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Providing Hope. Preserving Dignity.

End Hunger and Homelessness in Mercer County N.J.

The Common Good Initiative

The Trenton Social Impact Group is comprised of CEOs and Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations working together to improve the lives of those living in the Trenton area. These organizations have created a safety net of services to help all people in Mercer County, New Jersey. The organization believes everyone deserves to live with dignity. Our “Common Good Initiative” helps individuals in need of food and shelter. Our participating members connect people to resources—but our most important work connects people with people.

The Guild envisions a diverse community of residents enjoying a quality of life that integrates a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

From the beginning, the vision of Mount Carmel Guild has been “the cure of poverty – head, heart, and spirit.” Since that time, the Guild has served the poor and needy people of Mercer County, holding true to its original mission, and, as the current logo depicts, continues to provide “a helping hand” to ailing seniors and impoverished individuals and families.

Mission Statement: Through relationships and collaborations forged with dignity and hope, the Guild assists the community to overcome challenges to decent health, nutrition, housing, and education.

From the beginning, the mission of Mount Carmel Guild has been “Providing Hope, Preserving Dignity” of the individuals and families we serve. With the utmost respect for our care receiver’s situation, we provide food and assistance with additional resources available on a local, state, and national level.

Two core programs  

· Free Home Health Nursing – aiding older individuals to age in place

· Community Support Program – 3-day supply of food, limited emergency prescription assistance and utility assistance

 

HOME HEALTH NURSING

The Home Nursing Program assists low-income, homebound, aged 60 years and over, Mercer County residents with economic, medical, and social needs. We serve economically disadvantaged and vulnerable senior citizens in the county whose ongoing care is not covered by Medicare. Services are free. Mount Carmel Guild Home Health Nursing Program is accredited by The National Institute for Home Care Accreditation.

 

The nursing service provided for Medicare eligible seniors includes:

· A human connection

· Medication management

· Monitoring vital signs, blood sugar and cardiopulmonary status

· Administering injections

· Monitoring blood thinner medications such as Coumadin

· Checking for signs of elder abuse, food insecurity, isolation, and safety hazard

These services help to reduce unplanned hospitalizations.

 

Low to moderate income Patients in Mercer County may be referred either by completing the Home Healthcare Nursing Request form on our website https://mtcarmelguild.org/home-health-nursing

under “WHAT WE DO” OR the call us at 609.392.5159 Ext. 113. (Corinne)

 

COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM (Food Pantry, limited prescription and utility assistance, outreach efforts)

Mount Carmel Guild provides direct and immediate support and relief to individuals and families in both chronic and temporary crisis. This program assists care receivers in crisis by providing them with an array of social services:

· Three-day supply of nutritious food items, both perishable and non-perishable.

· As funds are available, utility assistance to prevent shut off or to restore services.

· As funds are available, in the rear’s rental/mortgage assistance.

· Limited financial assistance to those lacking prescription coverage.

· Basic staples for newborns and infants, such as diapers, formula, baby food.

· Personal hygiene and grooming items, basic household items, and clothing, as available.

· Referrals to additional services within the community and information on state and federal programs.

 

How Does the Food Pantry work?

We serve residents of Mercer County. Food is given to everyone who asks.

A strategic alliance started in April 2019 to combine food pantries with Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton. Food is also supplied to Mount Carmel Guild through government subsidies and financial support from local businesses, parishes, and communities. Key supporters include The Diocese of Trenton, Catholic Charities, Mercer Street Food Bank, Trenton Health Team, Shop Rite, Panera Bread and Trader Joe’s. A full list of our supporters and sponsors is available on our website- https://mtcarmelguild.org/community-support

Volunteer and Support

How Can You Help Us?· Donate – Your financial gift allows us to offer our Community Support and Home Health Nursing program in the Greater Trenton Community. Contributions are tax deductible· Have a Food Drive

· Become a member – see our website for Guild Mission Membership

· Monetary donations for the nursing program through the Dignity Circle ($130 for a unit of care)

· Sign up for our e-communications on our website, follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

· Volunteer

All of the organizations in The Common Good Initiative are welcoming volunteers – some virtually, some in person. To find out the guidelines for volunteering at any of these organizations, just click on their logo below:

 

                          

                 

                            

                         

Donate

Donate

  • Make a personal or corporate financial contribution to promote the work of the organizations and of the Common Good Initiative.
  • Organize a fundraiser to benefit the organization of your choice.
  • Provide donations “in-kind” – our agencies have wish lists of items that you, civic organizations or businesses could donate.
Volunteer

Volunteer

  • Give the gift of your time by spending time serving meals, packing food bags, tutoring homeless children… just a few examples of the good work you can do.
  • Volunteer your special skills to help increase awareness of hunger and homelessness…prepare a Common Good Initiative newsletter.
  • Help us with social media.
Take Action

Take Action

  • Let your friends and families know about the Common Good Initative.
  • Contact our local elected officials to tell them all of our community members should be fed and housed.
  • Participate in events hosted by an organization that resonates with you.
Like Us

Like Us

  • Visit our Facebook page and “LIKE” the Common Good Initiative.
  • Send your friends and colleagues a link to the website.
  • Share how much you “LIKE” helping to make a difference!

Services

The Common Good Initiative

To take full advantage of our support network, please search below for our services that can help you.

Feeding the Needs of our Community

More than 50,000 residents will go hungry tonight in Mercer County, N.J., a number that has swelled in the era of COVID-19, according to research by Feeding America. Including children and seniors, 11% of Mercer County is food insecure. Our county-wide support network opens its doors and delivers food throughout the week to help feed those in need.

Arm in Arm
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
Homefront
Jewish Family and Children Services
John O. Wilson Hamilton Neighborhood Center
Meals on Wheels of Mercer County
Mercer Street Friends
Mt. Carmel Guild
One Simple Wish
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Shine and Inspire
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Urban Promise

Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness

The majority (56%) of Mercer County homeless persons reported having some type of disability, according to a Point-in-Time Count of the homeless from Monarch Housing Associates. Survivors of Domestic Violence represent 11.2% of the total homeless population in our county, while 92.6% of our homeless youth identify as African American. Our county-wide support network provides emergency shelters, short-term apartments and long-term housing solutions.

Anchor House
Arm in Arm
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
Community Health Law Project
Homefront
Isles
Life Ties
Mt. Carmel Guild
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Shine and Inspire
Womanspace

Delivering Education/Employment Classes

The lack of education and employment is part of the reason why the wealthiest American families now have 75 times more wealth as lower-income families, according to a report from Pew Research Center. A minimum-wage worker would have to work nearly 127 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom rental home in most of the U.S., according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Our county-wide support network teaches the skills needed to overcome.

Arm in Arm
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
Child Care Connection
Dress for Success of Central New Jersey
Homefront
Isles
John O. Wilson Hamilton Neighborhood Center
LALDEF
Mercer Street Friends
Mill Hill
One Simple Wish
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Shine and Inspire
The Father Center of New Jersey
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Urban Promise

Counseling Those Who Need Help

Individuals with physical and mental challenges are overrepresented when it comes to food insecurity and homelessness. Among Mercer County’s homeless disabled, 53% reported mental health issues making it the most prevalent disability, according to the Mercer County Point-in-Time Count of the Homeless from Monarch Housing Associates. Our county-wide support network provides trained staff in the areas of trauma, cognitive behavioral therapy, mood disorders and anger management.

Anchor House
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
Homefront
Jewish Family and Children Services
Life Ties
Mercer Street Friends
Mill Hill
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Shine and Inspire
The Father Center of New Jersey
Womanspace

Building Through Empowerment

Lifting people up through the sharing of crucial knowledge will give all Mercer County residents a true support network. Our county-wide network provides men with mock on-site job interviews and teenage boys with classes about healthy and productive relationships, as well as leadership and life skills. We provide women with support groups for job search and a career center for assistance, ranging from job training to referrals to local boutiques.

Anchor House
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton
Child Care Connection
Community Health Law Project
Dress for Success of Central New Jersey
Homefront
Isles
Jewish Family and Children Services
John O. Wilson Hamilton Neighborhood Center
Life Ties
Mercer Street Friends
Mill Hill
Mt. Carmel Guild
One Simple Wish
People and Stories / Gente Y Cuentos
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Shine and Inspire
The Father Center of New Jersey
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Urban Promise
Womanspace

News & Events

July 14, 2020

CMA Joins Fight Against Hunger, Homelessness

A subset of the Trenton Social Impact Group (TSIG), which is a consortium of 25 Mercer County-based nonprofits, will participate in the digital marketing campaign. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a present and persistent problem where a growing number of neighbors exist without food and shelter.

April 29, 2021

In some cities, the pandemic’s economic pain may continue for a decade

As COVID-19 vaccines are distributed and infection rates trend downward, predictions for what post-pandemic America will look like have begun.

April 30, 2021

The Human Side of COVID-19’s Impact on Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations are powered by the passion and dedication of their staff. But as the COVID-19 pandemic leads to funding interruptions, increased demand for services and safety concerns, many organizations are being forced to make tough staffing and compensation decisions.

May 25, 2021

CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO PROVIDE COVID-19 TESTS, VACCINES TO UNDERSERVED GROUPS

The New Jersey Department of Health has enlisted Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton to help provide critically needed COVID-19 health education, testing, contact tracing, and vaccine support to underserved groups in Central Jersey, including Latino and Black communities and documented and undocumented immigrants.

January 18, 2022

TRENTON AREA SOUP KITCHEN CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF SERVICE

n Thursday, January 13, 2022, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) opened its doors to patrons for its lunch service, like it does every weekday at its Escher Street dining room. On this day, however, patrons were invited to take a seat in front of a warm bowl of soup as TASK observed the 40th anniversary of its first meal in the city of Trenton.

May 9, 2022

Meals on Wheels rolls out Community Champions Week (L.A. PARKER COLUMN)

Bill Mullowney, a Meals on Wheels Mercer County board member and delivery volunteer, kicked off Community Champions Week with Mercer County Commissioner Nina Melker.

There’s Still Time! Join the LifeTies 40th Anniversary Wellness Challenge!

Date/Time: -

Location: Virtual Announcement of top team winners

More Info: March 29th - Three more days and LifeTies 40th Anniversary Wellness Challenge will begin!. Sign up here to register: https://p2p.onecause.com/lifeties From April 1st - April 29th, you will commit to 40 hours of wellness and self-care activities. You will be able to track all of your activities such as running, walking, dancing, meditating, yoga...join in the fun while contributing to both your wellness and to the wellness of our youth.

Join Womanspace April 28, 2021 for Denim Day

Date/Time: April 28, 2021 -

Location:

More Info: Wear Denim to support survivors and educate yourself and others about sexual assault #SAAM2021 #DenimDay2021

Isles’ 2021 Virtual Forum

Date/Time: June 7, 2021 -

Location: Virtual

More Info: You’re invited to Isles’ Forum, a FREE, week-long virtual series of webinars, workshops, panels and more to explore community development and environmental challenges and solutions. Pick and choose the topics of interest to you, or sign up for all! This Forum is free and open to the public as part of Isles’ 40 Years of Impact celebration. https://isles.org/forum

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