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Princeton Area Community Foundation awards nearly $700,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to local nonprofits

The Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded its initial round of COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund grants totaling nearly $700,000 to more than 30 local nonprofits.

“This crisis is having a devastating impact on our most vulnerable communities,” said Jeffrey Vega, president and CEO of the Princeton Area Community Foundation. “As a philanthropic leader in this region, we knew we had to act quickly to help our local nonprofits, and we are so grateful for the support we received from other community leaders to help us create this fund.”

The foundation is partnering with local philanthropists, private foundations, and area companies for the COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund, with a goal of meeting both the immediate and long-term needs of nonprofits in the region. To date, more than $1.5 million has been raised, but Vega said more funds will be required because the needs in the community are much greater. So far, more than $2 million in funding has been requested by area nonprofits.

The $694,644 in unrestricted funding awarded in the initial round of grants is being provided primarily to organizations working on food insecurity, mental health, homelessness and rental assistance support, and social services.

“The Community Foundation was established almost 30 years ago because our founder realized that in places where philanthropy thrives, communities thrive,” said Eleanor Horne, who is a foundation trustee. “This fund provides local donors with a trusted resource to distribute their charitable dollars. It is designed to be flexible and nimble, so we can quickly help the nonprofits that are providing vital services to our communities during this crisis.”

Grant applications are accepted daily and grants will be awarded weekly. Initial grants have been awarded to:

Anchor House in Trenton, for its supportive housing programs that serve young people ages 18 to 24 who are homeless and are aging out of the child welfare system, or are at risk of homelessness.

Arm In Arm in Trenton and Princeton, to provide services to children, adults, families, and seniors who are food insecure.

The Blue Bears Special Meals in Princeton, to support the employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Boys & Girls Club of Trenton & Mercer County, to provide food and youth support to children.

The Capital Area YMCA in Trenton, to provide services to children, adults, families and seniors who are food insecure.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Trenton, to provide services to children, adults, families, and seniors who are homeless

Catholic Youth Organization of Mercer County in Trenton, to provide services to families who are food insecure.

The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey in Trenton, to help transition staff at its family success centers and maternal child health program to remote work locations, so they can continue to provide critical social services.

Community Loan Fund of New Jersey (New Jersey Community Capital) in Trenton, to provide services to families and seniors who are food insecure.

Corner House Foundation in Princeton, to provide youth support and behavioral health services to children, adults and families. 

Every Child Valued in Lawrence, to provide food and youth support for children and families. 

The Hamilton Township School District, to provide social services to students, staff and families in collaboration with Prevent Child Abuse NJ.

Help Self Community Development Corporation in Trenton, to provide educational resources students in their after-school program, to lend laptops to students who do not have computers, and to provide food and social services to the children.

HomeFront in Lawrence, to provide services to children, adults, families, and seniors who are food insecure or homeless.

The Housing Initiatives of Princeton Charitable Trust, to provide food, homelessness, and social services and youth support to families. 

Jewish Family & Children’s Service in Princeton, to provide expanded mental health services for teens and adults, including community webinars and Phone “drop-in” hours.

Literacy New Jersey in Hamilton, to provide adult literacy education to their adult students, and homework help for the children of those students. 

Meals on Wheels of Mercer County in Ewing, to cover the background checks for new volunteers who are providing meals to vulnerable adults and seniors. New volunteers are needed because many of the agency’s regular volunteers are seniors, a group at high risk for contracting the coronavirus.

Mercer Street Friends in Trenton, to provide emergency weekend food bags to families in Trenton. So far, more than 39,000 meals have been provided. A portion of the grant is also being used for deep cleaning of the agency’s food bank.

Millhill Child & Family Development in Trenton, to launch a new teletherapy delivery system to provide behavioral health services to children and adults. 

Mount Carmel Guild of Trenton, to provide services to families and seniors who are food insecure or homeless. 

NAMI Mercer NJ in Hamilton, to provide peer-led, peer-engaged mental health education and support for children, families and adults. 

The New Jersey Agricultural Society in Bordentown, to provide services to children, adults, families, and seniors who are food insecure. 

Prevention Education Inc. (PEI Kids) in Lawrenceville, to provide youth support and mental health counseling for children.

The Princeton Children’s Fund, which is collaborating with the Princeton Housing Stability Coalition, Princeton Human Services, and other community partners to provide relief funding for individuals and families most at risk of losing shelter and lacking access to food and resources.

Princeton Nursery School, to provide services and youth support to very young children who are food insecure.

The Princeton Senior Resource Center in Princeton, to provide online programming for seniors.

The Rescue Mission of Trenton in Trenton, to work with its homeless community.

RISE in Hightstown, to provide food, health, and social services to children, adults, families, and seniors.

Snipes Farm and Education Center in Morrisville, Pa., to provide services to adults, families, and seniors who are food insecure and/or homeless.

The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, which is located in Trenton but has satellite locations across the county, to provide services to adults, seniors, and families who are food insecure.

UIH Family Partners in Trenton, to provide food, behavioral health, and social services to adults and families. 

UrbanPromise Trenton, to provide support services to high school students.

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley in Camden, to provide food and health and homelessness services to seniors and adults in Mercer and Burlington counties.

The Princeton Area Community Foundation is reviewing additional grant applications, which continue to be submitted daily. For more information about the fund or the Princeton Area Community Foundation, to make a donation, or to apply for a grant, visit www.pacf.org