Food Bank Network of Somerset County

What Food Bank Network of Somerset County does

The Food Bank Network of Somerset County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit hunger-relief organization incorporated on May 6, 1982 and headquartered at 7E Easy Street in the Middlebrook Crossroads Industrial Park, Bound Brook, New Jersey. The organization distributes food and basic human needs to food-insecure residents of Somerset County, NJ through a main warehouse/pantry in Bound Brook and a network of approximately ten satellite food pantries spanning Somerville, Bound Brook, North Plainfield, South Bound Brook, Raritan, Manville, Montgomery, Bernardsville, and a VA Lyons location. Service is provided free of charge without requiring agency referrals, and the organization supplements direct distribution with the Backpack Program for school-age children (811 enrolled, over 30,000 meals distributed in 2022-2023), Wrap-Around Services offering SNAP navigation and human services referrals, a Food Is Medicine program for dietary-specific needs, and Feeding the Homeless services. The organization distributes up to 200,000 pounds of food monthly and served approximately 27,000 pantry visits in 2025, double the 12,000 visits three years earlier, against a backdrop of 28,400 Somerset County residents living below the poverty line per the Feeding America 2023 Map the Meal Gap Report.

Core operations are built on a traditional food bank distribution model rather than proprietary technology. Backend systems comprise standard SaaS tools: PayPal for online donations, Qgiv for fundraising event registration, Volgistics for volunteer management, Constant Contact for email communications, GolfStatus for the annual Golf Invitational, Farmigo for Community Supported Agriculture sign-ups, GiveHealthy for virtual food drives, and Microsoft Forms for client intake. The technology footprint is administrative and donor-facing rather than a differentiator. Operations are run by a lean professional staff of approximately 20-25 supported by an unpaid board of directors and a large volunteer base. Leadership includes Executive Director Steve Katz (a retired Army Colonel with extensive USAID overseas disaster response and humanitarian assistance experience, hired November 2021) and Director of Development Lisa Marie Arieno.

The business model is contribution-based with no service fees. Revenue streams comprise individual donations (one-time and recurring via PayPal, credit/debit, or mail), corporate and foundation grants (including a 2-year $15,000 Empowerment Grant from The Provident Bank Foundation for 2025-2026 supporting the Backpack Program), organized food drives, in-kind product donations from supermarkets, farmers, truckers, and government programs, a Community Supported Agriculture partnership with Fairgrown Farm in which 10% of CSA proceeds are donated back, and annual fundraising events (Fall Harvest Fundraiser and Golf Invitational). Strategic partners include Feeding America at the national network level, HOPES Community Action Partnership for Backpack Program expansion, faith-based organizations hosting satellite pantries, and recurring corporate sponsors including Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, PVH, Henkel, Qualcomm, and Pure Insurance. The organization earned a 99% Charitable Commitment rating from Forbes Magazine in 2019.

Name

Food Bank Network of Somerset County

Legal name

Food Bank Network of Somerset County, Inc.

Website

https://somersetfoodbank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Food Bank Network of Somerset County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit hunger-relief organization that distributes approximately 200,000 pounds of food monthly to food-insecure Somerset County, NJ residents through a main warehouse and a growing network of satellite pantries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Assistance Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD), School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD)

Keywords

• Food assistance services
• Hunger relief programs
• Charitable food distribution
• Community nutrition support
• Food bank operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bound Brook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monetary donations from individuals via PayPal, credit/debit card, or mail. Powers food purchasing, program operations, and emergency assistance.
2. Corporate/Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations like The Provident Bank Foundation and corporate sponsors for specific programs including the Backpack Program.
3. Food Drives: Collection of food donations through organized food drives by individuals, families, companies, faith-based organizations, schools, and civic groups.
4. Product Donations: Donated food and supplies from supermarkets, farmers, truckers, regional hunger-related charities, and government programs.
5. CSA Partnership Revenue: Fairgrown Farm's Community Share Program donates 10% of proceeds from CSA shares picked up at the Food Bank location, supporting wholesale produce purchases and food education programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Food Bank Network of Somerset County operates a main warehouse-pantry in Bound Brook, NJ, and a network of satellite food pantries across Somerset County that distribute food and basic human needs to food-insecure residents. Core offerings include General Food Assistance (client-choice grocery distribution), the Backpack Program (weekend take-home food for school-age children), Wrap Around Services (SNAP navigation and human services referrals), Food Rescue, Food Is Medicine (diet-specific foods), and Feeding the Homeless programs.

Product overview

The Food Bank Network of Somerset County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit hunger-relief organization operating as a network of food assistance programs. The core offering consists of General Food Assistance through a Main Warehouse Pantry in Bound Brook and a network of satellite pantries throughout Somerset County (Bound Brook, South Bound Brook, Raritan, Bernardsville, VA Lyons, Manville, Montgomery, and North Plainfield). Key programs include the Backpack Program providing weekend food to school children, Wrap Around Services offering SNAP navigation and human services referrals, Food Rescue, Food Is Medicine (dietary-specific foods), Feeding the Homeless, and Home Delivery (forthcoming). Additional services include Volunteer Programs, Group Volunteering opportunities, Food Drive support via GiveHealthy, a Community Supported Agriculture partnership with Fairgrown Farm, and annual Fundraising Events (Fall Harvest and Golf Invitational). The organization also provides an Online Donation Platform for monetary contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Food Assistance
• Backpack Program
• Wrap Around Services Support programs beyond food, including SNAP Navigator assistance for applying and maintaining benefits, Human Services Navigator connections to rent/utility assistance, Medicaid applications, and referrals to mental health, housing, and behavioral health services.
• Food Rescue Program that rescues surplus food from donors including food drives, individuals, supermarkets, farmers, and truckers, as well as from regional hunger-related charities and government programs, to redirect edible food to people in need.
• Feeding the Homeless Specialized food distribution services targeting homeless individuals in Somerset County, addressing the unique needs of clients without stable housing or kitchen access.
• Food Is Medicine Program providing foods suitable for specific dietary needs including vegan, gluten-free, low/no-salt, no-sugar, lactose-free, kosher, and halal diets to address health-related nutritional requirements.
• Main Warehouse Pantry Primary food distribution center located at 7E Easy Street, Middlebrook Crossroads Industrial Park, Bound Brook, NJ 08805, with the largest client area and greatest selection. Open Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM and Thursday evenings by appointment 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
• Satellite Pantry Network Network of satellite food pantries operating throughout Somerset County at host locations including St. John's Lutheran Church (Bound Brook), One Community Nourished/Our Lady of Mercy Church (South Bound Brook), Sacred Heart Chapel (Bernardsville), VA Lyons, Faith in Action Church (Manville), Otto Kaufman Community Center (Montgomery), and Vermeule Community Center (North Plainfield), operating on varied weekday and Saturday schedules.
• Virtual Food Drive Online food drive platform powered by GiveHealthy, enabling donors to organize collections of fresh produce and non-perishable items that are delivered directly to the Food Bank Network.
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program Partnership with Fairgrown Farm providing weekly CSA boxes of fresh, locally grown vegetables to CSA members who pick up at the Food Bank; 10% of proceeds from boxes picked up at the Food Bank are donated back to support wholesale produce purchases and food education programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Doubled pantry visits from 12,000 to 27,000 in three years, serving growing food insecurity needs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Fairgrown FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Community Supported Agriculture partnership. Fairgrown Farm operates a collaborative, year-round CSA with 37+ local partner farms. 10% of proceeds from CSA shares picked up at the Food Bank are donated back to support wholesale produce purchases and food education programs.
• #GIVEHEALTHYcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline food drive platform partner. Enables virtual and #GIVEHEALTHY food drives that can collect fresh produce along with non-perishables. Free to set up and operate, delivers direct to Food Bank.
• HOPES Community Action Partnership (HOPES CAP, Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit agency providing Head Start preschool services. Partner for Backpack Program expansion serving children ages 3-5 from low-income families in Franklin Township.
• Feeding AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational food bank network affiliation providing resources, standards, and support for local food banks.
• Faith-Based OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch partners hosting satellite food pantries: St. Mark's Episcopal Church, North Branch Reformed Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran, St. John's Episcopal, St. John on the Mount, St. Martin's Episcopal.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National umbrella network of which Food Bank Network of Somerset County is a member affiliate. Provides standards, resources, and national brand; comparable as the broader parent/membership body in the same sector.

Direct peers

• Table to Table: NJ-based food rescue organization that collects surplus food from restaurants, caterers, and supermarkets. Highly comparable on the food rescue component of the anchor's operations and Northern NJ service area overlap.
• Philabundance: Philadelphia-area Feeding America food bank serving a similar mix of urban and suburban food-insecure populations with direct distribution, Backpack-type programs, and nutrition education. Comparable in operating model and program mix.
• Community FoodBank of New Jersey: Statewide Feeding America affiliate food bank serving New Jersey. Directly comparable as a NJ-based food bank distributing food to food-insecure residents through pantry networks, with overlapping service territory in parts of Somerset County's broader region.
• NORWESCAP Food Bank: Northwest New Jersey community action agency with food bank operations serving similar low-income populations across northwestern counties. Comparable mission and community-based distribution model.
• Food Bank of South Jersey: Regional Feeding America food bank serving southern New Jersey counties. Comparable in mission (food distribution to food-insecure residents), operating model (warehouse plus satellite pantries), and funding structure (donations, grants, food drives).
• Interfaith Food Pantry: Morris County NJ-based food pantry network providing similar direct food distribution and family support services. Closely comparable in operating model, geographic proximity, and target demographics.
• Mercer Street Friends Food Bank: Trenton-area food bank operating warehouse distribution and pantries with similar wrap-around services model. Comparable in scale and NJ geography, with similar client base of low-income residents.

Emerging players

• Rolling Harvest Food Rescue: NJ-based food rescue organization focused on farm gleaning and fresh produce distribution to pantries. Comparable on the food rescue and CSA/farm-to-pantry model the anchor partners on via Fairgrown Farm.

Regional players

• United Way of Northern New Jersey: Regional umbrella funder and social services coordinator that aggregates donations and distributes to member agencies including food banks. Comparable as a regional funding ecosystem participant operating in Northern NJ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/The-Food-Bank-Network-of-Somerset-County-127492520658271

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Food Bank Network of Somerset County