The Crisis Ministry is celebrating 30 years of partnering with the community to achieve stability for neighbors in need. From its downtown Trenton (123 E. Hanover St.) and Princeton (61 Nassau St.) locations, it serves people from over 1,400 households each month through its hunger and homelessness prevention initiatives. The Crisis Ministry also provides welfare-to-work training through the Harvesting Hope program and, with partner Capital Health System, bimonthly health screenings hosted in Trenton’s First Presbyterian Church.

UUCP has a long standing tradition each November through our Thanksgiving Ingathering of filling the horn of plenty to the brim with food donations, transporting the food to Trenton, sorting, and shelving it.

UUCP also partners other ways with Crisis Ministry. Some members volunteer regularly at the Food Store. Each Sunday our members are encouraged to donate food staples, personal care items, disposable diapers, and McCaffrey’s grocery receipts in our Crisis Ministry bin located by the front door. UUCP joins with the community in special food drives, including Valentines Day, and the annual Footprints Walk-a-Thon.

Updates on Crisis Ministry donation needs are published weekly in Happenings included with the Sunday Order of Service

Crisis Ministry is found at:
http://www.thecrisisministry.org
http://www.facebook.com/TheCrisisMinistry

Crisis Ministry Liaison: Diana Gray, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 609-924-2757

RE families have transported and shelved our Ingathering bounty at the Crisis Ministry (free) food market for the last 2 Thanksgivings. Thanks to this group.

Ongoing Food Collection

We are all encouraged to bring a can or box of food when we attend Sunday worship services. All donations can be placed in the drawer labeled CRISIS MINISTRY next to the coat rack. Food will be distributed the following week.

McCaffery's receipts pay HUNDREDS of dollars in assistance each year! Deposit your receipts weekly or monthly in the CRISIS MINISTRY box on the wooden shelf by the coat rack. THANKS!

December Holiday Season

Holiday Gift List for The Crisis Ministry

Gift of Warmth and Light – Donate to our Direct Aid Budget for families that have no utilities.

Gift of Time – Organize a group to donate 60 to 90 minutes per month for delivery of home food to neighbors who are unable to get out.

Holiday Personal Care Packets – See below for details on our annual gift distribution.

Gift of Hope – You may give a "Gift of Hope" on behalf of a loved one during this Christmas Season.

This Christmas, The Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton would like to give a personal care bag to each member of a household that shops for food in December. Although this has been our Christmas tradition for several years, this year is extremely important since we have not had these products to give out since last December. Here is how you may help!

1. Commit yourself or your family to participate in December’s product drive by getting the word out to your neighbors, scout troops, or other civic groups.

2. When shopping for food, pick up an extra bottle of shampoo or items that our clients cannot purchase with their food stamps, such as: Conditioners, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Dental Floss, Hygiene products, Moisturizing lotions, razors, etc.

3. If you work for a corporation that has free products for employees, consider donating them. Or, if your company has a program see if it would consider donating a few cases of these supplies.

For further questions, please e-mail Marcia at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Volunteers Needed: There are always many volunteer opportunities at The Crisis Ministry.

We currently seek shopping assistants in our Trenton location, M-F, 9-noon, one day per week.

Monthly Food Drives: Help your neighbors in need! If your congregation does not collect food for our hunger program, please call us to see how you can sign up for a monthly food drive ONCE a year! The months that are most needed fall between June-August! If you currently do not contribute to the Crisis Ministry’s food program, please go to our website, www.thecrisisministry.org. There are wonderful ideas and food lists. This is a great way to help your hungry neighbors in need, while raising awareness of low-income people in Mercer County

Home Food Deliverers in Trenton needed in 2008!

Beginning in 2008, The Crisis Ministry will have openings for home food deliverers in Trenton. The commitment is once a month and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. Hospitality to the stranger in need is the most basic value of The Crisis Ministry, and is a vital ministry to our low-income neighbors. Mission groups, Sunday school classes, intergenerational groups and families can work together on this monthly project! We are flexible, but the third Saturday of the month from 9-noon works very well. It is a great way to meet people who need a package of hope: food.

For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 396-9355, x12.

2007 Tax Volunteers needed! The Crisis Ministry is seeking volunteers to help its clients with their taxes during the months of January through April 2008. The federal government recognizes this tax credit as a way to alleviate poverty in the lives of low-income people. The City of Trenton and Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness will be partnering with all social service agencies, so that we can make a difference in the lives of lowincome families. If you are a willing volunteer with available time during the tax season, please contact Marcia MacKillop at 396-9355, x12. Training will be provided in November and December 2006 for volunteer tax preparers