The State of New Jersey presented The Salvation Army with three feeding trucks that collectively can prepare and serve 30,000 hot meals a day during an emergency or natural disaster. The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) purchased the vehicles using $870,000 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The feeding trucks are 40 feet long and 13 feet tall. DHS and The Salvation Army worked with Custom Mobile Food to design the vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with large onboard diesel generators and two large propane tanks, enabling them to operate without access to an electrical outlet. They each contain two large refrigerators, three built-in freezers, two 30-gallon tilting skillets, four sinks, a staff bathroom, on board waste and water holding tanks.

They can be driven to shelters or any large-scale emergency locations and quickly begin serving meals to first responders and disaster survivors.

DHS worked closely with The Salvation Army, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, and the New Jersey Department of Treasury to obtain the federal grant and finalize a memorandum of understanding to provide and operate the vehicles.

DHS is temporarily keeping the vehicles in Winslow Township at its warehouse until The Salvation Army is able to transport them to its own holding sites.