FEBRUARY, 2024: Zufall Health, a nonprofit community health center, used the $100,000 grant it received from Impact100 Garden State in 2020 to support its “Mobile Meals for Dover Families in Need” program. The grant was used to purchase, outfit and staff a mobile food truck, known as Zufall Eats.
The truck purchase turned out to be especially timely because COVID-related shutdowns and school closings had temporarily eliminated essential sources of meals for families. During the term of the grant period, which ended in 2022, the truck delivered 54,851 pounds of food and fresh produce to families, senior housing sites and more.
Through partnerships with other organizations, the Zufall Eats van “rescues” good food that might otherwise be thrown out and transports it to those who can use it. Today, as food insecurity rises in New Jersey, the Zufall Eats van continues its mission to bring healthy food and nutrition education to homes and to easily accessible locations, including farmers markets, food pantries and community events. In the first half of 2023 alone, Zufall rescued and distributed more than 30,000 pounds of food.
Needs on the rise
Escalating food prices, rising inflation and the removal of COVID-related funds from the checks of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients have combined to make healthy eating more challenging than ever for Zufall’s clients.
The Zufall Eats van became part of New Jersey’s SNAP-ED program in FY22-23. NJ SNAP-ED, which is administered as a collaboration between the New Jersey Department of Human Services and Department of Health, is a federally funded nutrition and physical activity program.
Distributing food to all who need it continues to be a challenge. “Last week I had 50 produce bags in the back of my car. There was no more room in the van and these bags had to get distributed,” says Jane Selitto, Zufall’s SNAP-Ed Program Manager.
Zufall’s goal now is to obtain a second food truck. This would enable them to offer events each week in each of their five counties rather than having to direct most of their focus to the county with the most significant requirements. Additionally, a second truck would aid in fulfilling the requests received from partnering organizations as a direct result of increased community awareness of the Zufall Eats van.
Zufall Health also provides a wide range of medical, dental, pharmaceutical, behavioral health and other services to people and communities who experience barriers to care. To learn more, visit their website at www.zufallhealth.org.