PASSAIC COUNTY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL

pcfpc new logochildren in harden with veggies

Our Mission

To end hunger by addressing the root causes of food insecurity in Passaic County. 

Our Vision

A county where all residents have access to safe, affordable, healthy food—every day, in every neighborhood.

Transforming Food Access.

Advancing Health Equity. 

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The Passaic County Food Policy Council (PCFPC), convened by United Way of Passaic County, is a cross-sector coalition working to create a healthier, hunger-free Passaic County.  The council brings together partners from across the food system, and advocates for policies and practices that make healthy food more affordable, accessible, and available to Passaic County residents.

Since 2011, we’ve led community-driven efforts to not just relieve food insecurity—but address its root causes. We believe food is medicine—and equity is the prescription.  

Our strategies of policy advocacy and innovative partnerships build health, opportunity, and dignity at every level of the food system so that all families have healthy and affordable food access.

The Problem

Access to healthy food is not equal across Passaic County.

  • In several communities, 40% of families struggle to afford healthy food.
  • Many students lack consistent access to nutritious school meals.
  • Some neighborhoods lack convenient, affordable healthy food options.
  • Preventable, diet-related diseases disproportionately affect families with limited incomes.

Food access is about more than hunger. Where food is available, what families can afford, and whether people have the resources to make healthy choices all influence health, educational outcomes, economic opportunity, and quality of life.

Our Approach:

Our work doesn’t just nourish people—it strengthens local economies, reduces food waste, and contributes to a more climate-resilient food system. It’s how we help build a future that nourishes both people and planet.

We believe lasting change requires more than increasing the amount of food available. It means addressing the systems and conditions that shape who has access to healthy food in the first place.

That’s why we connect public health, food access, education, and policy while centering community voice and collaboration. We bring residents and partners across sectors together to identify barriers, develop solutions, and strengthen the systems that support community health.

We also pilot and test innovative, community-driven models with the potential to grow beyond a single neighborhood or program—so that what works in Passaic County can inform broader change across New Jersey and beyond.

Our goal is a healthier, more equitable food system—one shaped by the communities it serves and built to create lasting impact.

We connect public health, food access, education, and policy—while centering community voice and collaboration.
We also pilot and test innovative, community-driven models that can be scaled across New Jersey and beyond—so that what works in Passaic can inspire broader change.

Here's how we drive lasting impact:

 1) School Meals & Partnerships

  • Expand access to and improve the quality of school meals
  • Partner with school districts to build stronger nutrition programs and procurement systems
  • Support school gardens and nutrition education for students and families

2) Healthy Food Retail & Farm to Institution

  • Partner with corner stores and grocers to offer fresh produce, prepared foods, and culturally relevant options
  • Build “Farm to Institution” pipelines that connect local farms with schools, pantries, and retail sites
  • Support community-based businesses like A Better Market through infrastructure and innovation
  • Through our NJ FEED: Farm to Food Pantry initiative, we strengthen partnerships between local farms and emergency food providers—bringing fresh, Jersey-grown produce directly into communities while supporting small-scale agriculture and reducing food waste.

3) SNAP & WIC Outreach + Enrollment

  • Help residents navigate and enroll in federal nutrition programs
  • Equip trusted community partners to provide multilingual, culturally competent outreach

4) Cooking & Nutrition Education

  • Host cooking demos, meal kits, and culturally grounded nutrition workshops
  • Use food as a tool for health education, youth engagement, and community bonding

5) Resident Leadership & Community Action

  • Elevate lived experience through our Resident Advisory Board
  • Fund and support community-generated ideas that improve access and dignity
  • Champion grassroots leadership in decision-making spaces

6) Gardens & Local Food Systems

  • Support school and community gardens that improve access and strengthen local food culture
  • Partner with local farmers and food entrepreneurs to build a more equitable food economy.

7) Capacity Building for Member Organizations

  • Provide training, mini-grants, and peer learning opportunities to strengthen our coalition
  • Promote shared measurement, storytelling, and systems thinking across sectors

8) Food Policy Advocacy

  • Advocate at the local, state, and federal levels for policies that increase food access, strengthen nutrition programs, and improve health equity
  • Educate our members on relevant policy changes that impact their work and communities
  • Build the capacity of our coalition partners and residents to advocate for equitable, community-informed solutions
  • Create space for collaborative campaigns that amplify the voice of Passaic County across systems

The PCFPC includes more than 75 partners, including:

  • School districts and early childhood programs
  • Food retailers and mobile markets
  • Community and Faith Based organizations
  • Local and county government agencies
  • Healthcare institutions and partners
  • University systems
  • Farmers and food entrepreneurs
  • Residents with lived experience

Together, we’re transforming the local food landscape—one meal, one policy, one neighborhood at a time.

  • Oshin Castillo, Passaic County Board of Social Services
  • Mary Celis, The United Way of Passaic County
  • Meghan Gosselink, Community Food Bank NJ
  • Arti Kakkar, Passaic County Department of Human Services
  • Shana Manradge, PCFPC Resident Advisory Board
  • Lisa Pitz, Hunger Free New Jersey, PCFPC Policy Advisor
  • Jennifer Salt Taylor, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, PCFPC- Steering Committee Chair
  • Lisa Giovannielli, The Common Market

  • Join the council
  • Make a gift
    • Your donation powers sustainable food access and innovation
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