$1M Granted To Ridgewood Anti-Hunger Nonprofit To 'Feed Frontlines'

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A $1 million grant was awarded to Ridgewood's HealthBarn Foundation to power up a food security initiative in northern New Jersey, the nonprofit said.

Entering its third round of purchasing and distribution, the foundation's Feed the Frontlines initiative, in partnership with the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, will purchase 7,000 meals from Ridgewood restaurants and distribute them to food pantries. To date, HealthBarn has delivered over 300,000 meals to local food pantries throughout the county.

The grant was awarded by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority under Phase 3 of its Sustain & Serve program; since February 2021, the foundation has received over $4 million in grant funding.

More than 100,000 people across Bergen County are faced with food insecurity, and with food prices rising year-over-year during the summer, the timing of this grant is made "even more critical," the nonprofit said.

“The Sustain and Serve NJ program and our collaboration with the NJEDA team provided the dignity of a high-quality meal for the hungry, and injected a boost to volunteerism in the community,” foundation Director Stacey Antine said. “We are excited to be awarded funding to keep our incredible team executing Ridgewood Feed the Frontlines.”