Montclair Food Nonprofit Offers Aid To SNAP Families, Fed Government Workers

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A “matching gift challenge” fueled by a $118,000 pledge will Toni’s Kitchen in Montclair to offer food relief to Essex County residents during the ongoing government shutdown.

Montclair has been among the towns and cities in New Jersey making preparations to help residents impacted by the federal government shutdown and the suspension of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits.

Millions of Americans who rely on the nation's largest food program have been bracing for uncertainty over the past weeks, Fox News reported.

The Trump administration faces a Monday deadline to respond to two federal judges who said it must tap into contingency funds to make payments for food stamps, CBS News said.

However, it’s unclear whether they’ll receive their full benefits – or when relief could come, CNN reported.

>> Read More: SNAP Benefits Partially Restored: What It Means For NJ

MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE FOR TONI’S KITCHEN

Toni’s Kitchen, which is based in Montclair and also serves nearby towns in Essex County, is offering special aid programs for federal employees impacted by the shutdown and residents who have lost SNAP benefits. Learn more here.

Residents who need food and don’t qualify for these markets can visit the nonprofit’s Weekly Choice Pantry from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Wednesday through Saturday. Learn more here.

On Sunday, the nonprofit announced that The Bravitas Group and The Silver Family Foundation have launched a “matching gift challenge” to support Toni’s Kitchen.

“Every dollar donated to Toni’s Kitchen between now and Tuesday, Nov. 4 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $118,000, doubling the community’s impact to provide reliable access to nutritious food for those affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown,” the nonprofit said.

>> Learn more or make a donation online here

According to Toni’s Kitchen, the money will be put to work on several ongoing initiatives:

• Three, new Mobile Markets in Montclair, Bloomfield, and West Orange to specially tailored to neighbors most affected by the shutdown
• A Neighbor for Neighbor Emergency Food Fund to purchase additional food to supplement regular supplies
• A town-wide food drive in partnership with Human Needs Food Pantry to stock shelves and prepare for the surge in demand expected in the days ahead

“We are deeply grateful to The Bravitas Group and The Silver Family Foundation for once again stepping forward in a moment of great need,” said Anne Mernin, executive director of Toni’s Kitchen.

“This matching grant comes at a time when mobilizing our community matters most,” Mernin said.

• See Related: Gov. Praises Montclair Soup Kitchen For Fighting Food Insecurity

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