By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Amani Ahmed lives in an affluent neighborhood of Princeton Township, a 15-minute drive from a section of Trenton where the teen has made a big difference.
During her summer break, the 15-year-old girl served meals and tutored adults at Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, a nonprofit that feeds about 3,000 people a year, at its headquarters on Escher Street.
Motivated to do more, she raised more than $15,000 and counting for the organization.
”We’ve had young people raise money for us before” but never at this amount, said Jaime Parker, community relations and development coordinator at the soup kitchen.
In an interview from her home, Ms. Ahmed drew her inspiration from her paternal grandfather, who, in his home country of India, created an orphanage and school. She wanted to do something, she said.
In thinking up the fundraiser, Ms. Ahmed came up with a slogan, “300 for $30.”
The idea, she said, was to try to get 300 people to each give $30 30 standing for this year being the soup kitchen’s 30th anniversary. Using email, she contacted potential donors. Faria Abedin, her mother, wanted it to be her daughter’s project, so she did not get directly involved.
During a 2 1/2month span, 50 donors, including her 10-year-sister Inaya, donated to the soup kitchen in amounts big and small.
The money comes at typically slow time for the organization to receive donations, Ms. Parker said. The organization gets a small percentage of public funding, with the majority of its money coming from individual donations.
Ms. Ahmed said she learned about the soup kitchen through a friend. Along with her mom, she visited the site on Presidents Day weekend and got involved.
”It is extremely gratifying to witness the expression in the eyes of someone who recognizes that you are trying to help,” she wrote in an article the soup kitchen provided. “Many patrons of the soup kitchen consistently keep smiles on their faces, and help to brighten my own day.”
She has turned to her next idea. She has started collecting hygiene products for the soup kitchen to give to the needy. Her mom, now a soup kitchen board member, agreed to purchase 250 deodorants.
”I’ve never bought 250 of anything before,” Ms. Abedin said.

