How to Help, Donate Food

COVID-19 Food Donation Process

We are so grateful for the food donated by the communities we serve and from businesses, organizations, and houses of worship who host food drives and collections year-round.

Social distancing guidelines require CFA to make changes in our food donation process. Donations may be made at any CFA Pantry during their hours of operation. In order to maintain social distancing guidelines in Englewood, Saddle Brook and Hackensack, we ask that you remain in your vehicle and a staff member will collect donations. If you would like a receipt, please complete our food donation form and provide a copy of it to a member of our team during the drop-off.

For donations made at CFA Mahwah, please place your donations in the blue CFA bins located near the pantry overhang.

CFA ENGLEWOOD, 192 West Demarest Avenue
HOURS M-F 9:00am-12:00pm

CFA HACKENSACK, 316 First Street (New Hope Baptist Church)
HOURS MWF 10:00am-12:00pm | TUE/THUR 11:00am-1:00pm

CFA SADDLE BROOK, 224 Midland Ave
HOURS M-F 10:00am-12:00pm

CFA MAHWAH, 90 Ridge Road
M-F 10:00am-2:00pm

CFA RINGWOOD, 145 Carletondale Road
HOURS MON & TUE. 10:00am-12:00pm

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Food Donations

We welcome your in-kind donations of food items. This is the most direct way you can help your neighbors in northern New Jersey. Annually, CFA collects and distributes more than $5,000,000 worth of food. Food donations come from all sectors of the community, including: individuals, religious organizations, schools, scouts, civic associations, corporations and local businesses and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

Donation Guidelines

To maximize the impact of your food donations, please follow these guidelines:

Preferred Foods

Canned, jarred and boxed non-perishable items are desirable due to their long shelf life, however, we do accept donations of fresh produce. High-protein items are preferred as they provide better nutritional value. Please make sure that cans are not rusted, creased or bloated as we may have to discard them for food safety reasons. We also cannot accept opened food items.

Supermarket Gift Cards

If you prefer you can donate Supermarket Gift Cards to us. These allow us to purchase essential or urgently needed food items. Please give gifts cards directly to a CFA employee.

Delivering Donations to Us

For local supporters, if your food donation exceeds what can fit in your car, please schedule a pick-up with Irwin Vogelman: ivogelman@cfanj.org | 201.321.3142. Residential pick-ups from private homes or apartments are not available.

To drop off the items you’ve collected please visit a CFA location near you during their hours of operation. Click here for site locations.

Host a Food Drive

At your Workplace, School or Place of Worship

Write to the head of your organization, school, or business for approval to host a food drive.
Register you food drive with CFA and download our Food Drive Success Ebooklet
Find your closest CFA location and drop off the collected food during our regular working hours.
If you can, assist us further by volunteering to sort and package the food for final distribution to needy families!