If someone knocks on a door and claims to be soliciting donations for HomeFront, don’t believe it.
HomeFront Executive Director Connie Mercer said a woman has been going door to door pretending to be from HomeFront and asking for financial contributions. HomeFront is a Lawrence Township-based nonprofit group that helps the homeless and the working poor.
Mercer said the would-be solicitor is a white woman with short, reddish hair, who is missing two front teeth. The woman was reported to be soliciting in the Eggerts Crossing neighborhood.
“A resident of the Lawrence community called us to report that someone had been in her neighborhood, Eggerts Crossing, this week going door to door, and very convincingly soliciting money for HomeFront,” Mercer said.
When Mercer contacted police, she was told another resident had called police to report a woman fitting the same description had been asking for donations.
Mercer said HomeFront relies on donations, but said the organization does not solicit on a door-to-door basis. It holds fundraisers, such as the upcoming HomeFront Rock & Roll for Hope 5K Run/Walk on June 10, the recent Mother’s Day campaign, and membership in the Women’s Initiative.
“We were appalled that someone would violate the sacred trust community members place in an organization when they donate their hard-earned money,” Mercer said. “I believe there is a special place in Hell for people who scam generous people in the community, who with good hearts open their pocketbooks to help others.”
The nonprofit organization helps the homeless and the working poor by providing emergency shelter to families, as well as homelessness prevention services that include back rent and utility assistance, emergency food, and free clothing and household goods at its Free Store.
HomeFront also offers services to clients who are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless. It offers affordable housing searches, job placement and readiness skills. The goal is to help formerly homeless families to become independent, contributing members of the community, Mercer said.
