NJ food bank buys chicken as turkey prices jump more than 60% with rising demand

New Jersey NJ food bank buys chicken as turkey prices jump more than 60% with rising demand The Community FoodBank of New Jersey plans to distribute 95,000 turkeys, chicken roasters and hams as rising food costs and growing demand create challenges. By Ted Greenberg • Published November 9, 2026 • Updated on November 9, 2026 at 5:18 pm The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is preparing to distribute 95,000 turkeys, chicken roasters and hams this Thanksgiving, but soaring turkey prices and growing food insecurity are changing how the nonprofit helps families put holiday meals on the table. Turkey prices have increased more than 60%, prompting the organization to purchase about half as many turkeys as it did last year. Stream Philadelphia News for free, 24/7, wherever you are with NBC10. WATCH HERE "Rising food costs are impacting not only neighbors, but organizations such as ourselves," said Jeannie Fournier, the food bank's chief impact officer. "We've made up for it by purchasing more chicken roasters," Fournier said. The adjustments come as more than 1.2 million people in New Jersey, including 330,000 children, are estimated to face food insecurity. "We know that the need is very large and it's only increasing," Fournier said. At the Community FoodBank of New Jersey's facility in Atlantic County's Egg Harbor Township, boxes of Thanksgiving turkeys are being moved into freezers ahead of the holiday distribution. Delaware Oct 16 The Food Bank of Delaware seeks donations ahead of holiday season Food & Drink Nov 4 Grocery shopper buys absurd amount of food for $3 using in-app deals, shares money-saving tips The organization hopes the food will bring some relief to families struggling to afford groceries, including people who have never needed food assistance before. "We have here families that never went to a pantry. They are saying there is no other way that they can afford food for my family," said Paula Tintinago, the food bank's director of community connections. New SNAP requirements add to challenges For some families, new federal work and eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are creating additional uncertainty ahead of Thanksgiving. "When that goes away or gets reduced, we're seeing families emotionally struggle as well on top of that," said Stephen Santiago, the food bank's community connections manager. The nonprofit is holding outreach sessions across New Jersey to help residents understand the stricter requirements, determine their eligibility and apply for benefits. "It's very confusing the information that’s out there about who is eligible and who is not eligible," Tintinago said. "We're definitely pointing them in the right directions," Santiago said. Despite higher food costs and increased demand, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is working to make sure families have something to serve this Thanksgiving. The holiday menu may look a little different this year, with more chicken roasters replacing turkeys, but the organization's goal remains the same: helping families across New Jersey enjoy a holiday meal. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. This article tagged under: New Jersey