HomeFront’s Stop Hunger Now campaign launched last week with the announcement of a $75,000 match from two generous donors. This means that every dollar will have twice the impact.

“The need is dire,” said Connie Mercer, HomeFront executive director. “Children are hungry in our own backyard, and yet it is hard to recognize. Summertime is especially dreadful when 37 percent of Mercer County children who depend on subsidized school meals no longer have access to this life-sustaining program. 

“For most kids, summer is synonymous for sun and fun, but for many kids, summer can mean no breakfast and no lunch either,” she continued. “There are 12,880 school-age children in Mercer County who are food insecure and the summer months are devastating for growing minds and bodies. We need people to help us bridge the gap for these children by providing them extra food until they return to school. I recently sat down with some children in the dining room at the HomeFront Family Campus and we talked about food and what it feels like to be hungry. One 8-year-old boy summed it up best. ‘Being hungry feels like being really nervous and really scared, both at the same time,’ he told me.”

There are several ways to help. HomeFront buys their food wholesale so cash donations that will qualify for the matching funds will go a long way. Donations can be mailed to HomeFront Summer Hunger at 1880 Princeton Avenue, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 or through the Summer Hunger portal on www.homefrontnj.org. Those who want to donate food in bulk or hold a neighborhood, church, or club food drive can bring the food to their pantry at the above address or call (609) 989-9417 x133 to get a list of needed items or to make other arrangements.