Every year at this time, HomeFront, a local nonprofit organization committed to helping local homeless and vulnerable families, begins making sure that these needy families will still have a full and festive Thanksgiving dinner. During the HomeFront Thanksgiving Drive, which has just been launched for 2014, local individuals, families, groups, houses of worship, and corporations donate baskets, filled with all the trimmings for a traditional home-cooked Thanksgiving meal. HomeFront’s goal for 2014 is to provide enough food for 2,000 families for Thanksgiving Day — and beyond. Participants in the Thanksgiving Drive are being urged to add a little “extra” to each basket — cans of tuna, soup, peanut butter and other essentials — to help these needy families when the leftovers are done.

All individuals and groups who want to participate in HomeFront’s Thanksgiving Drive should simply call (609) 989-9417, extension 133, for more information and a list of the food needed. The filled baskets can be dropped off at HomeFront’s 1880 Princeton Avenue offices in Lawrenceville from November 12 to 21, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 am until noon.

Every year homeless and low-income families face special challenges and the current economic crisis has had a huge impact on the working class. Over the years, HomeFront has seen an increase in the number of requests for assistance from families facing crisis. HomeFront is currently giving out 1,000 free bags of food per month and each day an increasing number of new clients are unable to feed their families.

“These families really need your help this year,” says Connie Mercer, executive director of HomeFront. “The days before Thanksgiving are always busy times at our offices, with lines winding out the door to pick up the makings for a traditional Thanksgiving week.”

HomeFront provides a comprehensive network of services for the poor and homeless in Central Jersey, with a particular focus on families. For more information, visit www.homefrontnj.org or call (609) 989-9417.