Background: Food insecurity has been associated with HIV prevalence. Immigrants disproportionally experience food insecurity. Many new immigrants are ineligible for state food assistance programs due to immigration status. North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI) is a non- profit organization in Newark, NJ that provides medical care and support services for highly vulnerable and hard to reach patient populations including unhoused individuals, people living with HIV/AIDS, LGBQTIA community members, people who use drugs and new immigrants.

Methods: Food pantry provides status neutral services to the community and specialized nutritional support in the migrant population. During the food pantry hours our prevention, testing and vaccine team set up a "Stop and Hop" in our mobile vans outside of NJCRIs building and food pantry. NJCRI's food pantry can see up to 200 people in a day who are waiting in line for food. While the food pantry is operational the NJCRI team stops and hops out of the vans and engages the community in line with bilingual staff and offers vaccines, testing for HIV, Hepatitis C and STIs along with other services if needed from our drop-in center like laundry services, showers and identification needs for documents.

Results: In 2023, NJCRI conducted 3,020 HIV tests of which 727 were conducted at the pantry with 15 new positive diagnoses. 33% were female. 66% identified as Hispanic and 34% as Black. 90% of men identified as MSM. In 2024 from January to March 15,2024, there were 488 HIV tests conducted and saw 8 new positives in this population. All were aged 25-54. All were newly arrived from Central/South America. 40% reported experiencing sexual violence or exchange of sex for food or shelter during transit. All clients were linked to care and services on site same day and started on Rapid Antiretroviral (ART) on the day of diagnosis.

Conclusion: Food pantries operated by trusted community partners can serve as entry points for HIV care for new immigrants. Providers need to screen and be prepared to offer services for sexual trauma in newly diagnosed immigrants. Ongoing work will focus on developing a needs-based assessment for this community.