A Newark food pantry that has served residents for years is moving away from handing out prepacked bags to people waiting outside.
In its place is a setup with aisles, shopping carts, and the chance for households to select the food they know they will use, Gothamist reported.
Supporters say the redesign gives residents a more respectful experience and reduces the amount of unwanted items going to waste as hunger worsens in the city.
Here's what to know
On South 18th Street in the West Ward, United Community Corporation has remade its longtime pantry into The Market at UCC.
The nonprofit now runs the site like a grocery store, offering a selection of free food that visitors choose for themselves.
Barbara Ross, a West Ward resident who had used the pantry before the redesign, said the change stood out immediately.
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"It's nice," Ross stated. "You get to pick what you need or what you want, rather than them packing bags and giving it to you, because you get a lot of stuff that you don't really use."
An analysis by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority indicated that all five of Newark's wards were counted among the state's 10 most severe food deserts.
City Councilmember Lawrence Crump said neighborhood markets can help fill the gap for residents who cannot easily reach larger grocery stores.
"This allows a lot of the residents who don't have the ability to go all the way to a ShopRite or another store, and don't necessarily have the resources, to come down here to one of these facilities and get groceries," Crump explained.
More background
The Market at UCC has refrigerators and freezers for perishable food, plus a children's section with books and art supplies to make shopping easier for parents.
Maria Torres, UCC's director of food assistance, said the inventory comes from local food banks and donations from chains such as Stop & Shop and Trader Joe's.
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Demand for help is growing as tougher federal SNAP work requirements have forced more people off the program.
Data from the state Department of Human Services shows that more than 35,000 New Jersey residents have lost SNAP benefits since those rules took effect. In Essex County alone, 1,275 residents lost benefits in August.
Sarah Allen, UCC's program director for emergency services, warned that the impact was already palpable.
"Our lines are long every single day, which is, unfortunately, the reality that's facing a lot of families in Newark right now," Allen lamented.
What's being done?
The UCC market is part of a broader push to create similar community grocery spaces in each of Newark's five wards through nonprofits including Clinton Hill Community Action and La Casa de Don Pedro.
People visit by appointment once a month, and the trips connect them with information on rent, utility, and other aid. Allen noted that food insecurity often overlaps with other financial strain.
Craig Mainor, executive director of UCC, observed that the previous system did not afford residents the dignity they deserved and called the transition "long overdue."
Torres said the market is already attracting visitors from outside the surrounding area, including residents from Passaic, Paterson, and Elizabeth.
"Once upon a time, I was in their shoes. So I take my job really serious," Torres commented. "I'm here to listen, help you with your burden, and give back dignity back that is well-deserved for everybody."
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