What is the Food Pantry?

Our Food Pantry is a food and groceries distribution for families in Irvington. Community Church works in partnership with the Irvington school district and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey to distribute groceries and baby supplies.

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Where is the Food Pantry located?

The Food Pantry is located at the Oasis Volunteer Center on the property of University Middle School in Irvington (255 Myrtle Ave, Irvington). The building, which is heated for winter and air-conditioned in the summer, is in the parking lot behind the school on Delmar Place. Parking is available within the fence of the school parking lot. 

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Who can help at the Food Pantry?

The Food Pantry is staffed by volunteers from Community Church, high school students from the Imani Program in Irvington, and security guards from the Irvington school district. Children are welcome to volunteer with their parents. Student volunteers can receive community service hours for their time onsite. 

 

What do volunteers do at the Food Pantry?

Volunteers pack groceries that are provided to the Food Pantry by the Community Food Bank into family-sized bags for distribution.  When the distribution line opens at 4:30pm, volunteers pass out 10-12 bags to each of the 200+ families. After the distribution ends at 5:30pm, volunteers clean up and pack away all the supplies, heading home around 6pm. 

 

How should volunteers dress?

Volunteers should dress to be outside, whatever the month or weather forecast. Although the Oasis Volunteer Center is heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer, much of the work takes place outdoors, so winter coats, rain gear, or sunscreen may be appropriate, depending on the time of year.

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When is the Food Pantry held?

Distributions are held once a month on a Friday. Setup begins at 2:30pm, the distribution is from 4:30-5:30pm, and clean up ends around 6pm. Volunteers do not need to be onsite the whole time, but are asked to arrive by 4pm. Dates for the 2019-2020 school year are: ​​​​​​​​​​

• January 31

• February 28

• March 27

• April 24

• May 29

• June 12

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What is the Diaper Bank?

The Diaper Bank is a diaper distribution program that runs concurrently with the Food Pantry at the Oasis Volunteer Center, but is staffed by different volunteers. To learn more about the Diaper Bank or to sign up to volunteer in that area, please click here.

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How can I sign up for the Food Pantry?

Use the form below to indicate who is coming and when you will be onsite. If you have any questions, please reach out to Church@CommunityChurch.org.