Center for Food Action to Celebrate 50 Years of Fighting Hunger in Northern New Jersey

The nonprofit will host a gala on October 22 to honor its past and present, while looking ahead to meet growing food and economic insecurity in the region

ENGLEWOOD, NJ, UNITED STATES, September 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Center for Food Action (CFA) will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Thursday, October 22, at Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, bringing members of the community together to honor five decades of fighting hunger and helping families facing economic hardship.

CFA was founded in 1976 when a group of volunteers received a grant from Grammy Award-winning musician Harry Chapin and radio host Bill Ayres. What began as a grassroots effort has grown into a critical resource for northern New Jersey residents struggling to afford food and other basic necessities. In 2025, CFA supported more than 170,000 residents of Bergen and Passaic counties through food, rental, and utility assistance. As families confront increasing costs for groceries, housing, transportation, and other essentials, the need for assistance continues to rise.

“It only takes one unexpected expense to put a family in crisis,” said Nicole Davis, executive director of Center for Food Action. “For 50 years, CFA has been a place families can turn to during those moments. This celebration is an opportunity to honor the people who made that possible and help ensure CFA can continue to be that resource for the next 50 years.”

The 50th anniversary celebration will recognize four honorees whose leadership and contributions have been integral to CFA’s work: acclaimed singer-songwriter and humanitarian Tom Chapin; Patricia Espy, who served as CFA’s executive director for 36 years; Adele LaTourette of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, a longtime leader in the fight against hunger; and Ramapo College of New Jersey’s Data Science program, recognized for its contributions to CFA and the broader community.

Every ticket sold directly supports CFA's mission. For more information on event registration, program ads, sponsorships, or donations, visit cfanj.org.

Event Details
Center for Food Action 50th Anniversary Celebration
When: Thursday, October 22, 2026, 6-9:30 p.m.
Where: Westmount Country Club, 728 Rifle Camp Road, Woodland Park, NJ 07424

Vanessa J. Hawthorne
Center for Food Action
+1 201-569-1804 ext. 68
vhawthorne@cfanj.org
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