The Crisis Ministry is committed to easing the hardships of poverty in our community by providing food, financial assistance, and advocacy.
Trenton Location:
123 East Hanover Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
609-396-9355
Store Hours: Monday – Friday
9:00 am - 12 noon
(Office Hours: M– F, 9-5)
Princeton Location:
Nassau Presbyterian Church
61 Nassau Street
Princeton, NJ 08542
609-921-2135
Pantry/Office hours:
Monday – Thursday
1:30 - 4:00 pm
• Interested in receiving occasional electronic updates in the future? Send an email here to let us know.
• Help keep our shelves filled.
Download a GROCERY LIST of food ideas and a CARE LIST of personal products. Contact Food Services Director MARK SMITH about coordinating a drive.
• Volunteer your time and talents.
• Help families keep the lights on and put food on the table. Donate here.
• Spring 2008 newsletter
• Fall 2007 newsletter
Services
Advocacy
The Crisis Ministry advocates for clients in many ways. We work with all of our constituents, from clients to volunteers and other supporters, to provide an understanding of poverty’s root causes and how we can work together toward long-term solutions and just policies. We seek to achieve this through legislative advocacy, client education in the form of free classes and financial guidance, and planned community events.
• Nutrition classes—Weekly sessions focus on healthy choices that affect our client’s health concerns within the context of a low-income budget.
• Free tax preparation—As one of five free tax-prep sites endorsed by the City of Trenton under the Greater Trenton EITC Asset Building Coalition, we train volunteers to prepare our clients’ taxes. We helped return $85,000 to the bank accounts of a record 70 families through refunds and the Earned Income Tax Credit in 2007! We educate clients about the hidden costs of Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs), offered by many tax-preparers to low-income clients around the holidays, and before they receive W-2 forms.
• Financial Literacy—We are a partner with a professional mortgage banker who works for the State of New Jersey. Her special curriculum of courses educates our clients about their credit, sub-prime loans, lending, and home ownership.
• Community Advisory Council—Comprised of former clients, the Community Advisory Council meets twice a year with the Steering Committee and Board of Directors to add their perspective to strategic planning and decision making.
• Petitions and letter writing campaigns—We mobilize supporters to petition decision-makers in local, state, and federal government to advocate for just public policies.
• Community symposia, exhibits, and fundraisers—In 2007, two Poverty Simulation events trained over 85 individuals about the struggles that low-income people face daily. Our next simulation is in February. www.communityaction.org/Poverty%20Simulation.htm
• More than 700 volunteers—drawn from area schools and businesses, an interfaith network of nearly 60 congregations, and former clients—work in the food stores and offices, learning through service about the hard reality of the extreme poverty that endures amid our area’s great wealth.
• Walking in solidarity with those in need, we organize the annual “Footprints,” walkathon to raise money and awareness. Our keynote speaker was Rep. Rush Holt. Walkers signed letters that were sent to federal legislators urging support of an equitable Farm Bill. And our supporters raised $20,000 to feed our clients!
• Speaking engagements at congregations, schools, and clubs. Please contact Marcia MacKillop by email or by calling 609-396-9355, ext. 12, to arrange for a Crisis Ministry representative to come and speak at your next event.