Princeton Area Nonprofits Awarded More Than $2M In Grants

Princeton NJ

24 February, 2021

1:03 PM

Description

PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton Area Community Foundation awarded more than $2 million in grants to over 50 local nonprofits in its second phase of COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Grant funding, the organization announced. The nonprofits that were given grants, focus on needs like food insecurity, healthcare, housing, mental health, and other social service, as well educational activities to help reduce learning loss among children in the region. Some of the recipients include the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and the Rescue Mission of Trenton, that worked together to open the Trenton Collaborative Warming Center, providing warmth, meals and referral services to those in need. "Our region has been devastated by the economic effects of the pandemic," Jeffrey M. Vega, President & CEO of the Community Foundation said in a statement. "In this round of grantmaking, we supplemented our COVID-19 Fund with grant dollars from several of our other grantmaking programs so we could help fund the work of many nonprofits." In the early days of the pandemic, the Community Foundation partnered with other foundations, companies, and charitable individuals to assist nonprofits. The Community Foundation raised more than $2.6 million for COVID-19 Relief and Recovery. In the second phase, the funds increased because of a collaboration with other grantmaking funds like The Bunbury Fund, the Community Impact Grants/The Burke Foundation Legacy Grants, and the Fund for Women and Girls. Before launching a third phase of the funding, the Community Foundation plans to engage community members and organizations to understand existing needs in the region. Data collected from this process will inform the focus of the next wave of funding. "Following a year that has wreaked havoc on our communities, in our third round of grantmaking, we hope to help local nonprofits continue on a path to rebuilding," Sonia Delgado, a Community Foundation Trustee said in a statement. "We're grateful for the donations we've received, and we hope that more members of our community will consider contributing to the Fund so we can help as many of our neighbors as possible." The Community Foundation also hosts the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund, which has raised over $3.7 million, helping schools through its 'All Kids Thrive' program To learn more or donate, visit www.pacf.org. Here's the list of local nonprofits that received grants: Food Insecurity Arm In Arm, Trenton, for its Hunger Prevention Program, which is providing food to thousands of households through its traditional pantries, a mobile pantry and home food delivery service. Calvary Baptist Church, Hopewell, through the Chubby's Project, it delivers meals three times a week to 50 individuals and families, many of whom are elderly or have chronic health issues. Help Self Community Development Corporation, Trenton, to deliver a daily meal to 150 seniors living in low-income senior housing in the city. Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Mercer County, Princeton, to support its brick and mortar and mobile food pantries, which are expected to serve more than 22,000 people. Meals on Wheels of Mercer County, Ewing, to support meal delivery to residents of Trenton, Ewing, Hamilton, Lawrence, Hightstown, Princeton, East Windsor and West Windsor. New Jersey Agricultural Society, Bordentown, to provide meals for those facing food insecurity; its Farmers Against Hunger program feeds thousands of families and schoolchildren. Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Southampton, to help Farmers Against Hunger and related programs provide least 6,000 pounds of produce to those in need. RISE, Hightstown, to help with increased demand for food assistance, including the costs of pantry drivers, case managers, food storage and refrigeration space. Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, Lumberville, its Farms to Families program distributes produce from local farms at emergency food popups at the Cure Arena in Trenton and surrounding areas. Send Hunger Packing Princeton to provide food to families in need, including those whose children are in the free- and reduced-price school meals program. Share My Meals, Princeton, to partner with local restaurants to prepare and deliver meals to up to 150 families and homeless individuals. Snipes Farm & Education Center, Morrisville, Pa., to provide food to those in need in Trenton, Hamilton and Morrisville Pa., including seniors, disabled adults, and homeless families. Trenton Health Team, Trenton, to expand its research and data analysis of local food systems, with a focus on systemic issues. Community Development/Social Welfare CASA for Children of Mercer & Burlington Counties, Ewing, to train volunteers who serve 225 foster children in Mercer County. The Children's Home Society of New Jersey, Trenton, to train doulas and to provide counseling services to pregnant women and new mothers. Every Child Valued, Lawrenceville to address food insecurity, prevent learning loss, and provide individual counseling and a Parenting in the Pandemic support group. The Father Center (Formerly UIH Family Partners), Trenton, to increase and strengthen virtual education and job training programs for 800 men in the Trenton area. HomeFront, Lawrenceville, to provide case management, food and diapers to about 100 vulnerable households living in local motels. Isles, Trenton, for its Create the Peace program, which will use young people, respected individuals and groups to promote anti-violence messages. Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Trenton, to hire a bilingual client advocate to help individuals navigate health care options in the city. LifeTies, Princeton to buy laptops for young people, ages 18-24, in the transitional and rapid rehousing programs, so they connect to classes and support systems, such as tele-health. NonProfitConnect (formerly VolunteerConnect), Princeton, which provides training for board members and educational programs for nonprofit leaders. Passage Theatre Company, Trenton, to help the theater move its spring programming online, pay contracted artists and offer high-quality programming for children and adults. Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and The Rescue Mission of Trenton, to create the Trenton Collaborative Warming Center, which is expected to serve up to 1,300 residents. Trenton Circus Squad, Trenton, to help sustain its new virtual program, Trenton Circus LIVE, which supports children and teens through daytime and after-school programming. Physical Health/Mental Health/Counseling Services Foundation for Educational Administration, to help support a pilot program on trauma-informed instruction and help educators identify students with mental health needs. Friends of Foundation Academy, Trenton, to support a series of mental health and wellness initiatives for students and their families. KinderSmile Foundation, Trenton, to cover the surging costs of safety and protective equipment at the dental office that provides services to low-income children. Millhill Child & Family Development, Trenton, to continue its teletherapy program for vulnerable individuals and families. Trinity Counseling Services, Princeton, to provide therapy, education, programming and resources to vulnerable children and families in Princeton, Cranbury and West Windsor. Childcare/Education/Youth Support Boys & Girls Club of Trenton & Mercer County, Trenton, for its full-day virtual schooling and after-school programs, which provide childcare and help with remote learning. Catholic Youth Organization, Trenton, to provide out-of-school programs for 75 children at two sites in the city; children, ages 5-12, do their schoolwork virtually at the programs. Child Care Connection (CCC), Trenton, for Project Connect. CCC staff provide PPE and conduct non-clinical assessments of the mental health and well-being of family childcare providers. Hamilton Township Public Schools, Hamilton, for mental health services, parental/community workshops and support, translations services, tutoring and resources for families. HomeWorks Trenton, Trenton, to provide transportation, daily meals, and tutoring so its students can attend virtual classes at the nonprofit. James R. Halsey Foundation of the Arts, Trenton, to provide a 9-week Let's Film Program to 25 current and new students. Mercer Street Friends, Trenton, to help fund reading specialists at Gregory Elementary School in Trenton, where more than half of first- through fifth-grade students read below grade level. Puerto Rican Community Center (PRCC), Trenton, to purchase a device and a hotspot for its 90 preschool students engaged in remote learning. Princeton Family YMCA, Princeton, to help support its Young Achievers after-school enrichment program. Princeton Nursery School, Princeton, to offset additional PPE costs and higher demand for scholarships for children in its affordable preschool program. Trenton Children's Chorus, Trenton, to expand its Learning Academy, provide learning coaches, Kindle Fires and laptops for students. Trenton Music Makers, Trenton, to help sustain pre-k and orchestra programs, and adapt them to a remote-learning format. Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania, Princeton, to support arts programming, grounded in social and emotional learning, for 1,300 students at five Hamilton schools. Housing/Rental Assistance Anchor House, Trenton, to provide rental assistance and food, and to help students navigate remote learning; it serves runaway and homeless youth and their families. Housing Initiatives of Princeton, Princeton to provide rental assistance and prevent evictions. Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected] Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.