Education

Bernadette Trapp is Leading the Trenton Community Schools Initiative with Heart

When Bernadette Trapp retired from the Trenton Public School District after nearly four decades of service, she knew she wasn’t stepping away from education – she was stepping further into her purpose. Throughout her career, she had been a teacher, a school-based reading facilitator, a principal, and an administrator, working […]

Bernadette Trapp is Leading the Trenton Community Schools Initiative with Heart Read More

Summer Bridge 2025 Update

From skydiving simulations to building bridges (literally!), our students are soaking up every moment of learning, laughter, and adventure during this year’s Summer Bridge Program! Whether its picking fresh fruit straight from the farm, diving into their favorite books, or getting creative with comic books and fashion design — one

Summer Bridge 2025 Update Read More

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

Mercer Street Friends Celebrates Reading Achievements in Trenton Read More

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

Mercer Street Friends Hosts Fifth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration Read More

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

Fifth Annual Mercer Street Friends Leadership Awards Celebration – 2025 Read More

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

Summer Bridge Recap 2024 Read More

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 Community Schools Hosts Event to Highlight Trenton School District’s Reading Intervention Program Read More

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 Responds to Food Insecurity with three School-Based Pantries in Trenton District Read More

Human Connection is our Superpower

Human connection is our superpower. Our programs – focused on food, family, and education – are based on seeing first-hand, the power of people helping people. Mercer Street Friends responds to our neighbors throughout Mercer County, thanks to you. We invite you to join us in reflecting on the power of these vital programs and those who make them possible, through the human connection.

Human Connection is our Superpower Read More

Mercer Street Friends to Open Family Resource Center at Gregory Elementary

Trenton, NJ: Mercer Street Friends, a nonprofit whose mission supports local families through comprehensive food and education programs, is set to open the first Choice Food Pantry in a Trenton District School, as part of a comprehensive Family Resource Center. As an extension of Mercer Street Friends’ Community Schools program

Mercer Street Friends to Open Family Resource Center at Gregory Elementary Read More

Summer Bridge Spotlight: All Good at Gregory

We’re off to a great start at B.C. Gregory Elementary with 80+ students – kindergarten through third grade – who’ve joined us for Summer Bridge 2023, an extension of Mercer Street Friends’ Community Schools initiative. Mornings at Summer Bridge are spent in the classroom with Trenton Public School educators (current and retired), teaching math and reading.

Summer Bridge Spotlight: All Good at Gregory Read More

Summer Bridge = Summer Fun!

School’s Out, Summer’s In at Mercer Street Friends’ Summer Bridge programs at B.C. Gregory Elementary School and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Trenton, New Jersey. Summer Bridge is an extension of our Community School initiative in the Trenton School District serving hundreds of local students and families

Summer Bridge = Summer Fun! Read More

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

Annual Leadership Awards Celebration 2023 Read More

Mercer Street Friends Honors Local Leaders For Outstanding Service to the Community

Ewing, NJ – June 14, 2023: Mercer Street Friends, a nonprofit whose mission supports local families through comprehensive food and education programs, hosted their third annual Leadership Awards event at the organization’s food bank in Ewing, New Jersey. On Tuesday, June 13, more than 200 guests gathered to celebrate local

Mercer Street Friends Honors Local Leaders For Outstanding Service to the Community Read More

Mercer Street Friends’ Reading Intervention Program Has Significant Impact

Trenton, NJ: Mercer Street Friends, a nonprofit whose mission supports local families through comprehensive food and education programs, hosted an award ceremony and luncheon to recognize achievement in reading for first through third grade students at Benjamin C. Gregory Elementary School in Trenton, New Jersey. On Wednesday, May 24, more

Mercer Street Friends’ Reading Intervention Program Has Significant Impact Read More

Mercer Street Friends’ Reading Intervention Yields Positive Results for Rivera Students

Trenton, NJ: On Wednesday, March 22, Mercer Street Friends, a nonprofit whose mission supports local families through comprehensive food and education programs, hosted an award ceremony and luncheon to recognize achievement in reading for first grade students at Luis Muñoz-Rivera Elementary School in Trenton, New Jersey. Forty students and their

Mercer Street Friends’ Reading Intervention Yields Positive Results for Rivera Students Read More

Mercer Street Friends

End of Summer Celebration

Party Time! On Friday August 12th, The Mercer Street Friends Summer Bridge Program came to a close. For their hard work this summer, students enjoyed a party with arts crafts, face painting and ice cream!  On display were projects showcasing what students have learned in Reading and STEAM!  Mercer Street

End of Summer Celebration Read More

Mercer Street Friends

Our students working hard: A look inside Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School Summer Bridge Program! 

It’s been an amazing summer for students from Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School as they focused on academics and extracurricular activities through the Mercer Street Friends Summer Bridge Program! Designed to assist students in continuing their skills throughout the summer, mornings are filled with writing exercises including informational texts,

Our students working hard: A look inside Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School Summer Bridge Program!  Read More

Mercer Street Friends

Thank you, Trenton Thunder

Play Ball!  On Wednesday, July 27th, Rivera Community Elementary and Gregory Elementary students took to the stands of the Trenton Thunder Baseball daytime game. For many, this was their first time out at the ballpark and their cheers for the home team were strong and loud, especially when a foul

Thank you, Trenton Thunder Read More

Mercer Street Friends

Having fun with art

Our students are artists! Last week, Rivera Community Elementary School students at the Mercer Street Friends Summer Bridge Program experienced the magic of Disney! Through numerous creative activities, students’ inner artist shone through as imaginations took flight drawing a Magic Carpet Adventure and sharing with their classmates the journey of

Having fun with art Read More

Mercer Street Friends

Summer at Mercer Street Friends Begins

Mercer Street Friends is ready for Summer! We’ll welcome nearly 200 students – Preschool, elementary, and middle school aged – to our Summer Bridge Program. This immersive learning program provides students with reading, writing, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) curriculum, as well as movement and athletic experiences,

Summer at Mercer Street Friends Begins Read More

Mercer Street Friends - Leadership Awards

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

Mercer Street Friends Announces 2022 Leadership Awards Honorees Read More

See You in September

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.

See you in September Read More

We Went to the Zoo

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

We went to the zoo! Read More

Scroll to Top