The Power of the Pantry

As the holiday season and colder winter months approach, local residents wanting to help address food insecurity in the community have an organization nearby. The Loaves & Fishes Community Food Pantry, a project between First Presbyterian Church of Boonton and Boonton United Methodist Church, is a wonderful local resource serving Boonton and surrounding communities.  

We spoke to the president of Loaves & Fishes, Marjorie B. Roller, a member of the founding team. “The team was assembled by the First Presbyterian Church of Boonton, where the pantry is located,” says Roller. “The pantry is led by Marilyn Ward, a beloved Boonton community leader, and Annette Mills of the Boonton Methodist Church,” she says. The pantry believes in feeding the community with dignity. Their mission includes providing food to those in need, encouraging good nutrition, increasing self-sufficiency, and giving hope. 

Tell us about the history of Loaves & Fishes Community Food Pantry.     

The Pantry was incorporated in 2019 and opened its doors at its current location in the spring of that year. Prior to our opening, Boonton Methodist Church operated a food pantry that was rapidly outgrowing its space. We invited them to join us, and that collaboration has developed into a strong and successful partnership. 

Today, approximately 60% of the individuals and families we serve are residents of Boonton. The remaining come from surrounding communities.  Most of our clients are families with children facing food insecurity, the economic condition of limited access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food. Regardless of their circumstances, our mission is to help ease that burden while providing hope and dignity. 

How does the food pantry operate?  

Our pantry operates with a client-choice model, allowing families to shop much like they would in a supermarket and select the foods that best meet their needs and preferences. On average, we serve between 190 and 210 families each week. We welcome everyone and are committed to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all participants. 

In addition to providing food assistance, we are committed to reducing food waste. We recover food from more than 14 stores that would otherwise end up in landfills. Fresh food, especially produce, is a priority for our organization, helping ensure that families have access to nutritious options. 

What are the best items to donate? Does it vary based on the season?  

The pantry is always in need of staple items, including cereal, pasta, and personal hygiene products. Seasonal needs vary, like condiments and salad dressings in the summer and soups and oatmeal in the winter. Individually wrapped snacks are always in high demand, as they help us fill take-home bags that are a favorite among families with children. We also enjoy offering seasonal and themed shelves throughout the year, such as baking items during the holidays. 

Are there specific drop-off and pick-up times?  

We have a bin outside our facility that is checked daily. Fresh food can be accepted Tuesdays and Fridays, 4 to 5 p.m., plus various other times by appointment. Please avoid distribution hours, which are Wednesday, 4 to 6 p.m. and Friday, 9 to 11 a.m., as the parking lot becomes difficult. 

Tell us about the connection Loaves & Fishes makes with the community.  

We are grateful for the opportunity to support families in our community, and we are equally grateful for the community’s tremendous support in return. Through both financial contributions and food drives, our neighbors, businesses, and community partners help make this work possible. A simple social media post almost always results in a generous outpouring of items needed by the families we serve. Walmart in Boonton has been a consistent host for our monthly food drives, while local businesses such as Walter Bauman Jewelers and Peapack Private Bank and Trust have provided both modest and significant financial support. Their generosity helps ensure that we can continue meeting the needs of local families with dignity and compassion. 

Any future plans?   

Looking ahead, we are exploring the development of a dedicated food distribution program for families caring for individuals with special needs while also facing food insecurity. We believe there is a need for this specialized support and hope to implement the program based on community input and needs. I am grateful to play a small role in this work, but the greatest privilege has been working alongside close to 100 active volunteers from every corner of our community. Together, we have become a family united by a single purpose. 

What’s the best way for people to make their donations and get involved if they’d like to volunteer?  

Please visit our website: lfcfp.org. Our email is info@lfcfp.org. The website features tabs for volunteering, financial donations, how to shop for food, run a food drive and features an Amazon wish list.