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October 19, 2022On Fridays, Unity Square’s food distribution begins at 11:30am and goes until the food runs out. Clients must line up outside one hour before the distribution starts and are given a large amount of pre-selected food. Their choices are limited but still very good, and they receive about 15-20 pounds of food each week. No registration is necessary and is a ‘grab and go’ style food distribution.
Unity Square is also now distributing food to residents and community members every Tuesday from 10am-2pm and once a month on Saturdays from 10am-2pm. This new distribution follows the Choice Food Model and Unity Square’s Program Director, Jennifer Hinton, says it is utilized at other food pantries and distribution centers in the area. Clients call Unity Square and register for a time slot once a month. They are then able to show up at Unity Square at their appointment time and shop at Unity Square’s food pantry. A staff or volunteer member will take them around the food pantry, and they will choose items that they or their families need the most like cereal, peanut butter and jelly, rice, pasta, beans, and more. Hinton also adds that clients may receive certain items like eggs, cheeses and meats if they shop on Tuesdays. These scheduled appointments provide clients with a personalized experience, and the staff and volunteers at Unity Square take pride in getting to know their clients on a personal level. Those interested in signing up for the new Choice Food Model are asked to call Unity Square at 732-545-0329, Monday through Friday from 10am-5pm.
Hinton is extremely grateful for the vision and partnership of the Christ Episcopal Church in New Brunswick for this new Choice Food Model. They have been invested in the client Choice Food Model as part of the Feeding New Brunswick Network and merged their hours with Unity Square. They applied for, and received, a grant from their Diocese through the Episcopal Community Services of New Jersey. With their help, Unity Square has been able to make this new Choice Food Model a reality. The Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) of NJ has funded the Unity Square Revitalization Project for the past 14 years. This includes a host of programming which includes most importantly the Housing Resource Center and, for the past three years, the Choice Food Resource Center (CFRC) program.
Unity Square Community Center is located at 81 Remsen Avenue in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Besides addressing food insecurities, Unity Square also focuses on other social concerns in the community and will assist with housing resources, whether you are a tenant or landlord. They encourage you to call at 732-545-0329 or stop by Monday through Friday from 10am-5pm. They can even assist those who speak other languages, including Spanish.
For more information about Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen, please visit ccdom.org. Visit on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ccdom1 to stay updated on upcoming events and ways we help clients get the services and assistance they need.
Tiffany Workman is the Communications Specialist in the Office of Communications and Public Relations at the Diocese of Metuchen.
