Mercer Street Friends

10/20/2026

We’re grateful for the corporate partners who show up for our community in so many ways. 💙

Thank you to Cenlar for recently spending a day giving back at our food bank warehouse and making a generous donation in honor of their Day of Giving! From volunteering their time to making a difference through charitable giving, community partners like Cenlar help us continue our mission to nourish minds and bodies and empower families and communities.

Interested in getting your organization involved? Learn more about ways to give back: https://bit.ly/3WzMxTv

10/19/2026

At The 222, we’re bringing information, resources, and community partners together in one place to help families stay healthy and connected!

children age 6 and younger are at a higher risk for lead exposure, which can affect their health and development? The good news? Lead exposure is preventable, and testing household items can help families identify potential sources of exposure early.

Join us Thursday, October 29, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. at The 222 for a community lead testing event and resource fair. Families can:
• Bring a household item to be tested for lead
• Learn more about protecting children from lead exposure
• Connect with local organizations and resources that support families

Community partners will be on hand, including:
• MSF Parents as Teachers and Healthy Families Staff
• The 222: Community Market and Resource Hub
• Mercer Street Friends SNAP Coordinators
• City of Trenton NJ - City Hall Department of Health
• Isles
• And more!

📍 222 North Hermitage Ave., Trenton
🕒 3:00–5:00 p.m.

Registration is not required.

10/15/2026

Fresh off the press! Read the latest issue of Friends Talk, Mercer Street Friends’ 2026 newsletter, featuring a message from CEO Randall West, a look back at the wonderful programs and initiatives we’ve offered so far this year, and more.

Read your copy of our 2026 newsletter here: https://mercerstreetfriends.org/friends-talk-2026/

10/09/2026

Congratulations to the newest class of graduates from the Mercer Street Friends GED program! 🎓 Last month, we celebrated three adult learners who successfully earned their GED. We are so proud of the hard work, determination, and dedication these students have shown as they worked toward this important milestone!

Education opens doors, and we are honored to be part of each graduate’s journey as they take this next step toward new opportunities and a brighter future. ✨ Congrats, grads! We can’t wait to see where your hard work takes you.

Learn more about adult basic education programs with Mercer Street Friends: https://mercerstreetfriends.org/programs/adult-basic-education/

10/07/2026

Food donations make a difference, but they’re not the only way you can support your neighbors! You can support Mercer Street Friends without ever opening your pantry:

- Make a one-time or recurring gift
- See if your employer will match your donation
- Give your time by volunteering
- Give stocks or appreciated securities
- Start a fundraiser or crowdfunding campaign

🤲 💙 Find the way to give back that works for you:
https://mercerstreetfriends.org/ways-to-give/

10/06/2026

Last month, Mercer Street Friends staff joined Rise Against Hunger and Cross Community at CURE Insurance Arena in for a day of service focused on fighting hunger, both here at home and around the world! 🍽️🌎 Mercer Street Friends team members volunteered alongside community partners to package 280,000 meals for people across the world facing .

The day also brought an important local impact: Mercer Street Friends received six gallons of donated food, which will be shared with our partner agencies and help support neighbors right here in our community!

We’re grateful to everyone who came together to turn a day of service into meals and support for communities near and far. 💙

10/02/2026

Changes to SNAP benefits have significant impact on families, but support is still available. If your family has recently lost SNAP benefits, your child may still be eligible for free school breakfast and lunch and Summer EBT benefits. Contact your child’s school to learn more and complete a School Meals & Summer EBT Application.

More than 43,000 New Jersey residents have lost since last July.

If your family has been impacted, please complete a School Meals & Summer EBT Application so your child doesn't lose access to free breakfast and lunch in school. Eligible households can also qualify for Summer EBT benefits in 2027.

🍎 Contact your child’s school to apply.

09/29/2026

Every child deserves the opportunity to start learning, growing, and building confidence from an early age. For Trenton’s youngest learners, Mercer Street Friends Preschool provides a welcoming place to take those first steps. Children ages 3–5 build early skills in reading and math, develop social-emotional skills, and get ready for the transition to kindergarten – all FREE of charge to eligible families.

And now, registration is open! 📚 If you live in and have a child ages 3–5, this is a chance to give them a strong foundation for the years ahead.

Learn more: https://mercerstreetfriends.org/programs/preschool/

09/25/2026

Yesterday, we officially opened the doors to The 222: Community Market and Resource Hub!

We are honored to open the West Ward’s first full-choice pantry marketplace, paired with access to the resources and support families need, when they need it. In partnership with HomeFront and Trenton Health Team, Inc., and with support from Mercer County and a New Jersey Economic Development Authority grant, The 222 provides West Ward residents with access to:

👉 A choice pantry stocked with fresh and shelf-stable food

👉 Personal and household essentials, as available

👉 Connections to community resources and support

At its core, The 222 is designed to answer one simple question: What would it look like if families could access the support they need, all in one place, right in their own community?

The answer is The 222.

Learn more, sign up to volunteer, or make an appointment to meet with The 222 team: https://mercerstreetfriends.org/programs/the-222-community-market-and-resource-hub/

Special thanks to Senator Shirley K. Turner and Mayor of Trenton Reed Gusciora for showing up and supporting our mission to better serve the residents of and .

This work has been made possible through the support of Mercer County and the NJEDA Feed NJ program.