Friends Talk Newsletter 2025
Just released! Your copy of the 2025 Friends Talk Newsletter: News from Mercer Street Friends is here! Click on the newsletter below to scroll and view online or download a copy.
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Mercer Street Friends Honored as a Top NJ Nonprofit by BINJE
Mercer Street Friends has been recognized as one of the top 50 nonprofits in New Jersey by BINJE! We were honored for our integrated food, family, and education services that directly address poverty and its effects. We’re proud to be a leader in this critical work, serving families and individuals
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Mercer Street Friends Celebrates Reading Achievements in Trenton
Reading Intervention Students Honored and Celebrated Mercer Street Friends, dedicated to strengthening local families through food, family and education services, proudly celebrated the reading advancements of students from Trenton School District’s Luis Muñoz-Rivera and Benjamin C. Gregory Elementary Schools. Students from the Reading Intervention Program marked a successful school year
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Mercer Street Friends Hosts Fifth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration
Over 200 Attend Food Bank Event to see Bank of America, Phyllis Stoolmacher, Dan Rodgers Honored Mercer Street Friends, a nonprofit supporting the community as the food bank for Mercer County and through comprehensive family and education programs, hosted its Fifth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration, presented by Grand Sponsor Bank
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Fifth Annual Mercer Street Friends Leadership Awards Celebration – 2025
Thank you to all who joined us for our Fifth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration as we proudly honored members of our community whose extraordinary contributions to our mission are uplifting us to nourish minds and bodies; empower families and communities. Honorees Bank of America, Corporate Leadership & Public Service Award
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Mercer Street Friends Welcomes Randall West as Chief Administrative Officer
Trenton, NJ – Mercer Street Friends, a nonprofit organization providing food, family and education services to families and individuals throughout Mercer County, has added Randall West as Chief Administrative Officer. “We are thrilled to welcome Randall to our leadership team,” said Bernie Flynn, Chief Executive Officer, Mercer Street Friends. “His
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Mercer Street Friends Appoints New Members to Board of Trustees
New Board Members Add Expertise in Operations and Law Mercer Street Friends has added two new members to its board of trustees: Ann Gavzy, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Legal Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, and Michael Godshall, member of the Strategic Planning team at First Quality Enterprises. Their specialized
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Mercer Street Friends Hosts Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way for MLK Day of Service
Mercer Street Friends was proud to host Lt. Governor Tahesha Way of New Jersey for a special Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event. Lt. Gov. Way spent time packing our crucial Send Hunger Packing (SHUP) bags alongside volunteers from local youth community organizations in Trenton and Mercer County.
Mercer Street Friends Hosts Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way for MLK Day of Service Read More
Your Generosity Will Fill Plates and Hearts
As the holiday season approaches, we are reminded that hunger is persistent and pervasive – in Mercer County, throughout New Jersey, in every corner of our nation, and across the globe. Mercer Street Friends, the food bank of Mercer County, sees our neighbors stand in line, awaiting a food bag for
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Friends Talk Newsletter September 2024
Here’s your copy of Friends Talk 2024 – Mercer Street Friends’ annual newsletter featuring updates on mission-based initiatives supporting the Greater Trenton community.
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Summer Bridge Recap 2024
Our Summer Bridge program and preschool summer camp are coming to an end, but what an enriching, energetic, and engaging summer it was for over 200 students! They were challenged to grow their skills in math, reading, and SEL (social emotional learning) and all while exploring individual interests by engaging in activities like roller
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Mercer Street Friends Hosts Fourth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration
Honoring New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin
Award with an Introduction from CEO of Feeding America, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot
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Mercer Street Friends Leadership Awards 2024 Celebration
Thank you to all who joined us for our Fourth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration as we proudly honored New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin with the 2024 Humanitarian Award. Thank you especially to Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO, Feeding America, who introduced Speaker Coughlin and presented him with the award. The Honorable
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Mercer Street Friends Community Schools Hosts Event to Highlight Trenton School District’s Reading Intervention Program
On Wednesday, March 27, Mercer Street Friends hosted an event at Luis Muñoz-Rivera School to highlight the Trenton Public School District’s Reading Intervention Program, during which the New Jersey State Golf Association Youth Foundation made a generous $25,000 donation to support the program.
Mercer Street Friends Responds to Food Insecurity with three School-Based Pantries in Trenton District
On Friday, March 1, Mercer Street Friends opened a Choice Food Pantry at Luis Muñoz-Rivera Elementary School, the third pantry in the Trenton Public School District. With 27% of Trenton residents experiencing food insecurity, school-based pantries are critical in addressing food gaps for children and their families.
Mercer Street Friends Opened 2nd School-Based Food Pantry in Trenton District
On Friday, December 15, Mercer Street Friends opened a Choice Food Pantry at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, the second of three planned in the Trenton School District. With the goal of expanding resources currently offered through the Mercer Street Friends Community Schools program, a school-based food pantry helps to address food gaps, nutrition concerns, and stress, for school children and their families.
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Guest op-ed: Addressing the Silent Epidemic — Food Insecurity in Mercer County
In the heart of New Jersey lies a shadowed reality that often goes unnoticed amidst our thriving communities—the silent epidemic of food insecurity. Mercer County, a region known for its cultural diversity and economic vitality, faces an escalating crisis that demands immediate attention.
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Friends Talk Newsletter September 2023
Here’s your copy of Friends Talk 2023 – Mercer Street Friends’ annual newsletter featuring updates on mission-based initiatives supporting the Greater Trenton community.
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Annual Leadership Awards Celebration 2023
Mercer Street Friends’ Leadership Awards event is a unique opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations for their outstanding leadership through service to the Greater Trenton community. “When you consider the longevity of loyalty to service by this distinguished group of leaders, it’s extraordinary. Each of the honorees have supported our organization for
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FriendsTalk Newsletter September 2022
Our FriendsTalk News From Mercer Street Friends newsletter is out. Grab your copy of the newsletter by clicking on the image below.
FriendsTalk Newsletter September 2022 Read More
Mercer Street Friends Board of Trustees Announces Two New Leaders
Mercer Street Friends Board of Trustees appoints two new leaders to the Board this month. The new members are Gerald Delk and Bill Heinemann. Ken Blackwell, Chair of the Board, shared, “The Mercer Street Friends Board of Trustees welcomes two exceptional leaders. Gerald and Bill bring unique skills, experiences, and
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Adult Education Program Celebrates Graduates
Congratulations to our graduates! Mercer Street Friends Adult Education Program celebrated seven outstanding graduates! They didn’t let the challenges of remote learning, job changes, or the pandemic get in the way of them earning their diplomas. At their own pace, paired with an instructor or tutor, each student persevered to
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Theft Strikes Mercer Street Friends Food Bank and New Jersey Food Bank Partners Respond
EWING, NJ (June 6, 2022) Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, which serves Mercer County, had three trucks vandalized and catalytic converters stolen over the Memorial Day weekend. The trucks are essential in the battle against food insecurity and are used daily, picking up over 50,000 pounds of dry goods, produce,
Theft Strikes Mercer Street Friends Food Bank and New Jersey Food Bank Partners Respond Read More
Mercer Street Friends Announces 2022 Leadership Awards Honorees
TRENTON, NJ (May 31, 2022) – Mercer Street Friends, committed to nourishing minds and bodies and empowering families and communities in Trenton and throughout Mercer County, will recognize community leaders on June 14, 2022 at the 2nd annual Mercer Street Friends Leadership Awards Celebration. The awards will be presented at
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TCNJ Bonner Scholars Developed PPE Bags for Gregory and Rivera Staff
Thanks to our partner TCNJ Bonner Scholars for providing Gregory School and Rivera Community Middle School with PPE bags as a part of the day of service to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Crazy Hat Day at Mercer Street Friends Preschool
It’s Crazy Hat Day and our kids showed up and showed out!
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Starbucks Gives Mercer Street Friends $100K Grant for Send Hunger Packing Program
Equitable Food Access Grant to Supply Nutritious Weekend Meals in BIPOC Communities for Food Insecure Students (January 28, 2022) Yesterday, Trenton Superintendent James Earle and Mayor Reed Gusciora along with Mercer Street Friends and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) teamed up to pack hundreds of meals for students
Starbucks Gives Mercer Street Friends $100K Grant for Send Hunger Packing Program Read More
See you in September
What a summer! Mercer Street Friends welcomed nearly 200 children at our Preschool, Gregory Elementary School, and Rivera Community Middle School Summer Program! Our youngest students in Preschool learned to write their names and how to count, while enjoying a new experience that provided routine and structure in the classrooms.
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Weeks Filled With Learning and Excitement!
Since the beginning of the program on July 6th, students have spent their mornings focused on reading, writing, and math. Their afternoons are spent swimming, painting, and honing their cooking skills! Thanks to our community partners in guiding our students and providing them with new and exciting opportunities to learn!
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The classrooms are filled with children!
Mercer Street Friends Preschool opened its doors for the first time since March 2020, welcoming the smiles and laughter of 60 children, ages 3 to 5. The Preschool Summer Program began with an Ice Cream Party and the days have been filled with learning routines, taking part in music and
The classrooms are filled with children! Read More
We went to the zoo!
We went to the zoo, zoo, zoo… It was all smiles as students from Gregory Elementary and Rivera Community Middle School ventured to the Philadelphia Zoo on Friday, July 16, 2021. For many students, this was their first outing since March 2020 – and they could not have been happier
