On June 10, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) hosted the United Way of Greater Mercer County for its annual Strike Out Hunger event. This marks the fifth consecutive year TCNJ has held the event.
Strike Out Hunger unites companies, individuals, and advocates to combat hunger in Mercer County. According to the United Way, over 61,000 local families have faced difficulties in providing food for their households, a situation exacerbated by the pandemic. The initiative supplies meals, fresh produce, and non-perishables to beneficiaries of food banks and pantries, especially crucial during summer when food scarcity increases.
A group of 10 members from the TCNJ community joined more than 100 volunteers at TCNJ’s Recreation Center to package over 40,000 servings of chicken soup. These meals will be distributed throughout Mercer County with assistance from James “Butter” Allen ’76, COO and food bank director at Mercer Street Friends.
“Strike Out Hunger is a powerful example of what can happen when higher education partners with the community for a shared purpose,” stated Kari Osmond, associate vice president for government and community relations at TCNJ. “TCNJ is proud of its continual, hands-on collaboration with the United Way of Greater Mercer County to address food insecurity. Our commitment to community service and civic engagement runs deep; we see ourselves not just as an institution of learning but as a vital neighbor invested in the well-being of our region.”
Volunteers from TCNJ included staff from the Division of Advancement. Eleven additional companies sponsored and participated in the event: Horizon, NJM Insurance Group, Taiho Oncology, M&T Bank, Wegmans, PSE&G, Northfield Bank, William Penn Bank, AmeriHealth Caritas, Aqua, Rotary Club of the Princeton Corridor, and The Bank of Princeton. Mercer County Commissioner Nina Melker chaired the event attended by Assemblywoman Tennille McCoy.
For further details on Strike Out Hunger initiatives visit United Way of Greater Mercer County’s website.
