About this guide
This guide to getting free food in Bloomfield when you have no money provides a one-stop resource for those seeking food assistance in our community. Below you’ll find information on who qualifies for specific food programs, how to apply, and what those programs provide recipients. It also includes a list of area food banks and food pantries.
Last updated Aug. 3, 2022.
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More than 1 in 3 Bloomfield households struggle to afford things like food, housing, transportation, health care, child care, and basic technology, according to a 2018 analysis from United Way Northern New Jersey.
The United Way measurement system, ALICE, counts the number of households with annual budgets below the minimum cost of living.
While the 2018 federal poverty level was $12,140 for a single adult and $25,100 for a family of four, the United Way study found that the actual bare minimum cost of living in Essex County was more than $28,200 and $81,396, respectively.
But approximately 30 percent of people who can qualify for federal food assistance aren’t enrolled in those programs, according to New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.
The Bloomfield Info Project is working to fill that gap and ensure our community can access resources available to them.
We spent hours gathering and reviewing these resources so you don’t have to.
Click to skip to these sections:
State Resources
And you can stay up to date on food resources in Bloomfield by signing up for our weekly text messages with updates on food pantries and other assistance. Use the form below to sign up for English texts. Text the word COMIDA to 973-321-7377 to receive texts in Spanish.
State Resources
NJ SNAP or Supplement Nutrition Assistance
New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food assistance to families and individuals with low incomes. Money is loaded onto a debit card and can be used to buy groceries. The card is accepted at most grocery stores. Eligibility is based on factors like income and resources.
What can be purchased with NJ SNAP?
- Fruits and vegetables
- Beans, fish, poultry, meat
- Rice, bread, tortillas, cereal
- Milk and cheese
- Seeds and plants that produce food
What cannot be purchased with NJ SNAP?
- Alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes
- Non-food items like pet food, toilet paper, diapers, soap, etc.
- Vitamins and medicine
- Hot and prepared food or meals
New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food assistance to families and individuals with low incomes. Money is loaded onto a debit card and can be used to buy groceries. The card is accepted at most grocery stores. Eligibility is based on factors like income and resources.
How do households and college students qualify for NJ SNAP?
Households
A household is anyone who lives and eats together. You must be 18 or older to apply, and an authorized representative (like a friend, relative, or neighbor) can go shopping for you if you’re unable.
Households must meet specific criteria to be eligible for the SNAP program, including income. To see a list of current income requirements, click here.
College Students
College students can be eligible for SNAP if they are enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education and:
- are eligible to participate in a state or federally financed work-study program OR
- in the current academic year, have an Expected Family Contribution of $0 on your FAFSA
College students ages 18-49 can qualify for SNAP if they meet any of the following conditions:
- Be enrolled in an approved career and technical education program at a New Jersey community college
- Be employed at least 20 hours per week AND paid for such work
- Be participating in a federal work-study program during the school year
- Be participating in an on-the-job training program
- Be responsible for the care of a member of your household who is a dependent under six
- Be a single parent enrolled full-time AND responsible for a dependent under 12
- Be unable to work due to a physical or mental disability OR receive Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits.
Where can I use NJ SNAP around Bloomfield?
Here is map and list of Bloomfield-area stores within walking distance of Bloomfield that accept NJ SNAP. Find the latest information from U.S. Department of Agriculture here.
A list of Bloomfield-area stores accepting NJ SNAP.| Name | Address | City |
|---|---|---|
| Jack's Super Foodtown | 296 Glenwood Ave. | Bloomfield |
| CVS Pharmacy | 250 Glenwood Ave. | Bloomfield |
| A&A West Indian & American Grocery Store | 160 Orange St. | Bloomfield |
| New Way Quick Stop | 140 Franklin St. | Bloomfield |
| D&D West Indian American Grocery Store | 8 Arlington Ave. | Bloomfield |
| Aldi | 244 Bloomfield Ave. | Bloomfield |
| East West Food Mart | 67 Belleville Ave. | Bloomfield |
| Stop & Shop | 8 Franklin Street. | Bloomfield |
| Walgreens | 17 Belleville Ave. | Bloomfield |
| Super Fresh | 19 Belleville Ave. | Bloomfield |
| CVS | 331 Broad St. | Bloomfield |
| Quick Check | 357 Broad St. | Bloomfield |
| Original Tropical | 29 Dodd St. | Bloomfield |
| 7- Eleven | 122 Bloomfield Ave. | Bloomfield |
| Dollar Tree | 135 Bloomfield Ave. | Bloomfield |
| El Azteca | 335 Ampere Pkwy. | Bloomfield |
| Walgreens | 77 Bloomfield Ave. | Bloomfield |
| Sunoco | 72 Bloomfield Ave. | Bloomfield |
| Bloomfield Care Pharmacy | 34 Bloomfield Ave. | Bloomfield |
| 7- Eleven | 544 Broad St. | Bloomfield |
| Caribe Food Market | 25 1st Ave. | Bloomfield |
| Brookdale ShopRite | 1409 Broad St. | Bloomfield |
| Freash Deli Markets | 480 Park Ave. | East Orange |
| D&D Grocery Corp | 424 Park Ave. | East Orange |
| Mercadom Market | 220 Springdale Ave. | East Orange |
| WK Food Corp | 500 Parkway Dr. | East Orange |
| K & E Mini Market | 12 Ampere Pkwy. | East Orange |
| All Halal Meats | 20 Ampere Pkwy. | East Orange |
| Bachman Market | 510 Prospect St. | East Orange |
| Subway/Sunoco | 495 Prospect St. | East Orange |
| Rodriguez Mini Mart | 173 Dodd St. | East Orange |
| E&W Food Market | 328 Dodd St. | East Orange |
| Twin Deli Grocery | 185 N Park St. | East Orange |
| Sajoma Supermarket | 451 Springdale Ave. | East Orange |
| Dollar General | 397 Springdale Ave. | East Orange |
| Thiana Mini Market | 88 Davenport Ave. | Newark |
| Minier Grocery Corp | 915 Franklin Ave. | Newark |
| Mahalaxmi Foods | 879 Franklin Ave. | Newark |
| Family Dollar | 840 N 6th St. | Newark |
| Exito Fresh Market | 341 Montclair Ave. | Newark |
| 6th Street Supermarket | 810 N 6th St. | Newark |
| CVS Pharmacy | 451 Bloomfield Ave. | Newark |
| La Fe Food Market and Grill | 291 1St Ave West. | Newark |
| Nemo Deli Grocery Store | 640 N 6th St. | Newark |
| Wawa | 11 Franklin Ave. | Belleville |
| Krausers | 45 Franklin St. | Belleville |
| Hassanally Ali Hallal Market | 14-16 Bloomfield Ave. | Belleville |
| Tarick West Indian and American Grocery | 10 Bloomfield Ave. | Belleville |
| Super Fresh Food World | 115 Belmont Ave. | Belleville |
| Walgreens | 345 Franklin Ave. | Belleville |
| 7-Eleven | 15 Bloomfield Ave. | Montclair |
| Amin’s Corner | 310 Orange Rd. | Montclair |
| Mission Mini Market | 4 Mission St. | Montclair |
| Montclair’s Crowd Around Deli | 63 Glenridge Ave. | Montclair |
| Mexican Travel and Grocery | 190 Bloomfield Ave. | Montclair |
| Dry Goods Refillery | 193 Bellevue Ave. | Montclair |
| CVS Pharmacy | 565 Valley Rd. | Montclair |
| ACME | 510 Valley Rd. | Montclair |
| Montclair Farmer's Market | 86 Walnut St. | Montclair |
| CVS Pharmacy | 49 Claremont Ave. | Montclair |
| Rite Aide | 1366 Clifton Ave. | Clifton |
| Stop and Shop | 1185 Broad St. | Clifton |
| Walgreens | 550 Allwood Rd. | Clifton |
| Dollar Tree | 1053 Bloomfield Ave. | Clifton |
| 7 Eleven | 203 Darling Ave. | Nutley |
| Nutley Park ShopRite | 437 Franklin Ave. | Nutley |
| Lucky 7 Food Mart | 397 Centre St. | Nutley |
| CVS Pharmacy | 213 Harrison St. #217 | Nutley |
| Dollar Tree | 100 Franklin Ave. | Nutley |
Where can I use NJ SNAP online?
NJ SNAP cannot be used to pay for delivery or other fees but can be used to shop online at the following stores.
Local Stores
- Aldi at 244 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield (Order online from Aldi here)
- Stop & Shop at 8 Franklin St, Bloomfield (Order online here.)
- ShopRite at 1409 Broad St, Bloomfield (Order online here.)
You can also get your groceries delivered or packed free with Instacart if you have NJ SNAP. Find out more about using NJ SNAP benefits with Instacart in Bloomfield here.
Regional Stores
- Walmart at 174 Passaic St, Garfield, NJ (Order online here.)
- BJ’s at 300 NJ-17, East Rutherford, NJ (Order online here.)
Online-only Stores
- Amazon (Order online here.)
How do I apply for NJ SNAP?
To complete an online benefits screening to get preliminary information on if you qualify for SNAP benefits, click here.
To complete an online application for NJ SNAP, click here.
To complete an application by mail, print it here and send it to Family Assistance and Benefits, 320 University Ave, 2nd Floor, Newark, NJ 07102.
Women, Infants, and Children or WIC
WIC is New Jersey’s supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. This program provides food, nutrition education, and support programs for income-eligible women who are pregnant and post-partum or have children up to age 5. Money is loaded onto a benefits debit card and can be used to supplement a food budget
WIC also provides an additional $25 during the summer months to purchase fruits, vegetables, and herbs from authorized farmer’s markets as part of the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).
Who qualifies for WIC?
Here are the people who may qualify for WIC:
- Pregnant women
- Women who have delivered a child within the last six months
- Breastfeeding women who have given birth to a child within the last year
- Infants and children under five years old
To be eligible, people in these categories must:
- Have a medical condition or limited access to nutrition that places their health at risk
- Live in New Jersey and provide proof of residency
- Meet income guidelines found here.
What can I buy using WIC?
Find New Jersey’s latest list of foods available through WIC here.
Download the WICShopper app from the Apple App Store here or Google Play here to scan food UPCs in stores to see if it qualifies for WIC.
Where can I use WIC in Bloomfield?
Here is a map and list of Bloomfield-area stores within walking distance of Bloomfield that accept WIC. Find the latest information from N.J. Department of Health here.
| Name | Address | City |
|---|---|---|
| Super Fresh | 19 Belleville Ave. | Bloomfield |
| Jack’s Super Foodtown | 296 Glenwood Ave. | Bloomfield |
| Original Tropical | 29 Dodd St. | Bloomfield |
| Stop & Shop | 8 Franklin St. | Bloomfield |
| Caribe Foodmarket | 25 1st Ave. | Bloomfield |
| Brookdale ShopRite | 1409 Broad St. | Bloomfield |
| Super Fresh Food World | 115 Belmont Ave. | Belleville |
How do I apply for WIC?
Complete your pre-application process online here. Then, qualifying applicants will be contacted by their local WIC agency or clinic office to schedule an appointment.
All family members who will be using the benefits must be present at the appointment, including children. You will need to bring the following documents with you:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of pregnancy
- Proof of income
- Proof of residency
- Your health care referral form if one was completed by a doctor or healthcare provider
- Your children’s Universal Child Health Record (UHCR)
- Your children’s vaccination records
Once approved, you will receive the eWIC benefits debit card, which can purchase foods on the WIC-approved list at local grocery stores.
Resources for people age 60+
In addition to being able to qualify for NJ SNAP, people age 60+ in New Jersey may qualify for the following programs.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program or CFSP
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) works to improve the health of low-income seniors 60 and older by supplementing their diets with monthly nutritious food packages provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Packages include a variety of foods.
In New Jersey, CFSP is administered by local food banks. Essex County’s program is run by the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside, New Jersey.
How do I qualify for CFSP?
Seniors who wish to participate must reside in New Jersey and need to provide proof of identity, age, residency, and income.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a resident of New Jersey
- Be age 60 and older
- Meet the income eligibility guidelines here.
What is included in a CFSP package?
Packages can include:
- Dairy like cheese and milk
- Fruit juices
- Cereal, oats, or grits
- Rice, pasta, or dehydrated potato flakes
- Peanut butter
- Dry beans or peas
- Canned meat, poultry, or fish
- Canned fruits or vegetables
The contents of the food package may change monthly depending upon what is available provided by the USDA.
How do I apply for CFSP?
Applicants must contact the Community Food Bank of New Jersey by calling 908-355-3663 to learn about the nearest CFSP site.
The program primarily operates out of senior housing buildings and may limit access to residents. However, if you do not live in participating senior housing, the food bank will let you know if any nearby locations allow the participation of non-residents.
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program or SFMNP
The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) promotes nutritional health among New Jersey residents age 60+ by providing locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at local farmers’ markets.
Once approved for the program, residents will receive checks in the mail of up to $30 monthly from June to October to use at any of the county-listed farmer’s markets. The county also provides program participants transportation to and from those farmer’s markets.
Programs begin every year on June 1.
How do I qualify for SFMNP?
This program is limited to senior citizens who are 60 years and older and whose total income is equal to or less than the income poverty guidelines increased by 185%. Find the latest income requirements here.
How do I apply for SFMNP in Essex County?
Seniors interested in applying for the SFMNP program need to contact the Essex County Department of Senior Services at 973-395-8389, or they can visit the Essex County Division of Senior Services at 465 Martin Luther King Jr. Blv. in Newark to fill out an application.
Or fill out the application at the Bloomfield Farmer’s Market in the Bloomfield Library Courtyard during the market season.
Where can I use SFMNP around Bloomfield?
Use can use your SFMNP benefits with the following vendors at these area farmer’s markets:
- Bloomfield Farmers’ Market
- Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad St, Bloomfield
- Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from June to October
- Approved vendors include City Green
- East Orange Farmer’s Market
- 235 Winans St, East Orange
- Fourth Saturday of the month from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Approved vendors include RH Farms
- Montclair Farmers’ Market
- Walnut Street Train Station, 86 Walnut St, Montclair
- Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from June to November
- Approved vendors include Circle Brook Farm, Ideal Farm, Tree Licious Orchards, and Vacchiano Farm
- Nutley Farmers’ Market
- 537 Franklin Ave, Nutley
- Sundays from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. from June to October
- Approved vendors include Alstede Farms and Asprocola Acres
Visit the New Jersey Department of Health’s website for the latest information on farmer’s markets that accept SFMNP.
Local and Immediate Resources
Bloomfield Health and Human Services
The Bloomfield Health and Human Services Department is at 1 Municipal Plaza, Room 111 in Bloomfield.
The department provides residents access to a variety of social services, including:
- SNAP
- WIC
- Senior food assistance
- Budgeting services
- Benefits screening
- Emergency food access
Call the Bloomfield Health and Human Services Department at 973-680-4017 from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m and 4:30 p.m. for aid and more information.
Food Pantries around Bloomfield
Area food banks and local donations support the food pantries providing free groceries and other household goods.
Bloomfield
- Manna Food Depot at Park United Methodist Church12 Park St. in Bloomfield.
- Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Providing delivery to residents who are homebound.
- Presbyterian Church on the Green
- Church is at 147 Broad St. in Bloomfield but the pantry is around the side of the church at 2 Church St.
- Wednesdays and Friday from 9:30 a.m to 11 a.m and on the fourth Saturday of the month from 10 a.m to noon. Confirm their latest hours here.
- New Light Baptist Church
- 89 Dewey St. in Bloomfield.
- Third Monday of the month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Confirm their latest hours here.
East Orange
- Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
- 153 Glenwood Ave. in East Orange.
- Last Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Confirm their latest hours here.
Montclair
- Human Needs Food Pantry
- 9 Label St. in Montclair
- Open for weekly grocery pickup on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Check their hours online here.
- The nearest NJ Transit bus station is Park St. and Walnut St., serviced by bus line 28. NJ Transit bus stop Bloomfield Ave. and North Fullerton Ave. is also nearby and is serviced by bus lines 11, 28, 29, and 34.
- Toni’s Kitchen
- 3 South Fullerton Ave. in Montclair
- Open for grocery and meal pick-up throughout the week. Check their hours online here.
- The nearest NJ Transit bus station is Bloomfield Ave. and North Willow St., serviced by bus lines 11, 28, 29, and 34.
Little Free Food Pantries around Bloomfield
A Little Free Food Pantry is a food kiosk built outside a community building or near a central street stocked with non-perishable food items by volunteers or a community group. Little free food pantries are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are free for all to access.
Below are area little free food pantries.
The little free food pantry at Bloomfield Fire Station No. 3 is maintained by Girl Scout Troop 20340. The remainder are maintained by the Montclair-based Northeast Earth Coalition and its partners.
Bloomfield
- Bloomfield Public Library at 90 Broad St., Bloomfield
- Brookdale Reformed Church at 10 Bellevue Ave., Bloomfield
- Bloomfield Fire Station No. 3 at 144 E Passaic Ave., Bloomfield
East Orange
- Church of The New Covenant, 343 Dodd St., East Orange
Montclair
- First Congregational Church at 40 South Fullerton Ave., Montclair
- Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 67 Church St., Montclair
- St. Paul Baptist Church, 119 Elm Street St., Montclair
- Trinity Temple, 115 Greenwood Ave., Montclair
- Tommy’s Laundromat, 84 Maple Ave., Montclair
- Congregation Shomrei Emunah, 67 Park St., Montclair
Clifton
- 106 Viola Ave., Clifton
Bloomfield Farmers Market
The Bloomfield Farmers Market takes place on Tuesday afternoons in the Bloomfield Public Library courtyard at 90 Broad St. between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The 2022 season runs from Jun. 7 to Oct. 25.
Qualifying shoppers can take advantage of the following programs at the Bloomfield Farmers Market:
- Double SNAP or WIC benefits through New Jersey’s Good Food Bucks
- Senior Farms Market Nutrition
- Free-like cash market vouchers of up to $20 available through Bloomfield Health and Human Services table