Linking Initative for Neighborhood Change
Take Action Today!
Find out you can get involved in and support our mission!
Supporting Our Resource Pantry
Our resource pantry is our central way of supporting local families, giving out food, clothes, and hygiene products. We collect almost all food and hygiene products, as long as they are properly sealed and well within the expiration date. Anything you can give helps, so please consider supporting us in our mission!
Check Out Our Amazon Wishlist!
Ordering off of our Amazon Wishlist is a new and easy way to contribute to our resource pantry. You will find a list of every item we stock, as well as the amount we need for the month, so you can ensure your donation directly supports our families. With just a click of a button at checkout, you can buy the items and have them shipped right to our pantry without any hassle! Click the link to browse our list!
Donate Items
You can support our pantry by donating our requested items, so that the families we support can receive the resources they need. All nonperishable donations can be dropped off anytime on the big white shelf in the back parking lot of the United Methodist Church (1441 Springfield Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974). Perishable goods can be dropped off between 10am-1pm on weekdays. Please refer to the lists of items we are looking for below. Thank you for anything and everything you can give!
Food
This is our standard list of food needs, but we accept many kinds of foods, as long as they are properly sealed and well within their expiration dates.
- Bread
- Fresh vegetables and fruit
- Cereal (family size)
- Shelf-stable milk
- Oats
- Complete pancake mix
- Syrup
- Peanut butter
- Jelly
- Rice (white, brown, jasmine)
- Pasta (any variety)
- Jarred pasta sauce (tomato basil, marinara, bolognese, etc.)
- Broth or stock (any variety)
- Boxed macaroni & cheese
- Canned fruit
- Canned protein (tuna, chicken, and turkey)
- Canned vegetables
- Canned beans
- Canned soup
- Canned meals (pasta, chili, etc.)
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar (brown, white, confectionary)
- Cooking oil
- Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo)
Hygiene Products
We accept all types of hygiene products, as long as they are properly sealed and well within their expiration dates.
This mainly includes:
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Deodorant (men’s and women’s)
- Soap (bars and containers)
- Cleansing wipes
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Feminine hygiene products
- Diapers (baby)
- Baby wipes
Cleaning Supplies
There is nothing better than a clean house or apartment, but unfortunately, many cannot afford that luxury. You can help us put an end to that by donating various cleaning supplies such as:
- Laundry detergent
- Dish detergent
- Sponges
- Reusable cleaning cloths
- All-purpose cleaner
Reusable Bags
Everything we give out is provided in reusable shopping bags. And as we continue to provide our resources to the community, we have a growing need for these reusable bags. So, if you ever find that you have extras lying around your house, please consider donating them to our pantry so we can continue to serve those in need with ease!
Please note: we cannot use personal bags (drawstring, canvas, leather, etc.), only the cloth and plastic reusable shopping bags you find at the supermarket. Also, please make sure there are no addresses or personal information left on the bags. Thank you!
Contribute Money
If you would like to support us monetarily, please see below to see the proper procedures. All donations go towards supporting our mission, including buying resources to stock and maintain the pantry, so anything you give goes a long way!
Online Donations: Please see the menu on the left to donate.
Physical Donations: You can also drop off a monetary donation in person. In the mail slot of the United Methodist Church Office (1441 Springfield Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974) located in the back parking lot, please deposit an envelope labeled “LINC” containing a check made out to “LINC Program Inc.” Your letter detailing your donation for tax deduction purposes will be mailed to you within a couple of weeks of your donation.
NOTE: The LINC Program Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and all monetary donations are tax deductible under the applicable section of the IRC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do my donations go?
All monetary donations go towards maintaining and restocking the pantry. Whether that means buying food, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies to make sure all families receive the necessary resources, or buying materials to help us facilitate our processes, your donation goes 100% back into the program.
When can I drop off money or a check?
You can leave money or checks in the mail slot to the left of the church office door located in the back parking lot of the United Methodist Church at any time. It will be collected and sorted the next day.
Can I specify how I want my donation used?
Yes, of course! If you would like your donation to go towards a specific item or project, or if you would like to make a donation in memory or honor of someone else, please send us an email at info@lincnj.org with the details of your donation.
How much should I donate?
Honestly, anything helps. Small donations add up to huge ones in the long run, especially in terms of the amount of meals we can provide. However, if you’re looking to sponsor a family’s needs for a month, they receive between $125-175 in food and products at each of our distributions.
Are my physical donations tax deductible?
Yes! If you would like to receive a letter detailing your physical donation to us, please email us at info@lincnj.org with your information. Please note, however, that we cannot place a specific value on your donation, only that the donation was received.
Give Your Time
There are many different projects at our resource pantry that we would love for you to get involved with.
Sorting — Several times a month, we sort the incoming donations, check their expiration dates (if applicable), and get them put out on our shelves.
Distribution Prep — In order to get ready for our monthly distributions, we set out and prepare all of our food to be selected by our families.
Distribution — During our distributions, volunteers help to pack families’ bags of food as they walk along the line, selecting the food they’d like to receive. Volunteers also may help pack fresh produce items in the kitchen.
Giving Garden — During the spring and summer months, we tend to the garden located outside of the church.
Lend Your Voice
The easiest and arguably most important thing you can do to support us, is spread our message. Food insecurity and resource inequity is a growing issue in New Jersey, and many people are still unaware of its effects.
By following our accounts, liking and sharing our posts, and talking about us, you are getting our program out there, which allows others to see and support our work, and spreads the word about the resources we provide so we can support more and more people across New Jersey.
Please consider following our accounts on Instagram and Facebook, and interacting with our posts so that we can spread our mission even further!
