Michael Bernstein, Interim President | The College of New Jersey
Michael Bernstein, Interim President | The College of New Jersey
The SHOP @ TCNJ, a food pantry on campus, is expanding its services thanks to a grant from Governor Phil Murphy’s Hunger-Free Campus initiative. The grant, distributed through the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, will enable The SHOP to enhance its staffing and replenish household items and hygiene products. Additionally, new equipment such as a freezer, commercial refrigerator, and microwave will be acquired for on-site food storage and preparation.
Nicole Harris, manager of health promotion and resiliency at TCNJ, emphasized the importance of client choice: “As a free-choice pantry, we want to give our clients the opportunity to choose their food and household and hygiene items in a way that mimics shopping at a store.” She added that their goal is to reduce any stigma associated with using The SHOP as a resource.
In collaboration with Mercer Street Friends, The SHOP now offers perishable items like eggs and produce. It also receives frozen halal meat from Mercer Street Friends. Another partnership with Trenton Area Soup Kitchen allows for the distribution of frozen meals.
Since opening in 2019, The SHOP has experienced significant growth in visitation. Over the past year alone, traffic has surged by nearly 450 percent. Harris noted that increased programming and outreach have contributed to this growth: “The more we program, post, advertise, and speak about The SHOP, the more our client base grows.”
Located on Campus Town Drive next to the fitness center, The SHOP is accessible to both the public and campus community members. It features ADA accessibility with parking available directly in front.
Weekly hours are updated on The SHOP’s Instagram account.