Food Pantry & Food Assistance

JFS_311_800x639pxApproximately one in seven households in Connecticut is struggling to put food on the table. The Barry J. Vine Food Pantry at Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven is striving to keep this number from increasing by providing nutritious food to individuals and families in Greater New Haven. The Pantry and its food programs serve people near or below the poverty line, and those who are nutritionally at risk.

Our Food Pantry, located at 1440 Whalley Ave., offers non-perishable foods, fresh produce and fruits, and frozen items to needy individuals and families as a once monthly supplement.

The Food Pantry is open on Wednesday and Thursday mornings  by appointment from 9-12 (except for holidays or months which have five weeks). 

Emergency Food Requests – For emergency food, please call (203) 397-0796 to schedule an appointment. We return calls within 24 hours except on weekends, pantry closures and holidays.    

All requests must verbally attest to the USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) client certification.  Additional information may be requested for participation in the JFS Food Assistance Program and may include a current photo ID.  If an ID does not have current address, please bring mail or or another document that will show your current address along with your photo ID. 

The Pantry is funded in part by grants from the United Way of Greater New Haven (US Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) funding), the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven; and The George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee.  The Pantry also receives product from CT Foodshare which is from the USDA in the form of TEFAP commodities.  

How to Help

  • Food Pantry Volunteer – Volunteers help staff our Food Pantry as well as pack bags for the Food4Kids.  Due to confidentiality and pantry procedures, any volunteer working with clients must be at least 18 years of age.  We do utilize younger volunteers and groups of children and students with direct adult supervision to help pack Food4Kids bags during the academic year (late September – Early June).   Contact Sandy Hagan or call 203-397-0796.
  • Conduct a one-time non-perishable Food Drive (see Guidelines below)
  • Conduct an on-going food drive at your synagogue/school/business/organization
  • Volunteer to help pack bags for Passover or Thanksgiving
  • Tailor a community service or a Bar/Bat Mitzvah project around collecting food for the Pantry

Pantry Wishlist and Food Donation Guidelines

 

Monetary Donations

To learn about the many ways to support the Pantry, please visit our Giving Opportunities page.  

If you prefer to donate via mail, please make your check payable to Jewish Family Service or JFS Food Pantry and be sure to write Food Pantry on the memo line. Mail the check to Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven, 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, CT 06515.  To speak to someone about a monetary donation please call 203-389-5599, ext. 105.  

Questions???

For more information about food donations/scheduling a drop-off, please contact Sandy Hagan at  shagan@jfsnh.org. or call the Pantry at 203-397-0796.