Fighting Food Insecurity: How local parishes nourish the community

Domestic violence survivors, cancer-fighting residents, caregivers, veterans, people receiving disability benefits, and families juggling multiple jobs are only some of our local neighbors fighting food insecurity. On Nov. 1, 2025, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit cuts left many people nationwide, including here in Oakland, scrambling to put food on the table. Oakland has two local food pantries whose dedicated efforts are helping to keep our neighbors fed.

Bart’s Food Pantry at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church has a dedicated team of volunteers who battle food insecurity at food pantries struggling to meet local demand in East Orange and Newark. Named after Bart Codd, a Staten Island, NY transplant who showed unwavering dedication to helping those in need, Bart’s has supported hunger-relief efforts in East Orange and Newark for nearly 60 years. Codd passed on Easter in 2006. Since becoming pastor in 2023, Rev. Dr. Robert " Bob" McLaughlin has carried Codd’s legacy forward, with Dawn Torpey and the Stewardship Council leading the ministry's daily efforts through food donations, dining events like Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Gift programs.

McLaughlin expressed his responsibility as a pastor to help those in need. “It has come to our attention that there are some families living in Oakland that are living with food insecurity.” Bart’s Food Pantry is working locally with Ponds Food Pantry at Ponds Reformed Church to help our neighbors in Oakland and beyond stay fed. Father Bob believes working collaboratively is the most beneficial way to support those locally.

Ponds Reformed Church houses Ponds Food Pantry, which opened in 2011 with just a closet full of food. They’ve grown over the past several years after being designated the emergency pantry for northwest Bergen County. Michele Weintraub, Director of Food Security Programs, explained how local needs increased last fall after federal funding had been gutted — leaving many within Oakland deciding whether to pay medical bills or feed their families. “There are several people in the midst of cancer treatment or tough medical situations, several ladies who have left a domestic violence situation and are single moms. We’ve seen a lot of families have the amount of money they [receive] monthly to buy food with their SNAP cards reduced or cut off altogether.”

Working alongside Messiah Lutheran Church, Guru Nanak Mission Gurudwara (a Sikh community also in Oakland), and now Bart’s Food Pantry, Oakland’s local parishes are strengthening their interfaith collaboration and proving that working together, regardless of beliefs, helps everyone. Both food security leaders have met people in the community who reported that the food pantries’ efforts have changed lives in tremendous ways — from volunteers to guests. McLaughlin proudly stated he has a weekly volunteer who was galvanized from his very first time. “He was so moved by how many people and the gratitude they had, even to get a bag of food.”

Several pantry guests have become dedicated volunteers after receiving the care of strangers and wanting to give back. Weintraub recalled, “One pantry guest, newly out of a domestic violence situation with three kids, now volunteers at the pantry. It’s been moving to see her become part of our pantry community and teach her kids that right now, they may not be able to donate a lot of food, but they can give back their time.”

The biggest misconception people may have is that pantry guests are trying to take advantage of “the system.” Most guests are working multiple minimum-wage jobs, and subsidies provided by the state are not enough to bridge the gap. Since November, both have seen high demand amongst the local communities. At Ponds Food Pantry, where they’ve seen an upward trend — Weintraub believes rising costs and slashes in government assistance are the culprit for —the increased number of visitors.

There are no special requirements for people to receive assistance at either Ponds Food Pantry or Bart’s Food Pantry. Both food security leaders encourage those in need to come. “Everyone is welcome” is a sentiment both McLaughlin and Weintraub shared. How can the community help? First, by helping to raise awareness. Eighty-four families in Oakland and ninety-six families in Franklin Lakes rely on SNAP. By spreading the word, you can assist those who may need help but are unaware of where to obtain it or are hesitant to express their need. Monetary and nonmonetary donations are always welcome. Dropping items off at both Bart’s Food Pantry and Ponds Food Pantry is greatly appreciated. In addition to food and monetary donations, McLaughlin requested volunteers to help with the continued transportation and distribution efforts in East Orange and Newark. Weintraub requested toiletry, hygiene, and paper items. “Most people would think you can go and get anything you need at the grocery store with SNAP, but people who do qualify cannot purchase toilet paper or other daily essentials with their SNAP cards,” she said. Not only are our local parishes helping to combat insecurity with food, but they are also helping to keep our neighbors feel supported.

If you’d like to help, Ponds Food pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 am to 1 pm, Thursdays from 3 pm to 7 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm. They accept unexpired food donations, including refrigerated and frozen foods during pantry hours. To volunteer at Pond’s Food Pantry, click here. To make monetary donations, Ponds Food Pantry accepts cash, checks payable to “Ponds Food Pantry”, or Venmo @pondschurch. Donating items like clothes and food? Nonperishable food and clothes may be dropped in the outdoor drop box behind Ponds Church, or in the donation bins at ShopRite in Oakland and the Oakland Public Library. Questions can be directed to Michele Weintraub at pantrydirector@pondsnj.org. At Bart’s Food Pantry, volunteer opportunities are available every second, third and fourth Saturday mornings from 7 am–12pm at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. To donate nonperishable items to Bart’s Food Pantry, feel free to stop by Our Lady of Perpetual Help Rectory seven days a week. Please call the offices at (201) 248-0147 to schedule a drop-off time. To make monetary donations or to learn more about volunteering opportunities, please reach out to Dawn Torpey at dawn.torpey27@gmail.com.