By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The first day of school is nearly five weeks away and the back-to-school shopping frenzy will soon begin in earnest except for children whose families cannot afford to splurge.
But for those children, there is HomeFront and its annual “back to school” drive that is now underway. The nonprofit organization, which has its headquarters at 1880 Princeton Ave., helps the homeless and the working poor.
Last year, HomeFront’s donors helped to fill the backpacks of more than 1,200 children and the need is expected to be at least as great this year, said Connie Mercer, the organization’s executive director.
On the first day of school, it is “crucial” to the children’s success and self-esteem that they have new clothing and shoes, Ms. Mercer said. Homeless children often feel different from their peers, because they are not dressed fashionably. They also lack some of the typical back-to-school supplies that other children possess.
But donors can make a difference, she said. They can contact HomeFront to “adopt” a child and fill out the wish list prepared by the child’s parents. The form contains the child’s age, sex and clothing size. It is given to the donors to help them shop.
A suggested first-day-of-school wardrobe includes a shirt and pants, a dress or skirt, socks, underwear, shoes or sneakers, and a uniform (if necessary). Donors may want to take their children with them when they go shopping, because the children will know what is fashionable and what other children would like to wear.
A typical backpack contains the usual school supplies colored pencils, erasers, a lunchbox or bag, scissors, a glue-stick or tape, a protractor, a loose-leaf notebook and crayons, markers, folders and pens and pencils.
People who want to help can also donate money to HomeFront’s back-to-school fund, which pays for school supplies, class pictures, field trips, sports equipment and similar expenses for children throughout the school year, Ms. Mercer said.
Ms. Mercer recalled visiting a homeless family that was living in a motel on Route 1, and noticing that the children were at home and not at school. That’s because the mother who was in tears did not have the money to pay for a school trip, she said.
”It’s all about breaking the cycle of poverty through education,” she said. “Homeless children have a particularly difficult time getting an education (because of frequent moves). It’s the nature of homelessness. They are ‘poverty nomads.’ They never find a real academic home.”
Meanwhile, clothing and school supplies may be dropped off at HomeFront’s headquarters at 1880 Princeton Ave. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on Tuesday between noon and 6 p.m. The deadline is Aug. 24.
To participate or donate to the Back-to-School program, call Judy Long at 609-989-9714, ext. 107, or email [email protected], or check HomeFront’s website at www.homefrontnj.org.

