering more than just food, the Ridgewood YMCA officially started Beyond Pantry, distributing 17,000 boxes in 2023. Now serving those in need weekly, it features a large freezer, refrigeration for perishables, shelves for non-perishables, a collection of toys and stuffed animals, and more. The community helps keep things stocked, and NJ’s Table-to-Table donates every week.
The Tuesday food box distribution is only one part. What started with about 100 cars lining up for distribution soon grew to serve over 170 families. Registered families receive nutritious foods gathered from several sources, including local restaurants and cafes, Table-to-Table, the Community Food Bank, M&T Bank and their employees, and the YMCA community.
“Individuals from all over Northern New Jersey, including Bergen and Passaic counties, can apply to be part of Beyond Pantry. They can come on an 'as-needed' basis for food, toiletries, child and baby products, and more,” says Nayden.
Special events are also sponsored through Beyond Pantry, including toy collections for holiday and birthday gifts.
Volunteers from the community play a huge role, including local teenagers and adults who contribute their time to organizing the collected food and toys on the shelves and assisting with distribution.
“I always say that it's about making sure nobody goes hungry. The price of food has gone up, and it is my goal to make sure people know we’re here. We want people to feel comfortable coming in to ask for what they need — we are a welcoming place where people can come when in need,” says Nayden.
Five hundred and fifteen unique families have been served through the YMCA pantry and food distribution this year alone.
“It’s amazing that this little idea has just grown and grown, and the neighbors and our members have expanded this vision, too. I’m so grateful for the individuals who come every week so we can serve — no matter the weather. It gives me a lot of pride knowing that this is the community taking care of each other.”
Items most needed: Cereal, diapers, cleaning products, toiletries and hygiene products, and, of course, any food items.
Donations: Items can be dropped off at the Ridgewood YMCA during open hours. Perishables can be brought to the front desk. Inquire about volunteer opportunities at the YMCA or online at RidgewoodYMCA.org.
The Parkside Food Pantry in Westwood
The Parkside Pantry in Westwood was also founded during the height of the COVID pandemic, focusing on filling the needs of low-income senior residents in Westwood. At that time, grocery stores had long lines that proved difficult for seniors, and fresh foods were hard to afford.
Initially, the Parkside Pantry made home deliveries of food obtained from various grocery stores to those most in need. Operations later shifted to a pick-up model at the front porch of the Parkside Community Church. Soon after, they received grants from Bergen County's Food Security Task Force, which was created to address food insecurity countywide.
Lisa Bontemps, food pantry coordinator, shares how grateful they are for these grants, specifically thanking Commissioner Tracy Zur for helping the Parkside Pantry have the impact it has today.
Soon, they moved off the porch — pantry storerooms were built, and refrigeration equipment was obtained, creating the full-service pantry they are today.
“In addition to providing weekly distributions of pantry staples, we offer fresh foods rescued from a variety of grocery sources, including meats, dairy, bread, and produce,” says Bontemps. “What makes our pantry unique is that we have dedicated volunteers who cook fresh, hot meals to go for all of our pantry clients and families, led by our primary cook, Christine Green. This gives them at least one night a week where they don’t have to worry about what to make for dinner, providing them with a tasty and nutritionally balanced meal.”
Food banks not only provide nutrition, but they help individuals and families create a feeling of warmth within their own homes.
Bontemps recalls a special moment: “Early in our operations, we had a client who received a variety of foods from us, including frozen salmon. Using just the ingredients she received that day, she managed to prepare a delicious meal for her family. She created it in a visually stunning way and texted me a picture. She said that beyond the obvious help of having food they would otherwise not be able to afford, being able to serve her family a lovely meal helped brighten what was otherwise a very dark time for them, when everything felt so uncertain.”
When a family shares a meal together, things feel safe. This is why Parkside Pantry hopes to raise enough funds to purchase additional needed items and reach an even wider audience.
“We currently do two concert fundraisers each year that have been helpful in raising enough to pay for some of our hot meal food costs,” Bontemps explains. “Our next concert, Westwood Goes Broadway, will be in June.”
“I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to recruit and retain several wonderful volunteers from our community who want to be a part of making a difference by donating their time,” continues Bontemps. “I am especially proud that I’ve helped instill this sense of community service and a higher mission in the hearts and minds of many teens who will hopefully use this experience to continue doing good in the world.”
How to help: Volunteer opportunities are listed on their website: ParksideChurch.net.
Donations: Non-perishable foods can be placed in donation bins in front of the main entrance. Financial donations can be made on their website: ParksideChurch.net.
A Loving Effort
Food banks like Parkside Food Pantry and Ridgewood’s YMCA’s Beyond Pantry provide loving care and nourishment to our community members in need.
YMCA’s Nayden shares: “It really is a group effort. The pantries in our area all work together for the greater good, with the goal of helping as many individuals in need as possible. No one should face hunger alone.”
If you are looking to spread some love and care to members of your community, reach out to the local food banks to lend a helping hand to those in need. The rewards are immeasurable.
"I’m so grateful for the individuals who come every week so we can serve — no matter the weather. It gives me a lot of pride knowing that this is the community taking care of each other.” - Megan Nayden