Division of Food & Nutrition


The Division of Food & Nutrition
strives to provide healthyfarmers market photo food access to all residents of Jersey City.

Our programs and services include:

  • Home-delivered senior meals program - Meals On Wheels

  • Senior congregate meals program

  • Adopt-a-Lot community garden programs

  • Buy Fresh & Buy Local at city Farmers Market

  • Summer Meal Program for school-aged children

  • WIC (Women Infant and Children) Clinic Support

  • Healthy Greens JC Community Vertical Farm Program

Local Foods, Local Places Grant

The Division of Food and Nutrition was awarded one of thirteen USDA and EPA grants, Local Foods - Local Places, in 2021 to focus on Jersey City's Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood.

Read the full report and Action Plan here.  

Food Donations or Food Rescue

If you have a food donation or rescue opportunity you need assistance with or would like to donate, then complete
this form.

MEALS-ON-WHEELS

meals on wheels photo

The Meals on Wheels program is available to homebound or bedridden seniors who cannot provide for their own nutritional needs. Meals are delivered to homes every week by a team of dedicated staff.

Apply online here.

Alternatively, you can download and print the APPLICATION. Once its completed you can mail to the address below.

Martin Luther King Jr. City Hall Annex
Attention Meals On Wheels
1 Jackson Square
Jersey City, NJ 07305

(201) 547-6809
8am-4pm Mon-Fri

John Hanussak, Project Supervisor

SENIOR LUNCH PROGRAM
The senior lunch Program (Congregate Meals) provides hot and nutritious lunches to seniors 60 and over in group setting. We invite seniors to come to one of our 10 lunch sites throughout Jersey City for a fresh, farm to table meal by local restaurant Whealth Kitchen.
Lunch is served 11:30AM-1PM, Monday-Friday.

Please click below and fill out Intake Form:

Congregate Senior Intake Form

For more information, contact Morgan Spann, MPA, Program Manager, Food Services [email protected] 201-547-5289

New* In collaboration with the Division of Senior Affairs, senior classes will be offered including Tai Chi, Meditation, Yoga, Aerobics, and Chess. Please click the locations to view each flier.

LOCATIONS

Berry Gardens
92 Danforth Avenue
Marilyn, 201-706-4745

Boyd McGuiness
2555 Kennedy Boulevard
Sandra, 201-434-2227

Grace Senior Center
39 Erie Street
Joyce Davison, 201-659-2211

Holland Gardens
241 16 Street
Elizabeth Nunez, 201-296-2118

Hudson Gardens
29 Palisade Avenue
Mariela, 201-706-4773

Joseph Connors Senior Center
28 Paterson Street
Gina Martinelli, 201-420-7602

Maureen Collier Senior Center
335 Bergen Avenue
Cynthia Holloway, 201-957-5557

Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center
140 Martin Luther King Drive
Nakia, 201-892-9409 Ext: 3085
**Closed until further notice

Ocean Towers
425 Ocean Avenue
Shaquanna, 201-763-6180
**Closed until further notice

Villa Borinquen (PACO)
398 Grove Street
Ximena (Senior Lunch Aid), 201-600-5292


SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2022 Summer Food Service Program.

For information on how to become a site for next year's program, please contact Morgan Spann, [email protected] / 201-547-5289.

FARMERS MARKETS - BUY FRESH/BUY LOCAL

Farmers Market photoJersey City Farmers Markets are a great way for farmers to provide fresh and local products to customers. Local products are more sustainable as they are fresher, lasts longer, and tastes better. To ensure equitable access to fresh produce, all markets are required by City ordinance to accept WIC, SNAP, Senior Vouchers, and EBT.

 
MARKET LOCATIONS:

Berry Lane Park Farmers' Market 
!!! Coming Soon !!! 
1000 Garfield Avenue 07304
April - November
WIC, SNAP/EBT & FMNP 

Historic Downtown Farmers' Market OPEN
Grove Street Path Plaza 07302
Year-Round
Winter Market: Thursday 4 PM - 6 PM 
WIC, SNAP/EBT & FMNP

Van Vorst Park Farmers' Market OPEN
281 Montgomery Street 07302
Year-Round 
Winter Market: Saturday 9 AM - 1 PM 
WIC, SNAP/EBT & FMNP

The Journal Square Green Market CLOSED
Bergen Avenue Pedestrian Mall
40 Journal Square Plaza 07306
June - Dec
Wednesday 2 PM - 7 PM
WIC, SNAP/EBT & FMNP

Riverview Farmers' Market CLOSED
498 Palisade Avenue 07307
May - Nov  Sunday 10 AM - 2 PM 
WIC, SNAP/EBT & FMNP

Paulus Hook Farmers' Market OPEN
158 Washington Street 07302
Year-Round 
Winter Market: Saturday 10 AM - 2 PM
WIC, SNAP/EBT & FMNP

Hamilton Park Farmers' Market CLOSED
8th Street & Jersey Avenue 07302
May - Dec
Wednesday 4 PM - 7 PM 
WIC, SNAP/EBT & FMNP

Lincoln Park Farmers' Market CLOSED
Corner of West Side Ave & Belmont Ave 07304
June - October
Sunday 10 AM - 2 PM 
WIC, SNAP/EBT & FMNP

Click here to see the New Jersey Seasonality Chart

Buy Fresh & Buy Local

farmers market photo

Jersey City farmers markets are open through December. Please bring a reusable shopping bag, wear a mask and maintain social distancing. WIC, Senior FMNP and SNAP/EBT are accepted. Click on the links below for up-to-date schedule and locations.

English Español 

Five Steps to starting a Farmers' Market

  1. Non-profit organizations should send an email to the Jose Vargas, Healthy Food Access Coordinator at [email protected] with the Farmers’ Market proposal including layout/site map. Your organization will be sent the City’s COVID-19 Guidelines and contacted about scheduling a virtual meeting with the Healthy Food Access Coordinator and Division Director of Food and Nutrition.
  2. After a successful meeting, the organization will be able to contact Cultural Affairs to request a link via the DocuSign platform to the Special Events application.
  3. After Cultural Affairs has approved the application, you can complete and submit a Vendor List Form.
  4. After the Division Director and Healthy Food Access Coordinator approve the vendors list, it will be sent to the Bureau of Licensing for appropriate permits.
  5. Once the permits are received by market managers, the Farmers’ Market can open.
ADOPT-A-LOT COMMUNITY GARDENS

community garden photoJersey City’s Adopt-A-Lot (AAL) program allows non-profit organizations to create a peaceful and enjoyable space for everyone to share on dormant City-owned property. Community gardens are collectively managed by a group of at least five (5) people producing fruits, vegetables, flowers or plants. Gardens must keep their gates open for a minimum of twenty (20) hours per week from May 1st through November 30th. In addition, gardens must post signage listing open hours, a schedule of planned activities, information on how to join the garden, and contact information.

 Want to know more about the lease terms? Click here to see the lease agreement.

While ALLs must maintain their gardens independently when possible, the City strives to assist new adopters and support well-managed organizations that excel at inclusion and equity. To help facilitate requests for support, we ask that you complete this online wish list request form.

According to the AAL lease agreement, each AAL must submit this brief bi-annual report every June and October.

LOCATIONS

Brunswick Community Garden
Jersey City Community Gardening, Inc.
174-176 Brunswick Street 07302
Saturday & Sunday 8AM - 6PM
Email: [email protected]

Riverview Community Garden
285 Ogden Avenue 07307
Saturday & Sunday 10AM - 3PM
Email: [email protected]

Ogden's End Community Garden
Riverview Neighborhood Association
105 Ogden Avenue 07307
Wednesday 5:30 - 7PM & Saturday 9:30 - Noon
Email: [email protected]

The Children’s Garden
Jersey City Moms Meet Up Group
280 Grove Street 07302
Monday - Friday 8AM - 5PM
Email: [email protected]

GNA Community Garden
Greater Neighborhood Alliance, Inc.
81 Garfield Avenue 07305
Saturday & Sunday 8AM - 4PM
Email: [email protected]

Mandela Lot
Union Street Block Association
447 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive 07304
Mon., Wed. & Friday 7AM - 10AM
Email: [email protected]

Click here to see the New Jersey Seasonality Chart

Questions? Please send an email to the Healthy Food Access Coordinator, Jose Vargas at [email protected] 

CERTIFIED FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM
food pantry photoOur certified food pantries provide safe fruits, vegetables, and pantry items to underserved families and individuals across Jersey City. To bolster and protect our community's health, we guide and support organizations to become certified food pantries. We have 15 accredited food pantries citywide. They partner with food rescue organizations for certifications such as the Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) or Table to Table. Our goal is to ensure all food pantries in Jersey City comply with food safety standards for distribution.

If you or your non-profit would like to know if you qualify to partner with the CFBNJ, email [email protected] or for Table to Table, email [email protected] You can also complete their online forms or contact our Healthy Food Access Coordinator to get more information on joining our certified food pantry community, email [email protected]

Download the 2023 list of Certified Food Pantries

Read the COVID-19 Food Distribution Policies

FOOD PANTRY LOCATIONS


The Sharing Place, 440-448 Hoboken Ave.
Every 3rd Saturday 8AM-12PM

Our Lady Of Sorrows/Mary House, 93 Clerk St
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and 2nd Saturday 9:30AM-1:00PM

Mt. Sinai Gospel Church, 27-53 Prescott Street
Every 3rd Saturday 10AM – 4PM

Triangle Park Comm Ct /Jersey City Episcopal CDC, 247 Old Bergen Road
Every 3rd Saturday 9:00AM – 1PM

George Pitchford Food Pantry, 492 Bramhall Ave
Every 3rd Saturday 8:30AM – 12:00PM

At The Feet Of Jesus Luke 1039, 273 Ocean Ave
Every 2nd Friday 12PM - 3PM

Cityline Church, 1510 Kennedy Blvd
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday 8AM – 1PM

Jerusalem Baptist Church, 106-8 Atlantic Street
Every 2nd and 3rd Saturday 8AM – 1PM

Old Bergen Church, 1 Highland Ave
Every last Saturday of the month 9AM – 12PM

St. Mary's Parish Food Pantry, 254 2nd Street & Erie
Every 1st and 3rd Saturday at 7AM - 9AM

Grace Community Services, 39 Erie Street
Saturdays and Sundays 7AM – 8:30AM

Salvation Army Food Pantry, 562 Bergen Avenue
Thursdays 9AM - 5PM (By appointment only)
Accepting emergency clients throughout the week 9:30-10:30 AM (No appointment needed)  

AngelaCARES Food Pantry, 696 Ocean Avenue
Every 3rd and 4th Friday 12:30 – 5PM

Mount Pisgah Ame Food Pantry, 354 Forrest St.
Every 3rd Saturday 9AM – 1PM

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 85 Wayne Street
Every Saturday 10:00AM – 12:30PM


HEALTHY GREENS JC COMMUNITY VERTICAL FARM PROGRAM

vertical farm photoThis first-of-its-kind urban indoor vertical farm brings fresh leafy greens to underserved communities. Membership is limited per location and is first-come-first-serve – our first two beta sites launched in late 2021 at Curries Woods and Marion Gardens in partnership with the Jersey City Housing Authority. For more information click here.

This membership program provides –

  • Free leafy greens
  • Nutrition and cooking workshops
  • Holistic health tips
  • Diagnostic health screenings for one year