Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey (PPMNJ) is proud to announce the launch of its new Community Care Pantry at the East Orange Health Center, a pilot program designed to expand access to essential support and care materials for patients and community members at no cost. The program is launching with seed funding from Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s (PPFA) Patient Advocacy Program, with plans to expand to all PPMNJ’s physical health centers across Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties.

The Community Care Pantry is a collection of free resources—such as non-perishable food, personal care items, health supplies, and other essential materials—tailored to meet the specific needs of the communities PPMNJ serves. Integrated into PPMNJ’s existing Health Center Advocacy Program (HCAP), the pantry allows staff and volunteers to connect patients with critical resources during their visit, helping address barriers that can impact lives beyond the exam room.

“This program reflects our whole-hearted commitment to meeting people where they are—both literally and holistically,” said Roslyn Rogers Collins, President & CEO of PPMNJ. “Access to health care doesn’t exist in isolation. When people are struggling to meet basic needs, it affects their ability to prioritize their health. The Community Care Pantry is one of the many ways PPMNJ is responding directly to what our patients and communities are telling us they need.”

As economic pressures and reductions in public assistance programs continue to place strain on individuals and families, community-based organizations are playing an increasingly important role in providing practical, immediate support. PPMNJ’s Community Care Pantry leverages the organization’s trusted position within New Jersey’s health care ecosystem to serve as a consistent, stigma-free access point for resources—particularly for individuals who may otherwise face gaps in care or support.

“Our health centers provide much more than care—they’re anchors in the communities we serve,” said Faith Daniel, MPH, Director of Advocacy & Public Affairs at PPMNJ. “The Community Care Pantry lets us extend that support and care beyond the exam room, connecting people to resources they need to survive and thrive.”

By embedding the Community Care Pantry directly within its health centers, PPMNJ ensures patients can access both health care and essential resources in one familiar, stigma-free space.

“I was born and raised in East Orange, and I know firsthand how much access to basic resources can shape a person's health and opportunities,” said Kalimah Johnson, Health Center Manager at PPMNJ’s East Orange location. “Our patients are our neighbors. The Community Care Pantry allows us to show up for them in yet another real, tangible way—by making sure they leave our center with a full range of support they can rely on.”

The launch marks the continuation of a broader vision to scale this program, and others like it, to strengthen PPMNJ’s unique ability to respond to evolving community needs while advancing health equity.

About Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey

For nearly a century, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey’s health centers have offered expert, affordable, and compassionate sexual and reproductive health care services. More than 22,000 patients across Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties and beyond rely on PPMNJ every year for the essential care they need and deserve.

Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey’s mission is to empower individuals to make voluntary, informed decisions about their reproductive lives by providing safe, affordable, and accessible health care and educational services. For more information, visit www.ppmnj.org.