On November 14th, Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim (Bikur Cholim) of Lakewood was announced as one of the first winners of a competitive grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). This award, from the FEED NJ program, will provide Bikur Cholim with $499,950.56 of funding allowing them to dramatically expand their hospital-based food pantry services for patients, families, and caregivers across New Jersey.
FEED NJ is part of a broader statewide commitment to strengthening food security — a priority championed by Governor Phil Murphy and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. Governor – elect Mikie Sherrill has also emphasized that addressing New Jersey’s food-insecurity crisis will be one of her top focuses, underscoring that this work will continue. Together, their leadership has elevated anti-hunger efforts across the state, including major investments such as this NJEDA pilot program.
Bikur Cholim expresses profound appreciation to Tova Herskovitz and her team at Dover Consulting, who identified the FEED NJ opportunity and expertly guided the grant-writing and submission process.
The organization gave a special thank you to Ocean County Commissioner- elect Sam Ellenbogen, whose involvement played a key role in pushing this initiative across the finish line.
The FEED NJ grant will enable Bikur Cholim to significantly strengthen food access in several Food Desert Communities, enhancing pantry operations in Camden East/Pennsauken (Cooper University Hospital), New Brunswick City (Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, St. Peter’s University Hospital, and the Bikur Cholim Hospitality Homes as well as Lakewood (Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus). These pantries already operate 24/7, providing hot meals, fresh produce, snacks, and support to families navigating medical crises.
Bikur Cholim has been serving New Jersey residents for more than 30 years and today prepares and distributes a wide range of meals to the community — including regular hospital deliveries, Meals on Wheels for Lakewood seniors, and substantial quantities of dry goods and refrigerated items for families throughout the state.
Bikur Cholim thanks their many supporters including the officials and partners who supported their application. Included but not limited in these efforts was the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, Senator Bob Smith, Senator Bob Singer, Assemblyman Avi Schnall, Deputy Mayor Menashe Miller, Captain Mark Seigel, Lakewood Fire Commissioner Harrison Pfeffer, Agudath Israel’s New Jersey Director Shlomo Schorr, Rabbi Mendy Carlebach and leadership teams from RWJ, St. Peter’s, Barnabas Health, Monmouth Medical Center South, Cooper University and Ocean County Health Department.
The board and leadership team at Bikur Cholim are deeply grateful to the NJEDA for recognizing the critical role of hospital-based food support and look forward to implementing this investment to better serve patients and families during their most vulnerable moments.
I heard there was one gentleman who spoke directly to the Governor regarding this application that helped put it over the finish line. I wonder who that was? All the best!
This grant is well deserved!
I was recently in Lakewood, from out of country, in jersey shore with a relative. The awe I was in seeing the rooms they have available from Lev Rochel BC and the pantry room and even the signage in the hospital helping me along to find said rooms was amazing! I live in a big city where we have only scheduled food delivery and apartments close to hospitals but nothing like what I saw here in Lakewood. Ashreicha to LRBC for providing food both to patients and caregivers in their time of need! One might take for granted that it’s ‘expected’ in hospitals in the tri state area but as I spent countless months sitting in hospital where I live, it brings an eye opening awareness to how ‘good’ you have it. It should only be used for Simchos in the future!
Right now, this money belongs to the tzibbur, LRBC owes it to the public to ensure the food reaches them. It is no longer a volunteer organization that helps when they can. The money was given to them to distribute to all of us.