The New Jersey Devils are Taking a (Slap) Shot at Hunger
The Devils Youth Foundation, the philanthropic branch of the New Jersey Devils, has been tackling food insecurity in Newark head-on—starting with a community refrigerator initiative offering no-barrier access to nutritious food for those in need.
Since 1982, the New Jersey Devils have had the privilege of calling themselves the Garden State’s only major-league sports team. And though they’re all about the game during those 60 minutes on the ice, the organization does plenty behind the scenes that you can’t see from behind the glass. Among their philanthropic dedications is a promise to fight food insecurity.
The Devils Youth Foundation, a nonprofit organization associated with the team, aims to make a difference in New Jersey’s younger population—from elevating youth sports programs to expanding education options and even implementing hunger initiatives. And in July 2023, the foundation partnered with United Community Corporation to launch a community refrigerator in Newark—home of the Prudential Center, where the Devils play—that would provide continuous access to essential foods for those in need at no cost to the community.
“We look at it as a dignified way to serve people who need food,” says Kate Whitman Annis, the executive director of the Devils Youth Foundation. “So they can make a choice; they can choose whatever they want in the fridge at that time … There are no barriers to entry.”
The refrigerator, which is located at the Fulton Street Emergency shelter, distributed more than 100,000 pounds of food to more than 2,400 families between July 2023 and February 2024. It continues to operate today, with United Community Corporation stocking the fridge five days per week with items like fruits and vegetables, milk, and other essentials.
Alena Minatee, the director of community engagement at United Community Corporation, explained the strategy behind the fridge’s home base. “The location was chosen because of the proximity to Prudential Center and the abundance of need, as there is nothing similar in the ward,” she says. “UCC YouthBuild designed and built the structure, and the UCC Food & Clothing Assistance Department stocks and maintains the community refrigerator.”
In 2023, the Devils Youth Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to UCC for their efforts toward operating the community fridge.* “We support nonprofits who are doing incredible work in our community,” says Whitman Annis. DYF also partnered with McKinsey & Company to first research where they could make the most impact in the youth food space. The decision to start the community fridge initiative stems from the organization’s commitment to fighting youth hunger in three ways. “Ensuring youth access to food, improving youth access to nutritious food items, and enabling youth to understand what that means and how to make healthy choices … Those are the three areas we’re going to focus on,” Whitman Annis says.
The Devils, alongside Prudential Center and Citizens, also recently launched their Food Forward Jersey campaign. The two-year initiative in partnership with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey has a food rescue approach that aims to redistribute unserved food from Devils home games to those in need. “We make sure that all the food we are able to reuse, we do,” Whitman Annis says. The program is a two-year commitment that hopes to raise awareness for food insecurity and also encourages volunteerism and donations from community members.
As for the players’ involvement, Whitman Annis emphasizes they’re always willing to give extra time to a cause. “They really care about the community that they’re in.” She notes that the team’s captain, Nico Hischier, partnered with Calandra’s Bakery toward the end of 2023—any purchase of a Hischier-branded gift card resulted in a 20% donation to DYF. “Nico [Hischier] and Dougie Hamilton have both donated their time to the Foundation for meet and greets with our partners,” she continues, adding that all of the players are “definitely supportive” of the foundation and its initiatives. “They don’t have a lot of time, but they do give a lot of it.”
The Foundation plans to expand their offerings and food insecurity initiatives down the road, but the initial decision to put the fridge in Newark was an easy one. “It’s where we live, work, and play,” Whitman Annis says.
*UCC has re-applied for a 2024 DYF grant and, as of press time, a decision is expected in April.
Photos courtesy of Devils Youth Foundation
