HomeFront

In observance of Juneteenth, HomeFront offices and Donation Center are closed Friday, June 19. HomeFront's Treasure Trove in Hopewell is open regular Friday hours, 10am-5pm.

Families currently staying with us will continue to receive ongoing care and support from staff. If you’re experiencing a housing emergency on Friday, June 19, please call 211, NJ’s information and referral service.

“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” – Ida B. Wells

Today, we honor Juneteenth and celebrate freedom and the ongoing pursuit of equity.

Our offices and Donation Center are closing early tomorrow, June 17, at 2:30pm for a staff meeting. Families currently staying with us continue to receive ongoing care and support from staff. If you’re experiencing a housing emergency after 2:30pm tomorrow, please call 211, NJ’s information and referral service.

It was great to participate in the volunteer fair at West Windsor Plainsboro High School North last week! (West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District) Thank you for having us and for instilling service and community in your students 🙌

We couldn’t finish up coverage of A Night of Hope without recognizing our three honorees and our generous sponsors. The Pennington School, Stark & Stark, and Terhune Orchards have given their expertise, time, and resources from the very beginning 35 years ago and continue to today. Our honorees and sponsors share our belief that families facing poverty and homelessness deserve dignity, support, and care—and that homelessness in our community doesn’t have to happen in the first place. Thank you for your compassion and dedication to making this a reality.

NJM Insurance Group Wells Fargo PSEG Aetna Better Health NJ Bryn Mawr Trust Capital Health Hamilton Jewelers Princeton Federal Credit Union Wade Ray & Associates Construction Wegmans Holman HQ

It felt really special to mark HomeFront's 35th anniversary with our caring community this past Friday; and to recognize The Pennington School, Stark & Stark, and Terhune Orchards for their long-standing dedication to helping families facing homelessness. Thank you to everyone who attended—you're helping us write what's next. Times feel so tough for families right now; but funds raised through A Night of Hope will ensure parents and children have food and essentials, a safe place to call home, and opportunities to build brighter futures.

The rise of food insecurity is here. The pressure is growing. And the time to act is now. We're grateful to be in partnership with Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Arm In Arm, JFCS - Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Mercer County, The Rescue Mission of Trenton, Mercer Street Friends, and Trenton Health Team, Inc. — as well as all of you, our caring community.

Read the full statement here: https://www.homefrontnj.org/post/Food-Insecurity-in-Mercer-County-Is-Reaching-a-Breaking-Point

No single organization can meet this moment alone. But as a community, we can.

Across Mercer County, food insecurity is rising at a pace we can no longer afford to overlook. Local food pantries, community meal sites and home-delivery programs are seeing 20–25% more visits than this time last year, along with a growing number of first-time users.

Inflation, rising housing and transportation costs, and reductions in nutrition benefits are forcing more households into the emergency food system. The network of food pantries and meal programs — never designed for this level of sustained demand — is now under extraordinary strain.

Without reliable access to food, everything else — health, education, employment — begins to unravel. Food security is the foundation on which every other form of progress depends.

The situation is about to grow even more urgent. In the coming months, SNAP recertifications, administrative hurdles, and benefit reductions will place additional pressure on a system already stretched too thin.

This is not a temporary spike. It is a sustained and deepening challenge.

In response, the Mercer County Food Security Leaders Group — a coalition including Arm In Arm, HomeFront, JFCS - Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Mercer County, Mercer Street Friends, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), the The Rescue Mission of Trenton, and supported by Trenton Health Team, Inc. — has worked to strengthen the county’s food system. But as we move through 2026 and into 2027, increased demand is not a possibility. It is an expectation.

We are committed to continuing this work — ensuring access to nutritious food in every corner of the county, strengthening coordination across providers, and building a more resilient system for the future. But success will depend on collective action.

Support your local food providers. Volunteer your time. Advocate for continued investment. Partner with organizations doing this work every day.

The need is here. The pressure is growing. And the time to act is now.

Together, we can ensure that every Mercer County resident has the food they need — not just to get by, but to truly thrive.

With gratitude,
The Mercer County Food Security Leaders Group

**Read the full statement here: https://conta.cc/4vkPntP

A week at the beach ➡️ a lasting impact at home

🏖️ Bid on this beautiful Avalon beach-block condo getaway in our A Night of Hope online silent auction; and help provide the stability every family in Mercer County deserves.

Get your bid in today! 32auctions.com/organizations/138831/auctions/201031?r=1&t=all

Our offices, food pantry, and Donation Center are closed tomorrow, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Families currently staying with us continue to receive ongoing care and support from staff. If you’re experiencing a housing emergency, please call 211, NJ’s information and referral service.

We're so grateful to Princeton Area Community Foundation and the individual donors, corporations, and foundations that make their Summer Initiative grant for our Camp Mercer possible! ☀️ Thanks to their support, we can provide a safe, nurturing environment for children to learn, try new activities, build confidence, and make lasting friendships ❤️

The Princeton Area Community Foundation awarded $500,000 in Summer Initiative grants to 25 local nonprofits helping young people stay engaged, supported, and connected throughout the summer.

From academic enrichment and arts programs to camps, meals, transportation, and mentorship opportunities, these programs are making a meaningful difference for youth and families across Greater Mercer. ☀️

This support is made possible thanks to the generosity of individual donors, corporations, and foundations, including Johnson & Johnson, Care Inspires Care and the Burke Foundation.

Read more about the grantee partners and their work: https://pacf.org/500000-in-summer-initiative-grants-awarded-to-25-local-nonprofits-serving-youth-across-greater-mercer/