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Mercer Street Friends at a Glance
Opened in 1958 by Quakers and promulgating the values of tolerance, equality of all people, social justice and nonviolent resolution of conflict, Mercer Street Friends works tirelessly to touch the lives of more than 30,000 people a year and help them overcome the debilitating effects of poverty, hunger, neglect and health concerns. This is about two-thirds of the people in poverty in Mercer County.
Each and every week of the year, the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank distributes 30,000 pounds of food to 60 area agencies and food pantries that provide nourishment to children, adults and seniors at risk for hunger. In a year, more than 1.5 million pounds of food from the Food Bank reaches 17,000 people.
Through the Youth Services Division of Mercer Street Friends, the Back on Track program provides intervention for up to 30 children per day, ages 8 through 17 and the Urban Gateway Enhancement Program provides counseling, vocational training and employment to young people ages 14 through 18. These programs, combined with other Mercer Street Friends Youth Services serve approximately 120 young people per year.
Each day, 170 infants and toddlers receive full-day care at three Mercer Street Friends Early Childhood Education centers, which provide safe, stimulating environments for children to learn and thrive. Every day of the school year, 400 children arrive at Mercer Street Friends School-Age Child Care programs held in 6 public schools in Hamilton. Mercer Street Friends also provides the only after-school program in Mercer County for special needs children who are unable to attend regular public schools.
Mercer Street Friends and Adult Services builds competency through education, employment support, and parenting training. The Citywide Healhty Families Program, the Children's Futures/Parent Child West Program, the TANF Initiative formParents Program (TIP), and the Family Support and Reunification Program, provide home visiting and group activites that promote nurturing, nonviolent parenting skills to at-risk families. The Mercer Street Friends Opportunity Center helps clients prepare and gain employment through the TANF Supported Work Program; and the Adult Basic Skills Program provides literacy skills, with the goal of achieving the GED credential.
Each year, Mercer Street Friends Home Health Care provides up to 2,000 homebound, ill, post surgical or disabled clients with a full range of home-care services. Our skilled staff includes nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists, registered dieticians, medical social workers and certified home health aides. Friends Home Health Care is Medicare and Medicaid certified and participates with most private insurances. |
