Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK)

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. knows a thing or two about growth. Headquartered in Ewing, the company is one of the fastest growing consumer goods companies in the world. Their products, including items like deodorant and toothpaste, are well-known to many of us, and also frequently requested by diners who come to eat at TASK. In fact, last year, TASK distributed more than 14,000 hygiene kits to our neighbors in need, the most ever in our history. When the company was planning an activity for their interns this summer, they knew that hygiene products were the perfect starting point. But they didn't stop there: the team also brought TASK's Chief Development Officer Michelle Wexler on-site to speak to the group – representing students from New Jersey and beyond – about trends in food insecurity as well as TASK's work. The group was extremely engaged, asking many meaningful questions to better understand the issues and, as one intern commented, to become a better advocate. After the presentation, the interns put together more than 100 hygiene bags for distribution at TASK. "Through this community service project, our Early Career program participants strengthened their teamwork and project management skills as they worked together to make a positive impact in the local community," said Kathryn Gorski, Campus Recruiting Coordinator. She added, "TASK does wonderful work and offers so many ways to get involved and make a difference. Through our partnership, Church & Dwight is honored to be a part of it!" Despite its global reach, the company has made its support of local nonprofits like TASK an important part of its culture. In addition to service projects like this one, Church & Dwight's Employee Giving Fund has provided consistent financial support to TASK as well. In the weeks following the service project, a handful of interns reached out to discuss volunteering on-site and future projects with TASK. Perhaps just as valuable as their donations, Church & Dwight has provided an equally important resource to our community: inspiration. To learn more about how your business can learn more and support TASK, visit: https://lnkd.in/dNKmhFQe

Every September, during Hunger Action Month, TASK pauses to take a look back at the last fiscal year (which runs from July through June) – an opportunity to reflect on what we're seeing in our community and plan for the future. This past year, we experienced several months of record-breaking activity in our dining room and across our community meal sites. At our Escher Street dining room alone, we experienced a 43 percent increase over the previous year! In addition, we launched the TASK Truck, serving hundreds of mobile meals across Trenton to families, seniors and neighbors in need. Ever wonder what happens to the bagged meals you prepare and donate? Last year, some 64,000 supplemental meals made their way into the hands of thousands of people! We also continue to focus on environmental sustainability. At Escher Street, we are serving meals on reusable dishware and composting our organic waste. In addition, we re-distributed nearly 250,000 pounds of rescued and donated food, including high-quality food that was diverted from local restaurants, bakeries and grocery stores. Most importantly, while we increased our output, we also continued to focus on quality, ensuring that our meals are healthy, varied and tasty. We already know that this year is going to break new records. As we serve more meals, more places, we are committed to maintaining the same high standards, ensuring that our meals are prepared and served with the same care, thoughtfulness and dignity that have become a signature TASK experience over the past 42 years. You can help! Donate today at: https://lnkd.in/ecqQReEZ

Thank you Affinity Federal Credit Union for making TASK a part of your opening celebration. Your donation will make a big impact on our community!

Please join us in congratulating the most recent graduates of Emilio's Culinary Academy! These students have gone through 10 weeks of culinary instruction, studied and passed their ServSafe exams and spent hands-on time in the TASK kitchen. All three graduating students have obtained jobs at Princeton University Campus Dining! Founded in 2020, Emilio's Culinary Academy had graduated dozens of students, from our own community, with the skills they need to be successful in the restaurant and hospitality industry. You can read more about the program here: https://lnkd.in/e9mYYdgM TASK wishes these students the best of luck in their new careers! Pictured, left to right: Emilio's Culinary Academy graduates Rayon Cauthen, Stephanie Lane and Sacha Bacon-Jones alongside Chef Adam Livow, who runs the program and serves as TASK's Director of Culinary Operations.

When we launched the TASK food truck in March, our goal has been to work with other mobile partners across the area to co-locate, providing access to food as well as the programs and services the community needs to thrive. Last month, we launched a new partnership with the Mercer WIC on Wheels (WOW) Mobile Clinic, operated by The Children's Home Society of NJ (CHSofNJ). WIC, which is shorthand for the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children, is a program designed to help pregnant women, mothers and caregivers learn about good nutrition to help keep themselves and their families healthy. By partnering together, community members who come to access TASK's signature free meals also have the opportunity to take advantage of WOW's confidential healthcare screenings, nutrition counseling and WIC navigation services. The connection between the two providers is clear: by providing TASK's nutritious, nourishing meals alongside WOW's consistent, accessible healthcare services, these two organizations can make a greater impact on Trenton families. As TASK Community Meal Site Coordinator Rosa Prada-Rodriguez observed at their first outing together, "TASK, CHSofNJ and WOW are all trusted community resources. By working together, we can reach even more people." Assures CHSofNJ Mercer WIC Director Joan Martin, "We are excited to collaborate with TASK and hope to help many more residents where they live." TASK and WOW can be found together on the second and fourth Mondays of every month in the parking lot at 431 Greenwood Avenue, near the Trenton Transit Center. Pictured: Prada-Rodriguez learns more about WOW's services from CHSofNJ Mercer WOW Clinic Staff Madelin Marmol; members of the TASK and WOW teams pose together during their first joint outing.

You can help AND have fun! Thank you to Professional Women in Construction New Jersey Chapter for making meal kits that will provide supplemental meals to our diners for times when TASK isn’t open. Your contributions are so appreciated!

A recent report from the U.S. Deparment of Agriculture (USDA) is notable: 13.5% of households across the United States experienced food insecurity in 2023, a "stastically significant increase" over the prior year. This also marks the highest levels of food insecurity in nearly a decade. In the Trenton area, where poverty rates are double the national average, the problem is more acute. Here at TASK, we have seen the impact firsthand, noting a significant increase in the amount of families who are visiting our dining room, food truck and community meal sites to eat. Today, TASK is serving over 11,000 meals per week at its Escher Street dining room and 40 community meal sites across Greater Mercer County. See the maps below for more details. While our dining room serves as an active community hub, where diners can also access services like case management, workforce development, creative arts and the provision of basic necessities, TASK has partnered with a multitude of sites across the area to serve as distribution points via the community meal site program and the TASK Food Truck. "More meals, more places, fewer barriers – that's the goal," says TASK CEO Joyce Campbell. "We know that bringing TASK meals to serve to people in their own communities helps to overcome challenges like transportation, reduces stigma and ensures that we can be more culturally responsive to those who need our help." And it's working! Last month, TASK served more than 50,000 meals, the most ever in one month in our 42-year history. TASK is well on the way to meet our goal of increasing meal service by 30% before year-end. Keep up to date with our efforts on our website: www.TrentonSoupKitchen.org

Yesterday, the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate hosted its inaugural Garden State Conference on Food Security, entitled "Setting a Table for All, for Always." In addition to featuring special guests like Speaker Craig Coughlin, the conference gave participants -- ranging from hunger relief organizations like TASK to farmers to NJ residents -- an opportunity to learn and engage on issues surrounding food insecurity across our state. TASK is particularly pleased to recognize our CEO Joyce Campbell, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the conference! Presented by Assemblywoman Shama Haider, Campbell was recognized for her many years of service in the fight for a hunger-free tomorrow. After beginning her career in social work, Campbell spent roughly 20 years at Catholic Charities in Trenton before joining TASK in 2016. Campbell's experience has helped to bolster TASK's comprehensive approach to hunger relief, ensuring that our Escher Street dining room offers not only meals, no questions asked, but also a variety of programs and services -- like case management -- aimed to get at the root causes of hunger. Campbell, who is set to retire from TASK at the end of this year, was both surprised and grateful for this recognition. "I am so honored to receive the first Office of the Food Security Advocate's Lifetime Achievement Award. The award represents my passion for justice, one that has been enhanced by my fellow justice warriors," reflects Campbell. "What others may receive through these joint efforts pales in comparison to the gifts we receive in return."

Volunteers of all ages are able to get involved to support TASK! Recently, Gretchen, a middle school Junior in Bucks County, PA, dropped off 100 hygiene kits to both TASK and HomeFront. After running her own donation drive as part of her Silver Project, Gretchen put the bags together and worked with her parents to coordinate drop off. In addition, Gretchen took the time to prepare an informational video to help others in their quest to give back. In our opinion, Gretchen's work has not only helped TASK provide dozens of people with hygiene products they need to stay safe and healthy (we gave out 14,000 kits last year alone!), but she serves as a reminder that EVERYONE can make a difference in someone's life, no matter their age! Thank you to Gretchen, her parents and all of the kind-hearted people who contribute to TASK's Patron Services department to ensure that our community has what they need to thrive. If you are interested in preparing a hygiene kit or doing a service project for TASK, take a look at her video and then check out our website for instructions: https://lnkd.in/dNKmhFQe

Thank you PatientPoint? for making an impact on your communities!