This volunteer manual provides information for volunteers at food pantries in New Brunswick, NJ. It defines food insecurity and outlines its prevalence in New Brunswick, where over 50% of residents experience it. It describes the roles of food pantries in addressing this issue and the various ways they operate. The manual details the types of volunteer roles and responsibilities at the pantries, including proper attire, language guidelines, and culture awareness. It also lists contact information for numerous local pantries where volunteers can serve.

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Volunteer Manual
This manual is designed to give volunteers background information prior to volunteering
in New Brunswick food pantries.
Contents:
Introduction to Food Insecurity in New Brunswick
Volunteer Roles and Guidelines
Pantry Contact Information
Glossary and Common Spanish Terms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Food Insecurity
● Food insecurity: limited availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or inability
to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.
● Poverty is a big component of food insecurity.
● 1 out of every 5 New Jersey families do not earn enough money to afford basic needs
such as food1
.
● 51% of the total population of 58,000 New Brunswick residents experience food
insecurity2
.
Food Pantries in New Brunswick
The Feeding New Brunswick Network was created to help the issue of food insecurity within
New Brunswick. The network is part of New Brunswick Community Food Alliance, a
community food council committed to development and maintenance of sustainable local food
system in New Brunswick.
● Pantries receive food from food banks, direct donations,
wholesalers, and retailers and distribute groceries to
people in the community. These items are then
distributed to clients that come to the pantry3
.
● Food that comes from the state or federal government
must be distributed according to regulations but food
and items that are privately donated can be distributed as
the pantry sees fit.
● Volunteers in New Brunswick are usually comprised of
Rutgers students, church members, or other local
community members.
Figure 1 Distribution of food to NB
pantries4

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Traditional Food Pantry
1st
: Volunteers sort and arrange certain types of food into bags
2nd
: Clients present their IDs, sign in and fill out any paperwork
3rd
: Clients are given a prepackaged bag (or more according to family size) and are sometimes
allowed to choose additional
items
figure 25
figure 36
figure 47
Client Choice
Food Pantry
In this system, rather than having a pre-packaged bag of food items, clients are
able to “shop,” meaning that they can pick items from different categories to
customize what they take home. Pantries can ensure that clients are receiving
items that are familiar and useful to them.
Volunteer Duties figure 58
Volunteers should keep in mind that pantries may give them any type of job when they arrive.
*It is very important that a volunteer keeps his or her spirits up no matter what job he or she is
given.
Job Descriptions:
● Unloading food from trucks and stacking shelves
● Prepping bags to hand out to community members (some pantries have menus for
different types of bags)
● Client choice (Five Loaves Food Pantry): volunteers place items in groups and assist
clients in choosing which foods they want.
● Breaking down boxes to put out for recycling
● Cleaning: sweeping, setting up chairs for clients to sit comfortably
● Welcoming guests as they come through the door
● Printing flyers
● Use bilingual skills to speak to clients, translate documents etc.
● Making phone calls
● Filling out paperwork
Attire

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Generally, volunteers should:
● wear comfortable clothing
● dress warmly in the winter and lightly in the summer (layers are recommended)
● gloves and long pants are recommended depending on job
● No slippery shoes, open toe shoes, high heels, or sandals. Sneakers, work shoes or boots
are recommended
● No suggestive, sleeveless, low cut, crop top or controversial clothing
Language
● Do not use offensive words i.e. curse words, racial/ethnic slurs.
● Be courteous of disabilities, race, ethnicity etc.
● Be aware that while you are helping the clients, they are human beings just like you
● Treat clients with the respect and kindness.
● Understand when a client needs his/her space, do not make him/her feel uncomfortable
about the present situation.
Culture
● The population of New Brunswick is mostly Hispanic
● Volunteers should remember that they may have different or similar backgrounds than
many of the clients at the pantries but everyone should be respected the same way9
.
Hours for Volunteer Work
If a volunteer wishes to gain hours from their service time, we recommend personally keeping
track of hours and then asking the pantry coordinator to sign off on it.
Keep in mind that smaller pantries may not have a system to keep track of volunteer hours.
Where You Can Volunteer
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of Pantries or Services provided in New Brunswick.
For volunteering, please contact the individual pantry for information about specific
volunteer shifts, if applicable. It is extremely important that you arrive at least 15 minutes early
to your shift to get your assignment.
*If you must cancel your shift, PLEASE notify the pantry as soon as possible, preferably 5 days
before the date of your volunteer service so a replacement can be found.

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Christ Church Episcopal
Address: 5 Paterson Street
Phone: (732) 545-6262
Hours of Pantry: 2nd
& 3rd
Wed of month:
6-7.30PM
2nd
Tue of month: 8-10AM
Last 2 Fri of month: 9-10:30AM
Last 2 Sat of month: 10:30-12PM
Website:
http://www.christchurchnewbrunswick.org/
Sign up at:
https://fnbn.wufoo.com/forms/volunteer-at-
christ-church-food-pantry/
Emanuel Lutheran Church (Vanessa’s
Food Pantry)
Address: New and Kirkpatrick Streets
Phone: (732) 545-2673
Hours of Pantry: Wed: 10AM-12PM
The Sat following the 3rd
Thu of month:
9AM-12PM
Website: http://www.emanuelnb.org/
Sign up at:
https://fnbn.wufoo.com/forms/volunteer-at-
vanessas-food-pantry
Five Loaves Food Pantry
Address: 100 College Ave
Phone: (732) 545-1019
Hours of Pantry: M-F: 10AM-2PM
Mon & Wed: 5-8PM
Website:
http://www.secondreformednb.org/?
page_id=9
Society of St. Vincent DePaul
Address: 29 Abeel Street
Phone: (732) 309-2142
Hours of Pantry: Wed & Sat: 10AM-1PM
Website: N/A
Suydam Street Reformed Church
Address: 74 Drift Street
Phone: (732) 249-6803
Hours of Pantry: Sat: 9-10:30AM
Sun: 7:30-8AM
Mon: 9-10AM
Website:
http://www.suydamstreetreformedchurch.or
g/
Bayard Street Presbyterian Church
Address: 107 Bayard Street
Phone: (732) 247-0384
Hours of Pantry: Last Sat of month 12-2PM
Website: N/A
Deliverance Prayer Revival Tabernacle
Address: 306 Somerset Street
Phone: (732) 220-8266
Hours of Pantry: Sun: 11AM– 1PM
Tue & Fri: 7– 9PM
Website: N/A
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Address: 126 Lee Avenue
Phone: (732) 247-2459
Hours of Pantry: Tue: 11AM-1PM
Website: http://ebconline.moonfruit.com
Elijah's Promise
Address: 18 Neilson Street
Phone: (732) 545-9002
Hours of Pantry: M-F: 11AM-7PM
Sat/Sun: 1-4PM
Website:
http://www.elijahspromise.org/get-
involved/volunteer/
PRAB - Service Access Center
Representatives
Address: 90 Jersey Ave
Phone: (732) 828-4510
Hours of Pantry: Thu: 9AM-5PM
Website: https://prab.org/

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Salvation Army
Address: 287 Handy Street
Phone: (732) 545-1477
Hours of Pantry: Last 7 days of month:
10AM-12PM
Website:
http://newjersey.salvationarmy.org/NewJers
ey/newbrunswick
St. Alban's Church Food Pantry
Address: 148 Lee Avenue
Phone: (732) 846-9684
Hours of Pantry: Wed: 7-9PM
Website:
http://stalbansnewbrunswick.org/food-
pantry/
Suydam Street Reformed Church
Address: 74 Drift Street
Phone: (732) 249-6803
Hours of Pantry: Sat: 9-10:30AM
Sun: 7:30-8AM
Mon: 9-10AM
Website:
http://www.suydamstreetreformedchurch.or
g/
Tabernacle Baptist Church
Address: 239 George Street
Phone: (732) 545-6617
Hours of Pantry: 4th
Thursday: 10AM-12PM
Website: N/A
Visit the Feeding New Brunswick Network at https://www.facebook.com/FeedingNBNetwork/
for the latest news and more information.
Glossary
Food Insecurity: The lack of access to affordable and healthy foods and the lack of an adequate
amount of it2
.
Hillside Community Foodbank of New Jersey: The Community FoodBank of New Jersey
(CFBNJ), distributes food, provides education and training, develops programs to help hungry
people throughout the state, and engages all sectors of society in this mission.
MCFOODS: Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services
MCFOODS was created to help ensure that an adequate supply of nutritious foods and
necessities are readily available to Middlesex County residents in need. MCFOODS collects and
distributes nonperishable items at no cost to over 80 local food pantries and soup kitchens
throughout the County10
.
Medicaid: Medicaid provides health insurance to parents/caretakers and dependant children,
pregnant women, and people who are aged, blind or disabled. These programs pay for hospital
services, doctor visits, prescriptions, nursing home care and other health care needs, depending
on what program a person is eligible for11
.
SNAP: (Supplemental Nutrition Access Program): SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions
of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to
communities12
.

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Soup Kitchen: a place where meals are offered for free or little cost. Soup kitchens sometimes
also give out groceries.
SSI: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program funded by
general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes): It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled
people, who have little or no income and provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing,
and shelter13
.
TANF: The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program is designed to help
needy families achieve self-sufficiency14
.
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children): The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care
referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding
postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional
risk15
.
Common Spanish Phrases and Terms
Can you sign here: Puedes firmar aquí
Is this your first time here: Es esta su primera vez aquí?
Do you have an ID with you? Tiene una identificación con usted?
What is your name? Cuál es tu nombre?
What is your Address? Cual es tu dirección?
How old are you? Cuantos años tienes?
What is your telephone number? Cuál es tu número de teléfono?
What town do you live in? En qué ciudad vives?
How many adults live in your house? Cuántos adultos viven en su casa?
How many kids do you have? Cuántos hijos tienes?
What kind of food do you like? Qué tipo de comida te gusta?
Do you receive food stamps? Usted recibe cupones de alimentos?
Family: Familia
Food: Comida
Hello: Hola
How are you: Cómo estás
Thank you: Gracias
You're welcome: De nada

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References
3
About Us - Community FoodBank of New Jersey. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from
http://www.cfbnj.org/about/
4
Bonilla Martinez, A. G., Ortega, D., Parikh, R., Piasevoli, K. A., Thompson, A. M., Chhajer, A.,
Rosenthal, A. (2015). A Study of Food Pantries in New Brunswick NJ (Rep.). New Brunswick,
NJ: Edward J Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
2
Community Food Security - New Brunswick, NJ. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from
http://policyoptions.pbworks.com/w/page/48133051/Community Food Security-New-Brunswick,
NJ
11
Department of Human Services | NJ Medicaid. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmahs/clients/medicaid/
14
Eligibility. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from
http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do
5
Food Pantry/Grocery Ministry - MOSAIC. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from
http://mosaicmansfield.com/service/local-missions/food-pantry/
1
Hunger in New Jersey. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from http://rah.rutgers.edu/hunger-new-jersey
10
M.C.F.O.O.D.S. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from http://www.mciauth.com/mcfoods.htm
3
New Brunswick Community Food Alliance. (2011, October 7). Retrieved March 15, 2016, from
http://www.nbfoodalliance.org/resources/nbcfa-structure.pdf
8
Partner Agencies. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from http://mfbn.org/learn/programs/partner-agencies
9
Prescription 4: Cultural sensitivity. (2008). Retrieved March, 2016, from
http://www.communityhealthcorps.org/client/documents/Prescription-4-Cultural-Sensitivity-
Member.pdf
13
Social Security. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/
7
Summer 2014 Newsletter | Northborough Food Pantry. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from
http://nfpantry.org/nfp/?page_id=383
12
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
15
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/women-infants-and-children-wic
6
Workplace Insights. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2016, from http://blog.capital.org/9-things-you-should-
know-about-immigration-law-and-i-9s/