For food pantries across Northern New Jersey, Hurricane Sandy dealt a double blow: It increased the number of families in need of assistance and shortened the span between Halloween (which Gov. Chris Christie moved to Nov. 5) and Thankgsiving, which comes early this year.

Prior to the storm, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey reported more than 960,000 residents of Northern New Jersey are food insecure, meaning at times they lack access to enough food to maintain an active, healthy life. 

The Community Food Bank is hosting its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive this Saturday, Nov. 17 from 9am to 2pm at the following locations:

Morris County

• Kings Food Market, 191 South Street, Morristown
• Kings Food Market, 184 Columbia Turnpike, Florham Park Rockaway Rotary Club, 113 East Main Street, Rockaway ShopRite, 314 Main Street, Wharton
• United Methodist Church, 460 Main Street, Chatham Meyersville Grange #188, 500 Meyersville Road, Gillette ShopRite, 808 Route 46 West, Parsippany
• Smart World Coffee, 2 Broadway, Denville

Passaic County 

• Pine Lake Women's Club, Wayne Parking Lot, 475 Valley Road, Wayne 
• NJ Realty Center, 400 Union Boulevard, Totowa

Sommerset County

• Kings Food Market, 450 Route 206, Bedminster
• Kings Food Market, 64 Mountain Boulevard, Warren
• ShopRite, 435 Elizabeth Avenue, Somerset
• Ridge High School, 268 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge
• Bridgewater‐Raritan High School, 600 Garretson Road, Bridgewater