Toni's Kitchen

Our herb garden provides fresh herbs for our weekly meals as well as for our guests to choose at our Choice Pantry and Neighborhood Mobile Markets. If you have a home garden, consider growing a row of vegetables or herbs to donate to Toni’s Kitchen.

We are inviting volunteers and supporters of Toni's Kitchen to join us in marching at this year's Montclair Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4. The time of the event is 10:00 am. The gathering location for the Toni's Kitchen march team will be at Toni's Kitchen at 73 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/TK4thofjuly

Not long ago, a Choice Pantry guest rushed in waving her SNAP benefits acceptance letter. "I got it!" she announced to the volunteers and staff who had helped make it possible. It was a moment of relief and elation, for her and for everyone who had worked alongside her to get there.

Now that victory is at risk. The first wave of SNAP recipients is losing benefits due to the changing rules in H.R.1, and if they don't successfully appeal, they cannot reapply for three years. New Jersey estimates as many as 47,000 residents could lose benefits in any given month.

Since 2023, our bilingual volunteers have prescreened 2,075 guests; the Essex County Family Assistance and Benefits Office comes on-site weekly to process applications to enroll guests. Every approval has been a hard-won victory, and this summer your support helps us keep showing up. Your gift to Summer Love ensures nutritious meals at camps, fresh groceries at our Neighborhood Mobile Markets, and that when a neighbor walks through our doors, there is someone ready to help. Donate now: https://tinyurl.com/SummerLoveTK

This week’s harvest is headed to a Neighborhood Mobile Market where our guests can choose from a variety of freshly picked herbs along with fresh produce and shelf stable groceries.

Now THIS is Summer Love! The North Caldwell Partnership for Education and students at Gould and Grandview Schools in North Caldwell donated 315 boxes of cereal, all headed straight to local kids in our breakfast programs. Local students showing up for each other in the most generous way. This is community spirit and neighborly love at its finest. Thank you!

In 2018, a young mother came to Toni's Kitchen for the first time—unhoused, with a newborn, and struggling to find enough food to get through the week. She received hot meals, clothes for her baby, and connections to services she hadn't known were available. But what she remembers most is the people.

"One of the staff had a daughter the same age as mine. She was so kind to me, and helped us get on our feet. It was a real stepping stone." Years later, her daughter is in school and she still stops in when her schedule allows. "It makes things easier when people care about each other."

In 2025, Toni's Kitchen served more than 83,406 fresh, prepared meals. As federal cuts take effect, this work is more essential than ever. Your gift to Summer Love ensures that families find healthy meals, meaningful assistance, and neighbors who genuinely care. Please donate: https://tinyurl.com/SummerLoveTK

What could be sweeter than a cake party to support our Summer Love program?

Sign Up Here to save your spot: https://forms.gle/dTa5qdSq7kUV2bKu7

Big thanks to Montclair Girl Scout Troop 20486 for donating proceeds from their cookie sales to Toni's Kitchen!

Thank you to the Congregation Agudath Israel Better to Serve students for baking chocolate chip cookies for our Sunday dinner!