DIAPERS AND MORE DIAPERS: Bloomberg employee volunteers take the lead at a HomeFront diaper wrapping event. The HomeFront Annual Diaper Challenge, running until Mother’s Day on May 12, wants to make sure that low-income children In Mercer County have access to clean diapers. The goal is 500,000 diapers and baby wipes donated by the community. (Photo courtesy of HomeFront)

By Donald Gilpin

HomeFront’s annual Diaper Challenge, seeking to guarantee that low-income children in Mercer County have access to clean diapers, culminates on Mother’s Day, May 12, and the Central New Jersey-based nonprofit is hoping for a surge in contributions in the coming days.

HomeFront distributed 1,940,462 diapers and wipes last year, a 39 percent increase over the previous year’s total, and HomeFront Community Engagement Manager Gina Davis reports that the current drive has only reached about 125,000 of their 500,000 goal.

Every $1,000 donated to this year’s Diaper Challenge will result in more than 6,600 diapers provided free of charge to low-income Mercer County parents in need.

“We have always been committed to ensuring the cleanliness, happiness, and health of every baby in our community, but the need for family support has surged dramatically in recent years,” said HomeFront CEO Sarah Steward. “We are serving a record high number of families through our Choice Market in Lawrenceville, where parents visit to shop for groceries, fresh produce, period products, diapers, wipes, and other basic necessities.”

She continued, “Recent studies have shown that nearly one in two families has trouble affording the diapers they need. The unwavering support of our community through the Diaper Challenge allows us to consistently meet the growing demand.”

ArtJam

Also currently underway is HomeFront’s ArtJam 2024 in downtown Princeton, a celebration of creativity and community that benefits HomeFront’s ArtSpace and SewingSpace therapeutic art and sewing programs.

The pop-up gallery, located at 45 Hulfish through May 18, features works by national, local, and student artists, presented alongside works by HomeFront’s ArtSpace artists, many of whom are self-taught and undiscovered.

The ArtSpace gallery constantly changes, as art work is sold and replaced by HomeFront curators with in-stock inventory. More than 500 works by more than 100 artists are on display, including original paintings, sculptures, pottery, glassworks, and handcrafted gifts, as well as handsewn SewingSpace items from HomeFront’s sewing program.

On Saturday, May 11, a SewingSpace Fashion Show will take place at the Arts Council of Princeton followed by a reception at ArtJam.

In other noteworthy events, HomeFront hosted its annual Women’s Initiative Spring Luncheon at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton on April 22, with more than 300 attendees coming together to support HomeFront’s children’s programs, which serve local children impacted by poverty and homelessness.

“What an incredible afternoon filled with inspiration and generosity,” said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, who emceed the program, during which current and alumni families of HomeFront’s Joy, Hopes, and Dreams program (JHD) shared stories of resilience, challenges, and triumphs.

JHD, an afterschool and evening program, provides academic enrichment, educational workshops, and recreational programs that run six nights a week and include tutoring, computer coding, art classes, special activities, teen programming, and more.

“When kids experience a lot of adversity, you need to balance that with good times, with positive times,” said JHD Director Chris Marchetti. “We go out on the HomeFront school bus — we pick up the kids where they are, whether the kids are staying in motels, the HomeFront Family Campus, living throughout Mercer County, or sometimes further. We gather them up and we go to whatever adventure awaits.”

The HomeFront Women’s Initiative began more than 15 years ago with a goal of gathering more than 1,000 local women to support HomeFront’s programs, including shelter, educational and employment support, food and other basic necessities, health and wellness programs, and a particular focus on enrichment and support for children.

In a recent posting on its website, HomeFront noted that one in 12 children in Mercer County is facing food insecurity. “Our commitment to feeding the hungry has not wavered since our earliest days of bringing food to homeless families in welfare hotels,” the website states. HomeFront runs multiple food pantries throughout the community, including their main Choice Market at its Lawrenceville campus.

HomeFront emphasizes its mission to end homelessness in Central New Jersey and to provide the structure and stability necessary for families to achieve independence. “Our impact goes beyond simply putting a meal on the table: food insecurity can affect a person’s physical and mental health, school or job performance, and contributes to long-term negative outcomes for children,” according to the website.

Last year HomeFront facilitated 21,669 visits for food, a 38 percent increase over 2022, and they are currently welcoming more than 2,300 households each month, regularly breaking their record high for Choice Market visitors in a single day.

On Friday, May 17 at 2101 Aaron Truehart Way in Hopewell Township, HomeFront, along with its partner organization Homes by TLC, will be celebrating its Hopewell Parc Ribbon Cutting, featuring 26 new permanent affordable homes for families. Families will pay no more than 30 percent of their income for rent, and support services for parents and children will be available for all “to help families reach their full potential.”

To learn more about these programs and events or to make a financial contribution or a gift of needed items, visit homefrontnj.org.