As a result of the pandemic, there is an even greater need to assist families in our community who cannot make ends meet and need help to feed their children. United Way of Greater Mercer County (UWGMC) kicked off its annual Strike Out Hunger Initiative on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at Quakerbridge Mall in Lawrenceville. This year’s meal packing event was held outside in the parking lot and only available to a limited number of individuals due to the pandemic. Despite the temperatures being over 90 degrees, teams of sponsoring companies packed close to 32,000 meals to be distributed to local food pantries. This is the seventh consecutive year United Way has hosted the event, which brings together businesses, individuals, and advocates, working together to help reduce hunger in Mercer County.
Join UWGMC to reduce hunger and donate to the Strike Out Hunger Food Drive throughout the month of July. Individuals in the community have already started to support this initiative during food collection days held in June, at the NRG parking lot in Princeton. Fill a bag with nonperishable food items including canned meats, vegetables, healthy cereals, etc. and drop off at one of the locations in Mercer County during business hours: Grounds For Sculpture, Investors Bank Mercer branches, M&T Bank East Windsor, or Northfield Bank Hamilton and Pennington branches. The donations will provide non-perishables to local food pantries, churches, and soup kitchens, to be distributed by Mercer Street Friends Food Bank. For details about the locations please visit www.uwgmc.org/soh.
In addition, United Way will continue to support fresh produce distribution to promote nutrition and healthy eating. This will be in partnership with Rolling Harvest Food Rescue. Volunteer opportunities during the summer are available for individuals to glean, gather leftover fresh produce after a harvest, at Gravity Hill Farm in Titusville, NJ, from now until December. The produce collected will be distributed to local food pantries. For more information about this opportunity please contact Denise Daniels at denise.daniels@uwgmc.org.
As United Way continues to build Strike Out Hunger, partnering with community organizations and businesses, organizing volunteers, and generating awareness of increased food insecurity among children and families throughout Mercer County, Sandra Toussaint, President & CEO, is extremely grateful for all the volunteers and supporters.
Strike Out Hunger Support: UWGMC is working with Mercer Street Friends Food Bank and Rolling Harvest Food Rescue to distribute food. Sponsors for this year’s Strike Out Hunger include Investors Bank, NJM Insurance Group, NRG, Berkshire Bank, Investors Bank, M&T Bank, Mercadien, PNC Bank, PSE&G, Robert Half, Taiho Oncology, The Rotary Club of the Princeton Corridor, Wegmans and Wawa Foundation. The planning committee for Strike Out Hunger has representatives from companies and nonprofits: Arbonne, Bristol Myers Squibb, Grounds For Sculpture, Investors Bank, Jewish Family and Children’s Service, M&T Bank, Mercer Street Friends, NJM Insurance Group, Northfield Bank, PNC Bank, Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, SL Business, Stark & Stark, The College of New Jersey.
About United Way of Greater Mercer County: We connect people with resources propelling individuals and families to reach their fullest potential creating a thriving community. Our vision is a vibrant and inclusive greater Mercer County whereby all can thrive. We invest in programs, community partnerships, and volunteer engagement in youth and family success, economic vitality and health and wellness. To learn more about United Way of Greater Mercer County visit www.uwgmc.org.
The Strike Out Hunger meal packing event is part of the United Way’s Worldwide Day of Action, which helps corporations meet Corporate Social Responsibility goals, strengthen their corporate culture, and do good for the community in which they work. For more information, visit: http://www.uwgmc.org/soh.
