The World Food Movement, based in Edison, strives to provide nutritious meals to students and communities. The organization began serving vegetarian takeout meals to Middlesex College students in 2024, and this year expanded the service to hot lunches served in person in the College Center on the Edison Campus every Thursday for the duration of the semester. About 100 meals are served each week.
The World Food Movement has been preparing, serving, and delivering free hot meals to Middlesex College students weekly since the spring semester began.
The World Food Movement, based in Edison, strives to provide nutritious meals to students and communities. The organization began serving vegetarian takeout meals to Middlesex College students in 2024, and this year expanded the service to hot lunches served in person in the College Center on the Edison Campus every Thursday for the duration of the semester. About 100 meals are served each week.
“Filling stomachs is a basic need,” said Hari Das, a representative of the World Food Movement. “The students are always surprised; they say, ‘Is it free?’ We say yes. We have top-quality, top-notch food.”
The World Food Movement program assists the efforts on campus to combat food insecurity. According to Middlesex College Community Resource Coordinator Amanda Lyons, 35% of students surveyed have experienced limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate food. Fifty-one percent said they experienced a high level of food insecurity.
The Community Resource Hub and Food Pantry sees an average of 190 visits each week. Since September 2025, 717 unique students have been served by the Food Pantry.
“We are striving to serve students holistically,” Lyons said. “We recognize that academic persistence faces major barriers when a student’s basic needs are not met. We extend care through nutritional support through our Food Pantry and with amazing community partners like the World Food Movement.
“Our Community Resource Hub helps students access additional basic needs support on campus and beyond. We aim to empower student wellness and assure our students that they belong here.”
Das connected with Lyons in 2023 through Sewa Diwali, an initiative of Dharmic communities throughout the United States that donates food to those in need. During the program’s launch, Edison Mayor Sam Joshi and Middlesex College President Mark McCormick joined the Temple team in serving meals to the students.
For more information about Community Resource Hub and Food Pantry visit https://middlesexcollege.edu/student-life/community-resource-hub-food-pantry/
For more information about World Food Movement visit https://wfmnj.org/
