New Jersey is a state characterized by both extreme wealth and poverty. The U.S. Census classifies all 7,800 square miles of New Jersey as Metropolitan.
As of May 2011, New Jersey SNAP Program Participants totaled 751,446 living in 371,281 households. As of 2010, estimates by the emergency feeding network indicate that 1,101,570 people in New Jersey are at-risk for hunger.
Outside the New Jersey SNAP-Ed Program, only two programs in New Jersey target nutrition education toward limited income individuals. They are the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Many SNAP Participants receive no nutrition education. Clearly there is a tremendous need for the NJ SNAP-Ed Program.