Strike Out Hunger (SOH): Food Security Initiatives

Because of the Federal Government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November may not be available.

It also is unclear whether SNAP benefits that were loaded onto a Families First EBT card before October 31, 2025, will be usable after November 1, 2025.  

Should you or someone you know find yourself in need of food, please visit the Mercer County Free Food Finder website to find local food pantries and organizations that can provide assistance.

 

SNAP Benefits Update

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SNAP Benefits Update spanish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Does Someone You Know Need Help?

We all need help sometimes. As a result of the federal shutdown, furloughs, and layoffs, more families and individuals are struggling to put food on their tables. Play a role by letting family, neighbors, friends, or coworkers know about available resources in the community.

Available resources

 


Donate to Your Local Food Pantry

The need for food has intensified as a result of the federal shutdown, furloughs, and layoffs. Families have to choose between other necessities like housing and healthcare.

To help, donate nonperishables to your local food pantry. Take a bag(s) filled with food to your nearest food pantry.

STRIKE OUT HUNGER OVERVIEW:

Strike Out Hunger is a multi-prong initiative that unites companies, individuals, and advocates to alleviate hunger in Mercer County. The United Way estimates that there were already over 61,000 local families struggling to make ends meet and to put food on their table*, and since the pandemic this number has exponentially increased. Strike Out Hunger provides meals, fresh produce, and non-perishables to the food bank and food pantry beneficiaries, especially during the summer months when food becomes even more scarce for households in our community.

With the assistance of volunteers, Strike Out Hunger will provide meals through our signature meal packing event; harvest and distribute fresh produce; collect non-perishable food; deliver food pantry packages directly to the homes of those who have mobility issues. This year to ensure that local food pantry shelves are stocked with culturally relevant food items we initiated ‘Flavors of the Community' a guide to culturally relevant food items so people of all cultures have access to familiar foods, flavors and spices. SOH also includes accessing supplemental income that can be used for basic needs through our Free Tax Preparation program (VITA) and our Benefit Access program.

*Source: United Way NJ ALICE Report 2023 & Feeding America 2020


 

Meal Packing Event was a SUCCESS!

 

Our Meal Packing Event kicks off our Strike Out Hunger initiative. Together participants package meals that will be distributed to local food bank and food pantry partners to ensure families have access to food throughout the year – particularly during the summer months when food becomes even more scarce.

Participation is limited to sponsors.  This is a fantastic and fun opportunity for your company to make an impact in the community while at the same time meeting your corporate social responsibility goals. 

Become a corporate sponsor and become a champion of hunger relief.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
10 AM-12 PM
The College of New Jersey
2000 Pennington Rd
Ewing, NJ 08628

Check out Photos from 2025

Check out photos from 2024! 

Check out event photos from 2023.

Check out event photos from 2022.

 


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Celebrity Bartender Fundraising Event

FUNdraising event to benefit Strike Out Hunger

Thank you to all the fantastic Celebrity Bartenders and all who joined us.

All TIPS collected will benefit the UWGMC Strike Out Hunger Initiative

 

Celebrity Bartender post

2025 Celebrity Bartenders include: Nina Melker (County Commissioner, William Penn Bank),  Claire Cossaboon (Grounds For Sculpture), Lori Denko (DanMor Mechanical), Antonia James (K's Event Decorations), and more to come

pst info

 


 

Summer Food Drive

 

Hunger does not take a vacation! You can get involved and help alleviate food insecurity in our community during the summer months when pantry pantries need it most.

Donate Non-Perishable Food:

Drop off food at one of our many local food collection site partners OR at a community food pantry near you.

 

 

Name                                               Address                                                                                         

First Bank                                        1395 Yardville-Hamilton Sq. Rd, Hamilton, NJ 08690

First Bank - Ewing Branch            1340 Parkway Ave.,  Ewing Township, NJ 08628

First Bank - Hamilton Branch      2465 Kuser Rd., Suite 101,  Hamilton, NJ 08690 

First Bank - Lawrence Branch     590 Lawrence Square Blvd S, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Grounds For Sculpture                 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619

Haitian Heritage House               12 Perry Street, Trenton, NJ 08618

M&T Bank                                       370 Route 130, East Windsor, NJ

Northfield Bank                             3800 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ

Princeton Federal Credit Union 774 Alexander Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540

Tiaho                                                101 Carnegie Center Dr., Suite 101, Princeton, NJ 08540

 

Become a Food Collection Site:

  1. Sign up at  https://www.uwgmc.org/sohsitesignup25
  2. We will drop off a food donation box at your site and provide promotional flyers for distribution. Check this list for suggested non-perishables

  3. The collection will happen during the month of July.  
     
  4. United Way of Greater Mercer County staff will coordinate the pick-up of donations.

 

 


 

Does Someone You Know Need Help?

We all need help sometimes. As a result of the federal shutdown, furloughs and layoffs, more families and individuals are struggling to put food on their tables. Play a role by letting family, neighbors, friends, or coworkers know about available resources in the community.

Available resources

 


 

​Volunteer Opportunities

 

You can help provide fresh fruits and vegetables for families and individuals living in food deserts or struggling to make ends meet. United Way of Greater Mercer County has partnered with Rolling Harvest Food Rescue to help with the distribution of fresh produce to local food pantries. 
 
Volunteers can sign up to glean, and gather leftover fresh produce after a harvest with Rolling Harvest. This is a great opportunity to help alleviate hunger in the community.

JFCS gleaning

 

For more information on these volunteer opportunities visit Galaxy Digital portal or contact John Santana at john.santana@uwgmc.org

 


Flavors of the Community

 

‘Flavors of the Community' is designed to support neighbors experiencing food insecurity. It ensures that local food pantry shelves are stocked with culturally relevant food items, so people of all cultures have access to foods, flavors and spices they are familiar with.  

View a PDF of the Flavors Brochure

 

 

 


For more information

Please contact John Santana at john.santana@uwgmc.org

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Rolling Harvest Food Rescue        Mercer Street Friends Foodbank     Jewish Family and Children's Service

 

 

SOH 10 Years - Milestones at-a-glance

SOH Decade of Milestones

Download a copy of Milestone here 

THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 SPONSORS

 

 

POWER HITTER SPONSORS

 

Horizon NJ Health

 

 

NJM Insurance Grouptaiho onc logo

m t bank logo

 

LEAD RUNNER SPONSORS

 

Wegmans

 

pseg logonorthfield bank logo

 

william penn bank logo

performcare logo

 

agua

 

STARTING PITCHER SPONSORS 

rotary logo

Rotary Club of the Princeton Corridor

bank of princeton logo

 

HOST SPONSOR

The College of New Jersey

 

MEDIA SPONSOR

Sound Choice Media

 

SNACK SPONSOR

Mercer County Commissioner Nina Melker