“DREAM COME TRUE”: HomeFront will be expanding its Diaper Resource Center with help in the form of $250,000 from the State of New Jersey. Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, seen here (on left) with Homefront CEO Sarah Steward, assisted in acquiring the state funding. (Photo courtesy of HomeFront)

By Donald Gilpin

As the holidays approach, HomeFront is stepping up its efforts to help families “break the cycle of poverty” with Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week through November 23, its Thanksgiving Basket and Food Drive, the Holiday Wishes Drive to make the season merry for local children in need, its Holiday Market November 23-24, its expanding Diaper Resource Center, and more.

“This holiday season the need is both great and growing, as homelessness continues to rise,” said HomeFront CEO Sarah Steward. “In Mercer County alone, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness increased by 31 percent from 2023 to 2024. At HomeFront we provide emergency shelter and vital support for families in crisis, while also working to prevent others from reaching that breaking point.”

She continued, “For families living paycheck to paycheck, financial struggles are relentless. Through our programs we help these families stabilize, save, and eventually thrive. We are deeply grateful to our supporters, whose generous contributions bring us closer to a community where every family has the chance to succeed. Together we can make this vision a reality, one family at a time.”

There are many opportunities to visit, to learn more about HomeFront’s work, and to volunteer to make a difference in the coming days and weeks. 

Volunteers will be helping prepare Thanksgiving food baskets, distributing meals to families and individuals living in area motels, and helping shoppers in the HomeFront Choice Market food pantry at 1880 Princeton Avenue in Lawrence Township. On Friday November 22, Steward will host “Food for Thought,” a conversation that will help participants to learn more about HomeFront’s programs and services and the issues that clients face every day.

On Saturday and Sunday, November 23 and 24,  from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., HomeFront’s Holiday Market at its Lawrenceville headquarters will feature more than 40 vendors offering handmade artisan items, with proceeds to support HomeFront families.

HomeFront’s Holiday Wishes Drive is also underway with children’s wish lists available for volunteers who want to get involved. It is also possible to donate gift cards or to donate general new, unwrapped toys and gifts. To learn more, email getinvolved@HomeFrontNJ.org or call (609) 989-9417 x112.  Donations should be dropped off by December 9 at HomeFront, 1880 Princeton Avenue in Lawrence Township. Cash donations to help families in need are also welcome.

The Diaper Program has been a rapidly growing enterprise since its inception eight years ago, and last year Homefront provided more than one million diapers for families in need. HomeFront recently announced that, with the assistance of Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, the nonprofit organization received funding from the State of New Jersey to support a major expansion of their Diaper Resource Center.

During a visit to HomeFront Reynolds-Jackson noted, “I do a lot of work around maternal health, and the need for diapers always comes up. This project has been in the works for over two years now. This is a dream come true to be able to start here at HomeFront to do this expansion.”

Steward expressed her gratitude to the assemblywoman and to the state for the $250,000 grant and emphasized the importance of the diaper program. “At HomeFront, we believe all families deserve a life of dignity, which means having access to basic necessities,” she said. “And that includes diapers. We began our formal diaper program in 2016 and have scaled up our efforts every year since to meet this growing need in our community. Last year, we distributed a total of 1,132,522 diapers free of charge, an increase of 18 percent over the previous year. We know the numbers will simply continue to increase.”

The HomeFront website states, “HomeFront’s mission is to end homelessness in Central Jersey by harnessing the caring, resources, and expertise of the community. We lessen the immediate pain of homelessness and help families become self-sufficient.”

HomeFront reports that 25,548 individuals were given shelter, food, and life-changing assistance during the past year, including about 450 people — mostly children — provided with shelter on any given night. Through its food pantries, HomeFront furnished groceries for 1,041,024 meals, and HomeFront’s Joy, Hopes & Dreams program provided educational and enrichment activities for 263 children.

For more information, visit homefrontnj.org.