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About the Office of Food and Health Equity

Food and Health Equity Services entails providing resources, education and programming designed to improve the quality of life for all Hudson County residents while following the principle that Food is Medicine. Services coordinated through this office focus on addressing food insecurity and serving as the central source for information for resources focused on addressing the growing hunger crisis and diet related diseases. Additionally, the office focuses on health literacy and improvements of accessibility, quality and safety of health care for vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the office manages a produce prescription program operated in partnership with three federally qualified health centers throughout Hudson County. The program offers participants who have been diagnosed with diet related chronic illnesses such as diabetes, and/or hypertension free nutrition education and fresh fruits and vegetables two times a month.

Current initiatives include:

  • Food Security Task Force and Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Produce Prescription Program
  • Nutrition Education & Community Learning Gardens (Rutgers University Department of Family and Community Health Sciences and 4-H)
  • Commission on the Status of Women and Girls

Where to find food

Hudson County Food Security Task Force

Hudson County is home to more than 74,000 residents who live in food-insecure homes. This means they live day to day wondering if they will have access to safe, affordable, healthy foods. The Hudson County Food Security Task Force believes that every person in need should have access to affordable, nutritious food, and as a result, we are working to eliminate hunger and food insecurity in our communities while seeking to improve the health and well-being of all Hudson County residents.

Food Security Task Force Website: Click here.

Find County Wide Resource Guide Available in English, Spanish and Arabic here:  Food Security Resource Guides

Community FoodBank of New Jersey

To find food assistance near you, visit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s Find Food site by clicking here.

To locate CFBNJ partner food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters near you:

Enter your ZIP code (ZIP code lookup).
Select the distance that you’re able to travel.
Press the search button to view a map and a list of food pantry locations near you.

You can also text “FindFood” for English or “Comida” for Spanish to 908-224-7776 to receive helpful information on your phone in just seconds.

Food Security Task Force Website: Click here.

Find County Wide Resource Guide Available in English, Spanish and Arabic here:  Food Security Resource Guides

The Department of Health and Human Services contracts with the following agencies to assist with food needs across Hudson County:

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Hudson County

Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS)

FCHS helps people stay healthy, enjoy life, be active, and reduce health care costs. Many of today’s health problems–obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer–can be reduced through good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. FCHS encourages today’s busy families and individuals to learn more and make personal choices to improve health. FCHS combines research and practical advice to improve your health for a better tomorrow.

FCHS Outreach Focuses on:

  • Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health
  • School and Childcare Wellness
  • Chronic Disease Prevention
  • Food Safety and Food Allergy
  • Food Security

More information can be found here.

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

The New Jersey Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) assists limited-resource families and youth in acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior changes necessary for nutritionally sound diets. This program is also intended to increase food security and dietary and nutritional welfare of participants and their families.

More information on EFNEP can be found here.

Urban Agriculture and Garden Opportunities for Youth (directed by 4-H)

4‑H is the youth development component of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, connecting youth and our community to Rutgers University (4-H Connects Kids with Rutgers).The 4-H Youth Development Program uses a learn-by-doing approach to enable youth to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become competent, caring, and contributing citizens of the world. Additionally, 4-H manages the two community learning gardens in Hudson County. The gardens are located in:

  • Lincoln Park, Jersey City
  • West Hudson Park, Kearny

Please visit the following website for information on programming, community events and garden schedules.

More information on Hudson County 4-H can be found here.

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