GRACE is Summit’s outreach agency.
We are a non-profit, transforming how households thrive in Summit, NJ
Choice-based Nutrition
We are the first and largest choice based fresh food provider in Union County.
Community members select fruit, vegetables, bread from local bakeries, meat, milk, and eggs from our abundant tables to support their health and well-being.
Essential Supplies
We provide essential household & personal hygiene supplies.
Varying by week, during our distribution, you might find laundry detergent, shampoo and conditioner, sunscreen, socks, face care, infant formula. We always offer children’s diapers and adult diapers, and wipes.
Support Services
We offer services by our partners during weekly distribution.
Each week we have different services offered by our partners, examples are health screenings, dental & prenatal care, nutrition education, financial planning, literacy, and benefits assistance, legal advice and housing counseling.
Imagine a community where everyone has what they need.
We start with the philosophy that our community’s resources can fill any need in our community.
Choice-based Nutrition, Essential Household Supplies, Support Services
#happyhealthysecure
Every Thursday, something beautiful and necessary happens at the Summit Community Center. People show up, some to pickup food, some to lend a hand, others just to say hello and check in. It’s more than a food pantry. It’s a place where neighbors help neighbors, and where kindness and understanding is the starting point for real change. We offer fresh groceries, essential household and personal supplies, and the kind of support that helps people land on their feet and move forward. Things like health care, financial education, information on housing options, job training, and a community that says, “We’ve got you. What we’ve learned is this: everyone has something to give. And when we all pitch in; time, talent, resources, heart, the entire community becomes stronger, safer, and more connected.
Want to see it for yourself? Come visit. Volunteer. Bring a friend. Donate what you can.
Together, we’re building the evolution of the food pantry; the evolution of community care, the innovative system of support.
A connected community thrives together.
That’s the GRACE Effect.
MISSION
Since 2016
GRACE – Giving and Receiving Assistance for our Community’s Essentials meets community needs with community resources to enable the good health and success of our vulnerable and underserved neighbors.
We bring fresh nutrient dense food and essentials to everyone in our community while providing a space for accessing stabilizing supports and community building. Our enrichment programs provide opportunity for social engagement while empowering individuals to take charge of their mental and physical well-being.
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GRACE is Giving and Receiving Assistance for our Community’s Essentials. While we believe it is everyone’s birthright to be happy, healthy, and secure, we know that this is not a reality for every person today. Providing healthy, nutrient dense food and essentials is just the start. We strive to make sure every person in our community, every one of our neighbors, has access to the programs and services that make life fulfilling. It goes beyond the food we eat and it becomes about the way we live. Access to programs that promote health and fitness are too often considered a privilege. We want to break through the barriers to make sure that everyone in our community, regardless of identity or socioeconomic status, can perform the activities they want and need to do, can handle what life throws their way, and can be a part of something larger than themselves, as part of a safe and welcoming community that supports growth, self-empowerment and building sustainable futures for all.
GRACE is a community with a vision on making sure that all our neighbors can live a life of happiness, health and security.
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Consistency - Commitment - Care - Community
It is everyone’s birthright to be healthy, happy and secure. GRACE meets our most vulnerable and underserved neighbors’ needs with resources directly from our community. We start with the philosophy that our community’s resources can fill any need in our community. We make sure that all people have access to tools and support to live in good health and security. We remain open to support Summit’s most vulnerable residents for as long as there is need. We continue to listen to our people’s stories each and every day, and adapt to best respond to their needs and values. We always consider items that are culturally relevant and valuable to the GRACE community, and package our distribution items as a gift. To provide a continuum of care within an empathetic system, we enable connections for our people with local medical and stabilizing support services while we distribute culturally relevant, nutrient dense fresh food, essential items and household supplies.
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It is everyone’s birthright to be healthy, happy and secure. GRACE commits to cultivating an inclusive community that is represented by diverse leadership who live and work in the community we serve. We prioritize the needs and perspectives of marginalized members in our community, many of whom are recipients of our programs. We strive to make our services accessible to people who speak all languages and who use alternative forms of communication. Our Thursday Distribution includes a door-to-door delivery program for people who live in Summit and are unable to visit our physical location, due to time constraints, physical limitations or lack of access to transportation. We listen to the people we serve to find solutions in making sure that our services are accessible, desirable. We consider the demands and pressures placed on people in our community who face financial insecurity and the stressors that come with everyday life when faced with adversity. We strive to empower individuals and give them the tools they need to create and sustain quality of life and a sense of community. We strive to speak the language that is most comfortable to our people, and ensure outreach is culturally appropriate and respects and honors heritage and identity.