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Changing policy and practice to ensure all New Jerseyans have healthy food, every single day

About Hunger Free New Jersey

Who We Are

New Jersey is one of the wealthiest states in the nation. Yet, hunger is close by. It strikes your child’s classmates. Your elderly neighbor. Maybe even people in your own family. Hunger is stealthy. It can invade our lives in one crushing moment – a lost job, a debilitating accident, a serious illness.

There is no one face of hunger. Because hunger hurts all of us. That is why it takes a collective effort to end hunger. It takes public and political will. It takes widespread change.

Using a strategic combination of state and federal advocacy and local grassroot activism, Hunger Free New Jersey, formerly the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition, takes a comprehensive approach to solving hunger.

We educate the public and decision-makers about hunger — its causes, its solutions. We bring together diverse organization to fight hunger. We push for  legislative and policy changes and organize local advocates to ensure that every New Jersey residents has enough healthy food to eat.

Our work is made possible through the generous support of the Center for Food Action, Food Research & Action Center, Partners for Health, the New Jersey Healthy Communities Network and the Tusk Montgomery Philanthropies.

Hunger Free New Jersey:
  • Co-leads the successful New Jersey Food for Thought Campaign to end childhood hunger.
  • Builds local coalitions to stop hunger in their own backyards.
  • Advocates with state and federal lawmakers to promote responsible public. policies that improve food quality and access for thousands of people.
  • Works with local and state officials to remove barriers to food access.
  • Leads various coalitions to improve food access.
  • Educates and engages the public through media outreach.
  • Engages food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency food providers in our advocacy.

Changing Policy and Practice to Ensure all New Jerseyans Have Healthy Food, Every Single Day

Our History

Hunger Free New Jersey is the leading advocacy organization working to end hunger in New Jersey. We are a program of the Center for Food Action (CFA), which provides emergency services to northern New Jersey’s poorest and most vulnerable residents.

Recognizing that food pantries cannot meet all the needs, CFA formed the organization, previously known as the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition, in 1980 to advance more comprehensive solutions to hunger. In 2018, we changed our name to Hunger Free New Jersey to more closely reflect our mission and vision.

As a non-profit, we rely on the generous support of foundations and individuals who share our goal of achieving a hunger-free New Jersey.

Our Mission

Working with partners across the state and nationally, the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition advances comprehensive, systemic change to solve hunger.

Together, we are working to ensure that:
No child goes hungry
All people receive help during difficult times
Food banks are supported to help those in emergency need
Federal hunger relief programs provide a lifeline to tens of thousands of people each day.

Our vision is that every single New Jersey resident has healthy food to eat, every single day.

Our Wins

Our work results in real-life change for thousands of children, parents, senior citizens, veterans and others who are able to get the food they need to be healthy. Our recent wins include:

A new law requiring high-poverty schools to serve breakfast during the school day beginning in the 2019-20 school year, resulting in many more at-risk students receiving a healthy breakfast at school.

A growing number of children receiving summer meals. A new law promises even more progress as high-poverty districts will be required by summer 2020 to participate in federal summer meals programs.

Expanding efforts to address the lack of healthy foods in our communities.

Fighting cuts to nutrition assistance for children, the elderly and others.

Securing more dollars for emergency food.

Securing more funding to feed hungry children.

Meet Our Staff

Adele LaTourette
Director

Adele LaTourette has led Hunger Free New Jersey, formerly the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition, since its inception in 1980. She is a leading voice in New Jersey’s anti-hunger and nutrition community and serves as a resource to emergency food coalitions throughout the state.

Adele’s leadership in the anti-hunger field earned her the prestigious Wheeler/Wellstone Award; given by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) in Washington, DC. This national award is given annually to a person deemed to be the leading anti-hunger advocate in the nation. Adele is also the convener of the Mid-Atlantic Anti-Hunger Coalition, past Chair of the WIC Advisory Council and past president of the New Jersey Food Stamp Advisory Committee.

Email Adele at alatourette@cfanj.org

Lisa Pitz
Outreach Director

Lisa Pitz has been with Hunger Free New Jersey since 2002. Lisa holds an MSW in Community Organizing and Program Planning and has been working on issues pertaining to hunger and homelessness for more than 20 years. Lisa works in communities throughout the state to form effective coalitions to ensure healthy, affordable food is available to thousands children and families who struggle to make ends meet. Lisa chairs the NJ College and University Food Bank Alliance and is a member of the Anti-Poverty Network of NJ and Mid-Atlantic Anti-Hunger Coalition.

Email Lisa at lpitz@cfanj.org.

Nancy Parello
Communications Director
Nancy has worked in the advocacy field for 16 years and previously served as communications director for Advocates for Children of New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate/Office of the Child Advocate. Prior to becoming an advocate, Nancy was a reporter for 16 years, spending the last six years of her reporting career as a Statehouse reporter for the Associated Press and the Bergen Record.
Email Nancy at nparello@cfanj.org.