OUR MISSION

Since 1982, the Human Needs Food Pantry has provided food, clothing, and other services to people in need who live in Montclair and neighboring communities in Essex County. Our diverse client base includes families and individuals who are elderly, disabled, home-bound, unemployed, or underemployed.

1982

Human Needs Food Pantry opens at First Baptist Church of Montclair, serving around 25 people this first year.

1988

Hired the first Executive Director, Deanna London

1992

Moved into space at 92 Greenwood Ave., Montclair

1999

The First Baptist Church voted to downsize and used part of its funds to create an endowment for HNFP.

2001

HNFP Board announced the beginning of construction on new headquarters located at 9 Label St., Montclair. - tripling the size of the warehouse.

2004

HNFP officially moved into the Label Street location and served 2200 individuals from seven towns. This new location provided office space, increased warehouse storage, a second floor that would serve as a clothing distribution area, and private rooms for medical screenings. 

2012

Home deliveries of food begins.

2013

Deanna retired and Mike Bruno became our new Executive Director. Mike was with the Tenafly NJ Police Department for 29 years, serving as Chief of Police in his last 11 years there.

2021

Our year-end report for 2021 showed that our client breakdown was 4793 adults, 1410 children, and 313 seniors.

A more detailed history

The Human Needs Food Pantry (HNFP) was established in 1982 as an outreach program of the First Baptist Church of Montclair, and was later incorporated as an independent, nonsectarian 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

In the beginning, we served roughly 25 people. HNFP stayed in the church for 10 years. As the number of clients steadily grew, we moved to a larger rented space at 92 Greenwood Ave., Montclair. In 1988 we hired our first part-time Executive Director, Deanna London.

In the spring of 1999, the First Baptist Church voted to downsize and used part of its funds to create an endowment for HNFP.

In 2001, we announced the beginning of construction on new headquarters located at 9 Label St., Montclair. The new 4200-square-foot building tripled the size of our warehouse; allowed us to return to distributing clothing; and increased the scope of our mission by allowing us to add other services for our clients: medical testing in collaboration with Mountainside Hospital, advising as to available services within the community, resolving heat problems with utilities, etc.

When we moved in on February 20, 2004, HNFP was serving roughly 2200 individuals from seven towns. The new space gave us a client waiting area, a private office for the Director who could then confer in private with clients, a much larger warehouse, and a second floor in which to store and distribute clothing.

On March 1, 2013, Deanna retired, and Mike Bruno became our new Executive Director.  Mike had retired from the Tenafly Police Department after 29 years (serving for the last 11 years as Chief of Police). Under Mike’s leadership, our client base has expanded and the number of towns we serve has also grown. Our year-end report for 2021 showed that our client breakdown was 4793 adults, 1410 children, and 313 seniors.