Passaic County Launches Three-Year Plan to Overhaul Emergency Food System
New strategic plan unites food pantries, government agencies, and community residents to reduce food insecurity county-wide
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PATERSON, N.J. — Passaic County is taking on food insecurity head-on. The Passaic County Department of Human Services, in partnership with the newly formed Emergency Food Provider Coalition (EFPC), released the Passaic County Emergency Food System Strategic Plan; a first-of-its-kind, three-year roadmap to transform how emergency food resources are coordinated, accessed and delivered across the county.
The plan arrives amid persistent food insecurity challenges facing Passaic County residents and marks a significant shift from a fragmented network of individual providers to a unified, data-driven system built around the people it serves. More than a policy document, it is a coalition-built commitment, shaped by food pantries, meal programs, mobile feeding services, government agencies, and, critically, residents with lived experience of food insecurity.
“For too long, emergency food providers have worked in isolation, doing incredible work without the coordination or infrastructure they deserve. This plan changes that. Passaic County is investing in a system that treats food access as a right, not an afterthought, and ensures that no family has to navigate that system alone,” said Passaic County Commissioner Christina Schratz.
A Coalition Built from the Ground Up
Established in June 2024, the Emergency Food Provider Coalition was created to address a simple but critical gap: grassroots food organizations working hard, but working apart. The EFPC brings together community-based organizations and their partners under a shared mission, guided by a trauma-informed approach that recognizes the dignity of every resident seeking help.
Six Pillars of the Strategic Plan
The three-year plan is built around six interconnected priorities:
1. Standardized Metrics: Uniform tracking of the number of people served and food distributed, segmented by age and geography, giving stakeholders the data they need to respond effectively.
- Coalition Building: A formalized structure for EFPC members to collaborate, share resources and advocate for systemic improvements across Passaic County.
- Best Practices Guide: Practical tools and recommendations to help providers operate safely, efficiently and sustainably.
- Technical Assistance: On-site support for food providers to strengthen operations, volunteer management, and client services.
- Food Resource Map: A digital platform where residents can quickly locate nearby pantries, meal sites and supportive services, removing barriers to access.
- Lived Experience: Formal engagement of residents who have experienced food insecurity firsthand, ensuring the plan is responsive to real community needs, not assumptions.
Through these efforts, Passaic County aims to reduce food insecurity, improve service delivery and build a more resilient system that meets the county’s diverse needs, now and in the years ahead.
Food providers serving Passaic County residents who are interested in joining the EFPC are encouraged to contact the Passaic County Department of Human Services at PCDAL@passaiccountynj.org.
