TUCKERTON – Just days before Thanksgiving, families from southern Ocean County stopped outside the doors of The Union Market & Gallery to pick up full holiday meals. There were warm greetings, steady hands offering help, and a sense of community that eased the worry etched across many faces.
The Nook of Ocean County had brought its mission directly into the southern end of the county, ensuring that families who might struggle to travel north still received everything they needed for a festive holiday table.
The outreach was part of a coordinated countywide effort made possible through the Wingman Foundation, along with additional support from Each Stitch Counts and Stop & Shop. By the end of the day, 125 Thanksgiving meals were distributed between the Tuckerton location and The Nook’s main headquarters on Route 166 in Toms River. For many families in the southern part of the county, the delivery in Tuckerton meant they could celebrate without choosing between gas for the car or food for the holiday.
While the Thanksgiving distribution highlighted a major push into the southern communities, the center of The Nook’s operations remains inside Bright Harbor Healthcare’s Toms River campus. From there, the organization works year-round to support households across Ocean County, including those who face long drives, limited transportation and unpredictable seasonal employment in the shore region.
The Nook is overseen by Vinnie Pizzimenti, LSW, a licensed social worker who serves as the pantry’s Supervisor and Clinician. Her work brings together logistics, clinical care, and community partnerships in a way that allows The Nook to reach deeply into every corner of the county.
“I have always been passionate about food insecurity,” she said. “I was fortunate to have a visionary director who obtained a grant and gave me this opportunity to lead.”
Her daily responsibilities range from managing food recovery to data collection, ordering, reporting to the county and food bank, and maintaining relationships with dozens of community partners.
Unique Challenges
Food insecurity in southern Ocean County mirrors the challenges seen throughout the region, although residents here often face additional barriers. Seasonal jobs tied to tourism, restaurants, fishing and summer retail often disappear in the fall. Public transportation is limited. Gas prices make travel difficult. Families in communities such as Tuckerton, Barnegat, Manahawkin and Little Egg Harbor may struggle to reach pantries located farther north.
Concerns about October and November SNAP reductions left many families overwhelmed. People who had never set foot in a pantry suddenly found themselves in line for the first time.
“I have had many people tell me this was their first time using the pantry this fall,” Pizzimenti shared. “I tried to take extra care here to educate them on how operations differ among pantries, and most importantly to let them know they are not alone in seeking assistance and aimed to make them feel as welcome as possible.”
In October, The Nook served 193 households, which was the highest number in its history. November brought 221 households, plus the 125 separate Thanksgiving meals. Many of those new clients came from the southern end of the county where the Tuckerton distribution filled an immediate and growing gap.
Helping The County
Although the holiday outreach stretched into Tuckerton, the heart of The Nook remains at its headquarters in Toms River. The building at 954 Route 166 serves as the organizing hub for all operations.
Every week volunteers arrive to sort donations, stock shelves, rotate inventory, check expiration dates and prepare orders. Trucks arrive with recovered food from retail partners. Food bank pickups are processed and weighed. Conversations take place quietly in the corners of the room as clients share not only their food needs, but also the personal challenges that brought them there.
All of it flows outward from this single location, allowing The Nook to distribute food to every part of the county, including those communities at the southern tip.
The food supply itself is a carefully coordinated mix. “The Nook’s food supply comes from food bank pick-ups, recovered food from our retail partnerships, food drives held by community groups, and a small monthly budget we have for food purchases,” Pizzimenti explained.
The partnerships extend across Ocean County. Multiple ShopRite locations participate, along with Wawa, Aldi, Target and family-owned grocery businesses. The Nook also collaborates with other pantries so that excesses and shortages can be shared countywide.
Volunteers play a critical role in the functioning of The Nook’s day-to-day operations. “As the only full time employee of The Nook, I can confidently tell you we would not be able to operate as we do without robust support from our incredibly, compassionate volunteers,” she emphasized.
Pizzimenti said that volunteers fulfill unique roles at The Nook based on their strengths, abilities, and personal preferences. Nook volunteers drive to grocery stores and the food bank, collect, sort, and weigh donations, break down boxes, and check expiration dates on every item that passes through their doors. They rotate inventory and fulfill orders as they come in. They keep the pantry shelves organized and the facility warm, clean, and welcoming.
Gratitude Beyond The Holiday
The Thanksgiving deliveries in Tuckerton were a moment of celebration. Families left with turkeys, vegetables, stuffing, desserts and a sense that someone remembered them during a difficult year. But the need does not end with the holiday.
Winter is the hardest season in southern Ocean County. Utility bills rise. Work hours drop. SNAP benefits are stretched thin. Unexpected expenses can topple a family already balancing carefully month to month.
“It does not take much for people to find themselves food insecure,” Pizzimenti said. “If you notice someone struggling, use a kind lens and help where you can.”
Interested in volunteering in The Nook of Ocean County or in need of services? Call them at (732) 349-5550 ext. 289 or send an email to thenook@brightharbor.org.
