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HIGHTSTOWN: Community fights hunger

By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN —The community has united to feed the hungry.
The Rise to the Task Community Dinner offers 100 free dinners every Thursday, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the lower level floor of the First United Methodist Church of Hightstown, 187 Stockton St.
"From place mats, to candles, crafts and books for the children, to piano music through dinner for the adults, (it is) more than just a dinner, but an enjoyable night of fellowship,” said Pastor Heidi Bak, of the First United Methodist Church. “Many people come early and stay late drinking (decaffeinated coffee) in the atmosphere with new friends.”
The Rise to the Task Community Dinner is the result of a trinity partnership between the church, the borough-based non-profit organization Rise: A Community Service Partnership and the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK).
The venture, which began four months ago, is more than a diversified soup kitchen — it is a place for community generosity and unity with the inspirational touches of laughter, music and crafts — combined with the strength of volunteerism.
"It really is a lovely expression of community,” said Rise Board Member John Crutcher, of East Windsor. “It is spiritual for many people.”
Pastor Bak called the dinner “a unique collaboration between three reputable, diverse organizations that bring different gifts to the table. TASK provides the meals, Rise provides the staffing and (the) First United Methodist Church of Hightstown provides the space. Everybody wins, especially the community.”
On any given Thursday, there are approximately 15 volunteers working to make the Rise to the TASK Community Dinner a success.
In the past, Peddie School students have moved tables and chairs to set up the dinning area; other volunteers have worked at a craft station for children; and local Girl Scouts have made place mats.
Decaf coffee is offered all night long, and community members often donate homemade desserts.
"We think it’s wonderful. It’s an inspiration,” said Jaime Parker, of Bordentown. Ms. Parker is the TASK community relations and development coordinator. “We’re really happy that it’s taking off . . . and to hear the community involvement, it’s inspiring and we’re very proud to be part of this partnership.”
TASK bakes a rotating dinner menu in Trenton and then delivers it to the church in Hightstown. Ms. Parker noted that TASK buys its goods from the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank as much as possible. TASK also receives donations from bakeries and grocery stores.
Ms. Parker said, “Every meal is balanced.”
Every week TASK, which was founded in 1982, provides 3,500 meals to those in need, including the 100 dinners provided at its Hightstown satellite location.
On Feb. 9, visitors at the Rise to the TASK Community Dinner could take books, scarves, hats or sweatshirts home with them. There was also a craft station for children as well as live music.
Pianist Tony Zelenak, of East Windsor, has performed frequently on Thursday nights since the community dinner began.
"The biggest accolade is that people are coming back as regulars,” Mr. Crutcher said, who, in addition to serving Rise as a board member, is a volunteer at the Rise Food Pantry, 225 Franklin St., and at the Greater Goods Thrift Store, 114 Rogers Ave.
Mr. Crutcher said that people attending the dinner range from the elderly to young families to the homeless.
"It’s really serving a wide range there,” he said. “More than anything, they seem really comfortable.”
Rise Executive Director Leslie Koppel, of Monroe, described the setting as a bright space in which people are laughing and sharing companionship. “It’s just a very vibrant feeling when you walk in the door,” Ms. Koppel said. “It’s a very warm environment.”
In addition to giving food to people facing the financial restraints of a stagnant economy, there is a “no questions asked” policy. People are given a ticket, which they exchange for a meal. The dinners can be eaten at the church or taken to go.
The first Rise to the TASK Community Dinner was held on Nov. 3. The dinner has continued every week with the exception of Thanksgiving.
Mr. Crutcher said that flyers printed in both English and Spanish have been distributed throughout the community.
"It’s amazing what’s happening,” said Rise Food Pantry Coordinator Julia Babulescu, of East Windsor. She noted that there was a “huge increase” of people coming to the Rise Food Pantry in 2011.
The Rise Food Pantry is open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It provides food and personal products to those in need. Through the pantry, Rise provides assistance to 465 families. As of Dec. 1 there were 700 children and 1,350 individuals registered within the program.
This past December, Rise made sure that those children had a happy holiday season, as it organized its annual community-wide toy drive, and delivered gifts to all 700 children.
Children compose twenty percent of the attendees at the Rise to the TASK Community Dinner in Hightstown, Ms. Koppel said.
Further, she stated, “We’ve been getting a lot of seniors.”
The Rise to the TASK Community Dinner has utilized Rise’s existing programs. Books and toys are brought to the Methodist Church from the Greater Goods Thrift Store, Ms. Koppel explained. And, volunteers bring baked goods from the Rise Food Pantry. Rise is also providing business cards and informational brochures to the local guests on Thursday nights.
"So, if people do need help (outside of the dinner), there’s a connection and a place for them to go,” Ms. Koppel stated.
Rise, 116 N, Main St., Hightstown, was incepted in 1967.
Ms. Koppel called the partnership behind the Thursday night dinners, “a perfect fit.”
"This area of Hightstown and East Windsor is affected with suburban poverty,” she said. “People are suffering and they’re just not quite sure where to turn.”
Indeed, the Rise to the TASK Community Dinner is an event filled with people from all sides of the economic spectrum.
Many unemployed people attend the dinners, in part to volunteer and in part to enjoy the benefits of a free meal.
"People we are seeing are not used to asking for help,” Ms. Koppel said of some of the volunteers.
"Come, you are completely welcome,” Mr. Crutcher said. “Please come and bring your family and friends.”
To access the lower level of the church, folks can enter the facility via Rogers Avenue.
"You don’t have to be homeless,” said Ms. Parker of TASK. “If you are struggling you can feel free to come and get a meal.”
"What’s happening right now is a dream (that) became (a) reality,” said Ms. Babulescu of Rise. “It’s a blessing.”
To learn more about Rise, visit www.rise-community-services.org.
For more information about TASK, visit www.trentonsoupkitchen.org.
Information about the First United Methodist Church of Hightstown is available online, via www.fumchightstown.org.