Our Story

The Problem

Food insecurity describes a household’s inability to provide enough food for every person to live an active, healthy life. Food insecurity is one way we can measure and assess the risk of hunger. In the United States, 13.5 percent of households were food insecure at some time during 2023. This was higher than 2022 at 12.8percent. 

According to a 2024 study by Feeding America, Cumberland County, New Jersey had the highest food insecurity rate in the state at 13.1% This means that approximately one in eight residents were food insecure. The county is served by the Community Foodbank of New Jersey which released the study’s findings in June 2024. They report that these high local numbers reflect a statewide trend. The Feeding America study found that nearly 1 million New Jersey residents were food insecure in 2024, a 22% increase over the previous year. The factors that this study attributes to the increase  are rising food prices, the expiration of pandemic-era safety net programs and non-rising wages.

Vineland is also home to an average of 164 homeless people per night.  Of the homeless adults in Cumberland County, more than 45 % identify as having a disability and 48% had no source of income. (Point in Time Study). Spirit & Truth Ministries is experiencing daily requests for food from individuals in addition to the daily meals served at breakfast and lunch. The glaring necessity of the Vineland Soup Kitchen is evident in the 120 or more meals served each day.