In this week’s Shop Jersey Shore Podcast, we sat down with the board and leadership team behind A Need We Feed, a grassroots nonprofit serving Ocean County since 2012. What began as a one-time effort after Superstorm Sandy has grown into a year-round program delivering hot, restaurant-prepared meals to seniors, veterans, families with children, and people experiencing homelessness right here at the Shore.
If you’re new to their story—or looking for ways to help—this guide walks you through who they are, how they serve, and how you can get involved.
From a Garage to a Countywide Lifeline
A Need We Feed launched in the immediate aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Volunteers and local chefs cooked meals in borrowed kitchens and even loaded the first deliveries onto a fire engine to reach barrier-island residents and first responders when the bridge was closed. Those first Thanksgiving and Christmas deliveries set the tone: move fast, partner locally, and feed people with dignity.
Following those first holidays, the team organized formally as a nonprofit and kept going—holiday after holiday, year after year—expanding into weekly service that now reaches hundreds of local neighbors.
Weekly Meal Delivery: Consistent Care You Can Count On
Today, A Need We Feed coordinates a weekly meal delivery program, purchasing about 140–175 hot meals from small local restaurants, then bagging, labeling, and routing them with the help of trained volunteers. Deliveries go straight to clients’ doors—across Toms River and the surrounding communities—including homebound seniors, veterans, families, and individuals temporarily housed in motels.
Because so many on the client list lack reliable transportation, home delivery solves a real barrier: it brings the food to the person, not the other way around.
Holiday Meals and a Summer BBQ—Because Special Days Matter
In addition to weekly service, the organization prepares and delivers meals on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, and adds a summer barbecue to bridge the long stretch between spring and fall. Even if a resident doesn’t qualify for the weekly list, holiday meals are still provided so no one misses out on a warm, celebratory plate.
Who Qualifies for Weekly Meals—and How to Apply
If you or someone you know needs help, the fastest route is the A Need We Feed website (look for ANeedWeFeed.org). A team member will follow up with a short eligibility questionnaire. The program serves residents who:
- Live within the delivery area, and
- Fall within federal poverty guidelines
Because meals are delivered, the team also works with partners to add additional essentials—like bakery items or pantry staples—when those products are available.
Powered by Local Restaurants
Each week’s menu comes from one participating restaurant on a rotating schedule. Every five weeks or so, that partner is back on deck to cook again. Many donate a portion of the meals or offer reduced pricing, and A Need We Feed thanks them publicly with regular spotlights and photos of the food they’ve prepared.
Restaurant owners: Want to join the rotation? Visit ANeedWeFeed.org and reach out via the contact form. The team is also exploring multi-restaurant weeks to reach even more households across Ocean County.
Volunteers Make It Happen
It takes a small army to stage, label, and deliver hundreds of meals on time. Many volunteers have served for years; some bring their kids so the next generation sees service up close. The organization even recognizes a Volunteer of the Month—a small way to honor the big impact of consistent helpers.
How you can help:
Sign up to deliver, pack meals, lend administrative skills, or join an event committee. You’ll receive a well-organized route and clear instructions; most shifts are just a couple of hours and make an immediate difference.
Where Donations Go—and Why They Matter Now
During the pandemic, a state program (Sustain & Serve) funded a surge in meal purchases from local restaurants. While that program sunsetted, the need didn’t. Today, A Need We Feed relies on a mix of grants, corporate sponsors, private donations, and community fundraisers to keep meals moving.
- Your gift buys hot, restaurant-prepared meals each week.
- Your sponsorship underwrites events and earns recognition on social and web.
- Your ticket to a fundraiser helps bridge budget gaps between grants.
If you’re able, consider a monthly donation—steady support helps the team forecast responsibly and say “yes” to more households.
Fundraisers You’ll Actually Want on Your Calendar
A Need We Feed’s events are known for being fun, friendly, and full of local flavor—and they’re critical to funding weekly operations.
- Casino Night (February) at B2 in Bayville features table games, a DJ, a photo booth, and a gift auction with 50+ baskets.
- Brews & Bites (May 30) at Icarus Brewing, in partnership with Burger 25, is a Shore favorite.
- Annual Golf Outing (Fall) brings together local businesses and supporters for a great day outside.
- Other pop-ups—comedy nights, bingo, “Football for Food”—keep the calendar lively.
Thanks to executive sponsors like Pungello CPA and Obsidian Wealth Advisors, these events keep growing—and so does their impact.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Circle
The board is working toward adding members and broadening expertise to strengthen operations and expand into southern Ocean County while sustaining quality. If you’re a professional in operations, logistics, healthcare, aging services, education, fundraising, or communications, your skills could help scale an already effective model.
Prospective board members typically visit a board meeting, meet the team, and see the culture firsthand before stepping in.
Why This Work Sticks With You
Ask any volunteer what keeps them coming back and you’ll hear the same themes: gratitude at the door, purpose in the work, and a team that feels like family. For many of us at the Shore, it’s become a holiday tradition to spend a few morning hours packing and delivering meals before heading home to cook. That spirit—neighbors showing up for neighbors—is the heart of A Need We Feed.
Get Involved
Request Help, Volunteer, Partner, or Donate:
Visit ANeedWeFeed.org to:
- Request weekly or holiday meal support
- Join the volunteer roster
- Enroll your restaurant in the rotation
- Make a one-time or monthly donation
- Learn about upcoming fundraisers and sponsorships
If you believe no one in Ocean County should go without a hot meal, A Need We Feed gives you a simple, practical way to put that belief into action—one bag, one route, one neighbor at a time.
Have a question? Prefer to talk it through? Reach out via aneedwefeed.org and a team member will follow up.
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