DEPTFORD, N.J.–Eighteen credit unions from across New Jersey have come together to collect food for those in need.
Led by First Harvest Credit Union, Affinity Federal Credit Union and EdiFi Credit Union who co-sponsored the third annual New Jersey Credit Unions Food Cooperative, the statewide initiative unites 18 credit unions to help fight food insecurity across New Jersey, with this year’s collection focused on replenishing food pantry supplies during the summer months, when many children lose access to school-provided meals while on break, according to the organizations.
The credit unions said the cooperative will help replenish shelves at local food pantries and community organizations during a period of increased need. The branch locations of participating credit unions will serve as collection sites from June 15, 2026, through August 31, 2026.
The organizations cited recent reporting by the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate that found New Jersey’s average food insecurity rate was 11.7% in 2023, with 1.1 million residents experiencing food insecurity. From 2020 to 2023, the rate of food insecurity among children under 18 increased from 9.0% to 13.4%. Additionally, the Economic Development Authority identified the state’s top 50 food desert communities, which have a combined population of 1.5 million residents. Many of these communities continue to have limited access to healthy, affordable food sources and are largely located within the footprints of the participating credit unions, the organizations said.
The Participants
Participating credit unions include:
- Affinity Federal Credit Union (Co-Sponsor)
- Edifi Credit Union (Co-Sponsor)
- First Harvest Credit Union (Co-Sponsor)
- ACE Federal Credit Union
- Advanced Financial Federal Credit Union
- Bay Atlantic Federal Credit Union
- Bridgeton Onized Federal Credit Union
- County Excellence Federal Credit Union
- Deepwater Industries Federal Credit Union
- Elizabeth, NJ Firemen’s Federal Credit Union
- Healthcare Employees Federal Credit Union
- Manville Area Federal Credit Union
- Members 1st of NJ Federal Credit Union
- Motion Federal Credit Union
- Princeton Federal Credit Union
- Ridgedale Federal Credit Union
- Seaport Federal Credit Union
- The Atlantic Federal Credit Union
‘Inherent Responsibility’
“As not-for-profit credit unions, we have an inherent responsibility to uplift the communities we serve,” First Harvest President & CEO Mike Dinneen said in a statement “The New Jersey’s credit unions serve a wide variety of rural, urban, and suburban communities. There is a food inequity and affordability crisis that is impacting all of our residents. Credit unions have a proven ability to lead when there is a need to help those who are underserved. New Jersey’s credit unions are proud to lead on this important member-driven mission.”
‘Seeing The Stress’
“We’re seeing the stress that the increased cost of food and necessities is having on our local communities. This effort to help those in need is perfectly consistent with the mission of the credit union movement to lift up individuals and families. It’s great to see so many of our credit union colleagues collaborating together towards this initiative,” said EdiFi Credit Union President & CEO Jill Peterson in a statement.
‘A Call to Action’
“With food insecurity on the rise throughout the state, we felt a call to action to support communities with limited access to healthy and affordable food sources. The credit union difference is about people helping people, and New Jersey credit unions coming together for initiatives like this demonstrates the cooperative spirit of working with our members and local communities,” said Affinity Federal Credit Union President & CEO Kevin Brauer in a statement.
