Official Mission Statement
Our purpose is to provide supplemental food, toiletries, household supplies, and other assistance to neighbors in need in Chester and Mendham. ​

From The Beginning

Where We Are Now

In early 2000, Chester Township Mayor Ben Spinelli hosted quarterly meetings of representatives from all civic, religious and educational organizations in our community known as the Coalition of Community Service Organization. 
The objective was to cooperate and coordinate each other's resources to best serve the community. It was discovered that some of these organizations, in addition to other initiatives, were duplicating efforts in assisting families in need during the holidays. This realization led to a discussion about ways to assist these families all year long. The answer was the creation of a food pantry. 

The pantry effort was spearheaded by Buddy Castillo, Chair of the Coalition. With help from the Chester Post Office, who hosted a food drive, the Chester Food Pantry was realized in the basement of the Spinelli home and with three main volunteers (Buddy Casillo, community member Pat Durkin and Jacki Spinelli, wife of the Mayor). As the need for the food pantry grew and after several temporary moves, we found our current home in the back of the Highland's Building on Highland's Ridge Park with the support of Chester Township. 

In 2003, the Pantry moved to its current home at 100 North Road in Highland's Ridge Park in a building hosted by Chester Township. We expanded to assisting residents in the Mendhams and changed our name to the Chester Mendham Food Pantry several years after the move. We are very blessed to have the support of our community in so many ways. We count among our supporters and benefactors just about every school, civic organization, businesses, churches and so many individuals and families in our community. 

Several year ago we obtained 501c3 status Now, the Pantry provides for over 60 families monthly. There are countless hardworking volunteers that sort and deliver food, as well as manage food drives, collection bins, special distributions and much more.   
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