HomeFront is seeking help to assist local families impacted by homelessness and poverty during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week from November 11 to November 19. This is HomeFront’s fifth year recognizing the week and providing several opportunities to volunteer, learn about their work, and understand better the challenges local families are facing. According to Out of Reach NJ, there are 30,490 individuals in Mercer County facing food insecurity, and HomeFront has seen a significant increase in the number of families seeking assistance. Inflated costs and exponential increases in rent have left thousands in need of help.
“An important part of HomeFront’s mission is to help families experiencing homelessness advocate for themselves individually and collectively. During Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, HomeFront works to expand awareness of the realities of life for families living in poverty and experiencing homelessness right here in our area,” said CEO Sarah Steward. “We know that we live in a caring community. We want to do our part to make sure that our caring community is aware of both the challenges of life for some of our neighbors and the opportunities we have as a community to do something about it.”
HomeFront will host various events throughout the week including tours of their newly expanded main campus in Lawrenceville, a volunteer orientation and service opportunities, and various art shows showcasing creations by HomeFront clients. One such art exhibit, “Through the Storm, Finding Home,” will be returning to the HomeFront Family Campus from its installation at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia.
“I met with several HomeFront Family Campus residents during the pandemic to discuss what ‘home’ means to individuals that are staying in our emergency shelter,” said ArtSpace and SewingSpace Director, Ruthann Traylor. “It was HomeFront clients that came up with the ‘Storm’ idea, describing the chaos of the feeling that one is about to lose their home. The exhibition, Through the Storm, Finding Home allowed our residents to share their voices through poetry [and] art projects to educate the broader public on the many ways that families can find themselves in a hopeless situation.”
In addition to these events, HomeFront will host an educational art display at the Hopewell Treasure Trove, 31 West Broad Street, to raise awareness about their work throughout the entire week.
For more information, visit www.HomeFrontNJ.org or call 609-989-9417 x 107.
