Open Cupboard Food Pantry & Thrift Shop

06/16/2026

💙 Our Community Needs You. 💙

The need for food assistance continues to grow across our community, and more families than ever are turning to Open Cupboard for support. In response, we're expanding access and increasing our hours to ensure no one goes hungry.

But we can't do it alone.

We urgently need volunteers to help us meet this growing need. Whether you can give a few hours a week, a few hours a month, or just fill in occasionally, every bit helps.

✅ Short shifts available
✅ Flexible schedules
✅ Friendly, welcoming environment
✅ No experience necessary
✅ Make an immediate impact in your community

If you've ever thought about volunteering, now is the time. Your time could mean a family has food on their table this week.

Join us and help make a difference. ❤️

🌐 www.opencupboardfoodpantry.org/volunteer

06/14/2026

🎓 Volunteer Spotlight: Congratulations, Matthew!

Some volunteers leave a lasting impression, and Matthew is certainly one of them.

Matthew first came to Open Cupboard Food Pantry over a year ago to complete service hours for National Honor Society. While many students work on behind-the-scenes projects, his mom, Lisa, became a regular volunteer so Matthew could gain valuable hands-on experience working directly with our clients and team.

It didn't take long for Matthew to become one of our standout volunteers. His professionalism, kindness, reliability, and genuine dedication to helping others have made him an invaluable part of our pantry family. Whether helping clients, assisting volunteers, or tackling whatever task needed to be done, Matthew always showed up with a positive attitude and a willingness to serve.

As Matthew prepares to graduate from North Hunterdon High School, we want to congratulate him on this incredible achievement. While we're going to miss seeing him around the pantry this summer, we're excited to watch the next chapter of his journey unfold.

Matthew will be attending Virginia Tech this fall, and we have no doubt that he will continue making a difference wherever he goes. His compassion, work ethic, and commitment to others will take him far.

Thank you, Matthew, for all you've done for Open Cupboard. We are proud of you, grateful for your service, and excited to see all the great things ahead.

💙 Please join us in congratulating Matthew and wishing him the very best as he begins his college journey!

06/12/2026

We are so grateful for the incredible support our community continues to show through recent fundraisers. Truly—thank you.

But behind the scenes, we also need to be honest about what we’re seeing right now.

Like everyone else, we are feeling the rising cost of groceries. This week alone, our grocery bill has nearly doubled. At the same time, we are welcoming new clients every single day, in addition to the families we already serve. The need is not slowing down.

That means your support right now matters more than ever.

We are especially in urgent need of everyday hygiene and household essentials:

Most needed items:

Body wash
Shampoo
Conditioner
Paper towels
Baby wipes

These are the items families run out of first—and the hardest for us to keep on the shelves.

If you’re able to help, here’s how:

📦 Amazon Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3B2FEJBT5NDX4?ref_=wl_share

❤️ Donate Online:
https://opencupboardfoodpantry.org/how-to-donate/

📍 Drop-Off Location:
Grayrock Shopping Center
1802 Route 31
Clinton, NJ 08809

Drop-Off Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Tuesday & Wednesday Evenings: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Every single donation—no matter the size—helps a family who is trying to stretch every dollar a little further right now.

If you’ve been thinking about helping, this is your sign. We need you, and we are deeply grateful for you.

06/09/2026

📚🤝 Today, Open Cupboard attended the Feeding NJ 2026 Conference!

We're always looking for new ways to learn, grow, and better serve our neighbors. Connecting with food pantries and hunger-relief organizations from across New Jersey gave us fresh ideas, valuable insights, and new connections that will help us continue improving the experience we provide for our clients.

💡 Together, we learn. Together, we grow. Together, we strengthen our communities.

🏡❤️ Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

06/08/2026

⚾️ Take Me Out to the Ballgame... and Support the Pantry!

Mark your calendars for July 30th and join us for a fun-filled evening with the Somerset Patriots while helping support the pantry and the families we serve.

Every ticket purchased through our fundraiser helps us continue providing food and assistance to neighbors in our community. As demand continues and pantry shelves need constant replenishing, your support makes a real difference.

Whether you're a baseball fan, looking for a family night out, or just want to support a great cause, this is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a summer evening while giving back.

🎟️ Tickets are available now, and quantities are limited. We hope you'll join us, but don't wait too long to reserve your seats!

👉 Purchase your tickets here:
https://so6.glitnirticketing.com/soticket/cms/view.php?id=tile_Open+Cupboard+Food+Pantry

Bring your family, invite your friends, or send us a message if you'd like to donate your tickets for a client to go! Help us make this a great night for an even greater cause!

We'll see you at the ballpark on July 30th! ⚾💙

06/08/2026

We get asked pretty often about putting together “kits” as team-building activities, and it’s become one of our more meaningful ways to engage groups.

Most people are familiar with assembling birthday kits, which are always useful and deeply appreciated by our clients. But we’ve also seen teams build meal kits—like the one featured in this video—complete with everything needed for a full recipe.

For many of our clients, convenience foods or quick takeout simply aren’t an option when they need something fast. That’s why meal kits like these make such a difference. They not only provide practical support, but also bring dignity and ease to mealtime in a way that’s genuinely felt in the pantry.

Check it out 👇
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1KprgPH6EE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

06/06/2026