If you’ve never visited HomeFront, the local twenty-eight-year-old social service agency that has become a national model for helping families who are experiencing homelessness become self-sufficient, then 2020 is your year. HomeFront’s Week of Hope—which kicks off on Martin Luther King Day, January 20th, and runs through January 24th—is the perfect opportunity for individuals and families to learn and get involved to better their community. What better way to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King than attending one of HomeFront’s Week of Hope events, designed to give the public insight into issues related to poverty impacting their local area, the organization’s mission and programs, and a menu of gratifying volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and skills. The line-up for the 2020 Week of Hope includes:
Monday, January 20—MLK Day of Service—is “Tour and Paint Day”: From 10 am-noon community members can participate in a bus tour of the City of Trenton and hear about HomeFront’s impact in the community, or from 10:45-11:15am, take tours of HomeFront’s nationally recognized Family Campus in Ewing (101 Celia Way), or its headquarters (1880 Princeton Ave., Lawrenceville). That afternoon, from 2-4pm, adults and kids are welcome for a memorable group mural painting experience in ArtSpace, HomeFront’s art therapy room at the Family Campus.
Tuesday, January 21 is “Spring Into Action Day”: From 10am to noon at the Lawrenceville headquarters, attend a Diaper Resource Center Interest Meeting, to learn how to become part of the volunteer team which will meet regularly to ensure diapers are given to families who need them throughout Mercer County. Would-be artists can visit the Family Campus that afternoon from 1:30-3:30pm for an art class led by one of HomeFront’s talented clients (a $5-$10 dollar donation for this event is encouraged). That night, from 6-7:30pm, share the delights of a storybook with children staying at the HomeFront Campus in Ewing, a temporary shelter for families experiencing homelessness.
Wednesday, January 22, is “Basic Needs Night”: From 6-7:30pm, volunteers age 11 and older, bring new basic household and cleaning items to the Lawrenceville headquarters and put together move-in kits for families who were formerly homeless and now moving into their new homes. We kindly request children be accompanied by an adult.
Thursday, January 23, is “Expand Your Knowledge Day”: Participants can attend an informational, interactive Open House at the Family Campus from 5:30-7:30pm where they can learn about the 36 programs which make up HomeFront’s comprehensive services model by visiting different stations in the facility and speaking with staff and volunteers about how to get involved.
And finally, Friday morning, January 24th, is “Up Close and Personal Day”: From 10-12 noon at the Family Campus, the public is invited to join HomeFront’s CEO, Connie Mercer and Chief Operating Officer, Sarah Steward, for an in-depth discussion and Q&A about HomeFront’s current strategic goals, exciting plans for the future, and how it will affect our community.
To learn more and register for any or all of these one-of-a-kind events, visit www.homefrontnj.org. HomeFront’s Family Campus is located at 101 Celia Way, Ewing Twp.; HomeFront’s headquarters address is 1880 Princeton Avenue, Lawrenceville.
For questions, contact HomeFront’s Family Campus Volunteer Coordinator at 609-883-7500 ext. 329 or email CatherineC@homefrontnj.org.
About HomeFront
HomeFront provides emergency shelter with intensive case management and affordable housing for families; tutoring and enrichment programs for children; and life skills and self-advocacy training for adults. Since 1991, the organization has helped homeless families to build lives of self-respect, stability and independence by using a comprehensive and holistic approach to ending homelessness in Central New Jersey. HomeFront has become a sophisticated social service agency able to address material needs for shelter, food, and clothing. It has also has established effective programs to help parents develop educational, vocational and life skills while also opening the world and all its wonderful possibilities to their children. For more information about how you can help, visit www.homefrontnj.org or call (609)-989-9417×103###
