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
Financial Assistance Programs
The goal of the Financial Assistance Programs is to create hope by providing immediate, caring assistance for emergencies in the lives of low-income people. We have four financial assistance programs: Rent, Security Deposit, Utility and Medical Assistance. Our workers provide the direct financial assistance as well as advice and counsel to help people navigate the social service system and to connect them to the resources they need.
Rent and Security Deposit Assistance Programs
Eviction is a devastating experience. When a client receives an eviction notice, we work with the client, the landlord, the court, and often other agencies, negotiating a budget plan to pay off the debt. We assist with mortgage payments, as well, working with our client and the lender to prevent foreclosure. Clients are eligible for assistance once every 12 months. The Rent and Security Deposit Assistance Program assists families and individuals from Mercer County who are either threatened with court-ordered evictions or who are already homeless.
Utility Assistance
Loss of utilities means eviction. Clients experience loss of heat, light, water, refrigerated foods and medicines. The Utility Assistance Program assists families and individuals from Mercer County who are threatened with shut-off notices from their energy provider or who have already had their energy source discontinued. In our financial offices, we are also able to screen clients for utility assistance from other funding sources, including the New Jersey Shares program, Low Income Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), Princeton Area Salvation Army and the United Way Emergency Assistance Collaborative.
Medical Assistance
Imagine being discharged from the hospital after a serious illness and not being able to afford the medicines your doctor has prescribed to make you well. The Medical Assistance Program provides financial assistance to purchase prescription medications for Mercer County residents who are unable to afford the medication themselves. Collaboratively we arrange for clients to receive the needed prescriptions within a few hours of the request. We work with medical social workers so that they can connect the clients to programs that will provide consistent medication coverage in the future after our emergency help.
Through this financial assistance we are able to subsidize the improvement of health conditions for hundreds of residents otherwise incapable of affording medication.