Food Pantry 

For Food Pantry Operating Procedures and Client Eligibility <<< Click here

In 2016 our Food Pantry continued it's Ministry by serving a monthly average of 63 Families, whose age span ranged from new born to 80 years plus. Although most of our Families were Bloomfield Residents, we did serve those from Newark, The Oranges, Montclair, Irvington, and Belleville. This year the number of Clients served totaled 2,182 a decrease of 4% from last year (2015). As in past years, our November and December Monthly Averages in both Families and Client served, increased over the Monthly Averages for the 1st ten (10) months. We are continually grateful for the support we receive from of our community, as we have not had to turn anyone away or close our doors for our lack of food.

During the year we received food donations from many individuals and Organizations. In addition to donations from Our BPCOG Congregation, we received donations from Watchung Presbyterian, Brookdale Reformed, Fewsmith Memorial, Grace Presbyterian, St. John's Lutheran, Christ Episcopal and Nursery School, Glen Ridge Congregational, Temple Ner-Tamid Pre-School, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service, AGAPE Worship Center (Bloomfield), Bloomfield Public Library, Bloomfield Postal Workers,, Gould Avenue School (N.) Caldwell), Cub Pack 851(G/R), Woman's Club of Bloomfield, Maj. Gen. Joseph Bloomfield D.A.R, Brach Eichler LLC-(Roseland), Bloomfield Senior High School, School No. 4 Belleville, Oakview School Bloomfield, ElK'S Lodge #1123, (Belleville), Forest Glen Early Childhood Center (Bloomfield), and MEND.

Our Pantry was also the recipient of many Monetary Contributions from Individuals as well as Clubs, Organizations, Corporations, Schools, Guilds, and Churches. The Newark Presbytery made a donation of $2,000, Shop Rite Markets and Glen Ridge Congregational each deposited $1,000.00 into our Account at the Food Bank in Hillside, where we made 9 trips this year to make bulk purchases at a considerable Cost Savings. Our Pantry also received Shop Rite Gift Cards from MEND totaling $1,425.00 which were used to make local purchases for items not available at The Food Bank.

On Wednesday November 9th, (in the rain), The Gould Ave School in N. Caldwell delivered Twenty-Six (26) Frozen Turkeys, plus a Truck Load of food from their Annual 'Turkey Trot' Event. In addition to distributing the Turkeys to our Pantry Families we also donated two, (2) to our 'Feed The World' Program for their dinner on Monday November 21st. Mend (Compliments of Kings Markets) and PACTION Newark Consortium also made Turkey Donations totaling 17. In addition, we included one (1) to our MEND sponsored 'Help A Family at Christmas' Event. With all the additional donations we received, a total of 56 Turkeys were distributed by Dec. 23rd.

On behalf of our Pantry Volunteers 'Thank You' one and all for supporting our Food Ministry throughout the Years.

Also, a personal 'Word of Thanks' to all our Volunteers who helped in continuing our Food Ministry with shopping, ‘picking up’ Food Orders and Donations, moving food purchases into our Pantry, helping with our Annual Food Drive, stocking shelves, and serving our Clients each week.

Bruce Turnbull, Director

We are pleased to announce that the Food Pantry at the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green will now be open the fourth Saturday of every month from 10 am to 12 noon. Our Pantry is a member of MEND, an Interfaith Food Pantry Network and The Community Food Bank of New Jersey. Thanks go to our additional volunteers who make these new hours possible.

The Food Pantry has been providing food on an emergency basis to families in Bloomfield and surrounding communities in Essex County. We currently serve an average of 50-60 families per month, which ranges between 75 and 165 individuals. A referral is required - please see below for our operating procedures. The Food Pantry is located on the church premises at 147 Broad Street, Bloomfield, and is open 9:30 am to 11:00 am every Wednesday and Friday, and 10 am to 12 noon on the fourth Saturday of the month. In November 2006, The Woman's Fellowship of The Bloomfield Presbyterian Church On The Green dedicated a plaque in memory of Jeannette Brien, the Founder and Director of the pantry for over 25 years. This plaque is currently in place above the door leading into the pantry. The current director is Bruce Turnbull. For more information, please call the Church Office at 973-743-1796 during office hours, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Donations of non-perishable food are welcome and may be dropped off at the Church Office during office hours. We also accept monetary donations by making the check out to BPCOG (Bloomfield Presbyterian Church On The Green) and note for the Food Pantry, and mail to the Church address. Our food pantry is a member of the M.E.N.D. network (Meeting Emergency Needs with Dignity), serving the hungry of Essex County, since Nov. 1978, and as of March 2011, qualified to "partner" with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

Bruce Turnbull, Food Pantry director

.On Sunday September 25th from 12:00 Noon -4:00 PM our Food Pantry participated in the annual “Action Against Hunger” food drive at the Stop and Shop Super Market in Bloomfield. This annual event is sponsored by MEND and the North Jersey Media Foundation. Our pantry has participated since 2006. This year the shoppers contributed 759 lbs. of non-perishable food items which we shared with our on site 'Partner Pantry' from Roseville Avenue Presbyterian Church. We were also Blessed 'Weather Wise' with a beautiful mostly sunny day. A great Big 'Thank You' to all our Volunteers for their help, which included handing flyers to shoppers, as they entered the store, with a list of most needed food items. There were those who helped weigh, sort, pack and transport the donated food to our Pantry and then sort. and put in place on our Pantry Shelves.

Those from our Congregation who participated were Diann Cornell, Samuel Epitime, Nora Hummel, Jack Leigh, Edward Leigh, Judy Skorupski, Susan, Barbara, & Bruce Turnbull, & Desmond Wedderburn. 'Thank You' One & All, Bruce Turnbull.

Kudos to Girl Scout Troupe 44! Not only do the girls regularly support our Food Pantry with delicious cookie donations, but this year they also produced an original video about what we do and why. Congratulations to the digital savvy scouts who worked on this awesome project and earned a well deserved media merit badge. In this photo, Food Pantry Volunteers, Troupe 44 Leaders, and Girl Scouts/Film Producers gathered in the church parlor with Pastor Ruth for the world premiere!

==> Click here to watch the video on the Church's Facebook page

Members of the Girls Scout Troop 44 from Montclair, Haley, Lena,& Olivia with their Co-Leaders Jennifer Hanawald and Susan Fine made a visit to the Church on the Green food pantry on Saturday April 21th, and donated 8 cases of assorted Girls Scout cookies. Director Bruce Turnbull & Nora Hummel were overjoyed and thankful for the visit.

Girls Scout Troop 44, Haley, Lena,& Olivia with their Co-Leaders Jennifer Hanawald & Susan Fine, and Food Pantry Director, Bruce Turnbull & Nora Hummel explained how the food pantry operate and the needy families

Hours of operation: 9:30-11:00 AM, Every Wednesday & Friday, 10:00 AM � 12:00 Noon the 4th Saturday of each month

1. Clients are required to have an authorized referral from the town where they reside each time they appear at the pantry to receive assistance (*). If the client appears for the first time with no referral they should be directed to the church or agency where they may obtain the referral.
2. This referral is good for one month but if the client has an emergency situation, prior to the monthly renewal date and comes to the pantry for food, the client may be given a smaller portion of food to meet the emergency. Such decisions will be made on a case by case basis, subject to availability of food, and according to the best judgment of the Food Pantry volunteers. A record of this request must be recorded as detailed in (4) below, and a No Referral Form will be completed and filed with the regular monthly referrals. NOTE: The No Referral Form may be utilized to aid a client who has been assisted before and who has a record on file. This information must also be recorded, as in (4) below and is good for one month also. This applies to all members of BPCOG who require food.
3. A �first time� client is required to present positive identification, which should concur with the information on the referral. (Name, Address, Reason for Assistance and the Total Number Requesting Food).
4. Written records are maintained for each client, and are located on file in the pantry. This record indicates the date, reason, source of referral and total number, according to age (C) 0-17, (A) 18-65, (Seniors) 65+), and is updated each time a client comes to the pantry for food.
5. Monthly reports are provided to MEND, through Catholic Charities, and The Community Food Bank of NJ, based upon the data recorded from the referrals received for the month. The Pantry director/coordinator is responsible for supplying the required information so that the report arrives at Catholic Charities and The Food Bank within the time frame as specified on the Agency's Pre-Printed Forms
6. The food is stored and distributed from a secured location and the distribution of food is determined by the size of the family, their ages as well as any special needs or restrictions the client might have due to diet, allergies or limited facilities at their residence. We also inquire if the clients have any preferences, and if items are available we try to accommodate their requests.
7. Any food distributions made to a client or clients �Off Hours� for any reason must be recorded, as in (2) No Referral Form & (4) above.
8. A �thank you� note in appreciation for any food donations or financial contributions will be sent to the donors and all financial contributions must be reported to the Church Treasurer for deposit into the Pantry Account. This money will be made available to reimburse purchases made for the food pantry, by individuals who submit a �Check Request Form� along with a receipt.

(*) Examples of Referrals include the following:

Bloomfield / Glen Ridge Clergy Association, Nutley Family Service League, United Way, Bloomfield Health and Human Services, Authorized Social Services Workers or Agencies, Hospitals, Veteran�s Affairs, etc.

(updated 12/13/2016)