Local swim-a-thons will benefit homeless.
By: Lea Kahn
Erin Mills wants township residents to take the plunge to support swim club members who are aiming to raise money for HomeFront’s Joy, Hope and Dreams program.
The 16-year-old Hun School senior, who lives on Hamilton Court in Lawrence, wants to raise $12,000 by holding swim-a-thons over the next few weeks. Donors would pledge a specific amount of money either to a swimmer on a per-lap basis, or a flat donation regardless of laps.
The Joy, Hopes and Dreams program is an educational and recreational program offered by HomeFront, a Lawrence nonprofit organization that helps homeless families and the working poor. HomeFront is located on Princeton Avenue.
Erin, who belongs to the Lawrenceville Swimming Association off Craven Lane, has enlisted the aid of four other swim clubs the Ben Franklin Swim Club on Lewisville Road, the Lenape Swim Club in Rocky Hill, and the Ravine Swim Club and Trenton Country Club swimmers, both in Ewing Township.
The Lawrenceville Swimming Association, for example, plans to hold its swim-a-thon Saturday through Aug. 1, she said. Swimmers can do laps at their own pace any day during that week. That club’s swim-a-thon will culminate in a party July 29, from 6 to 9 p.m.
This is not the first time that Erin has participated in a swim-a-thon. She took part in a similar event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. She enjoyed it, and she thought other youngsters also would enjoy the activity.
Erin became acquainted with HomeFront as a child, when her family would drop off outgrown clothing and toys at the group’s headquarters.
She also had some contact with homeless children, through a friend’s church group, several years ago. At that time, she noticed that some of the children were wearing worn-out shoes and that their pants were too short.
Erin said she did not understand that situation, and she would come home upset. She said her mother explained to her that some people don’t have everything that she and her sister had. It was an eye-opening experience for her, she said.
But as she grew older, her contact with HomeFront and the issue of homelessness tapered off until this spring.
"I am so busy during the school year that I never have time to do things," said Erin, who swims, plays field hockey and rows on the crew team. "I decided this summer I wanted to do something to make a difference in the community."
After some thought, Erin decided to focus on HomeFront. She wanted to raise money so that each child could receive a gift certificate to spend at the Quaker Bridge Mall. But when she approached HomeFront officials with her idea, it was suggested that she could raise money for the organization’s Joy, Hopes and Dreams program instead.
The money raised by the swim-a-thon will go into that fund, which could be used to buy T-shirts, french fries or funnel cake for children who attend a Trenton Thunder baseball game, for example, she said. While the Trenton Thunder donates tickets to the baseball games to HomeFront, it does not pay for food or other items that children might want, she said.
"Homelessness is not really obvious to us," Erin said. "Most people look beyond it. It is more of a hidden issue. I was shocked to learn that the average age of a homeless child (in Mercer County) is 7 years old.
"For me not to realize that people could be homeless until I was 10 years old is not good," she said. The swim-a-thon is a good idea, because the 6- to 8-year-olds on the swim clubs’ teams might understand more about other people’s needs, she added.
Erin said she hopes to organize another swim-a-thon next year. If people can be made aware of the homeless situation, they might be more inclined to get involved with the swim-a-thon and with HomeFront programs, she said.
For more information about the swim-a-thon, contact Erin at (609) 947-5760 or via e-mail at [email protected].