food in new space 1 — New open food shelving in Crisis Ministry’s renovated space at Nassau Presbyterian Church. Photo courtesy of Crisis Ministry volunteer Gretchen Jaeckel.

Since its founding in 1980, the Crisis Ministry has served Princeton area neighbors in need from a shared basement space provided by Nassau Presbyterian Church, the organization’s co-founding congregation. Now, 32 years after first opening its doors, the 61 Nassau Street address remains the same, but the nonprofit’s surroundings are brand-new as a part of the Nassau Presbyterian’s summer-long renovations.

“The congregation of Nassau Presbyterian Church remains committed to serving our community,” the Rev. David Davis, head pastor of Nassau Presbyterian, said. “The partnership with Crisis Ministry is one way we live out that commitment. We are very grateful for the opportunity we have to provide this new and improved space. With other congregations up and down Nassau Street, Nassau Church joins our broader faith community in a commitment to serve those in need.”

The Crisis Ministry is now serving clients in the renovated space, which features a comfortable and hospitable waiting area, space for new, more private client interview stations, refrigeration and open shelving for a variety of foods and personal care products, and a large inventory storage area. The new Crisis Ministry space is accessed through a convenient entryway from the front of the church building, which faces Nassau Street.

More than 200 Princeton area households are served each month with food pantry and homelessness prevention services at the Nassau Presbyterian Church. The site is overseen by Cecilia Avila, with the assistance of experienced volunteers. The site is open Monday through Thursday from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

“We were thrilled to learn that the well-being of our clients was a high priority in the church’s renovation plans, and that the Crisis Ministry would have a new, dedicated space from which to operate,” said Carolyn Biondi, Crisis Ministry’s executive director. “We are grateful to the members and staff of Nassau Presbyterian Church for making it possible for us to provide pantry services in Princeton and for furthering our mission of hunger prevention and homelessness prevention in Mercer County.”

The Crisis Ministry of Mercer County, Inc., is a non-profit organization founded in 1980 by Nassau Presbyterian Church and Trinity Church. The non-profit partners with the community to serve approximately 1,300 households each month through hunger prevention, homelessness prevention, and work training services. The hunger prevention program serves clients through pantries at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, and at 117 E. Hanover St. and 400 Hamilton Ave. in Trenton. The program also offers weekly bilingual nutrition classes through a partnership with the Rutgers Extension Service. For more information on the Crisis Ministry, visit thecrisisministry.org or call (609) 396-5327.