In an effort to help HomeFront stock its food pantry this fall, Christine's Hope for Kids (CHFK), a Mercer County foundation committed to improving the lives of children in need, partnered with two local businesses.
Members of the Christine's Hope for Kids Community Service Club shop for non-perishable food items at Pennington Quality Market. In an effort to help HomeFront stock its food pantry this fall, Christine's Hope for Kids (CHFK), a Mercer County foundation committed to improving the lives of children in need, partnered with two local businesses.
Throughout September, CHFK, Flutter Boutique and Pennington Quality Market worked together to raise awareness about the problem of hunger in America.
Linda Martin, owner of Flutter Boutique in Pennington, collected food and donations during the month through Project Fashion Feed to help feed those in need. Christine's Hope for Kids matched her monetary collection.
"When hunger threatens the future of a child, it threatens the future of all us," said Martin. "We're joining Christine's Hope for Kids to have a real impact on hunger in our community and help as they continue their fight to help every child in need."
The raised funds were taken to Pennington Quality Market for a food challenge staffed by the Christine's Hope for Kids Community Service Club from Hopewell Valley Central High School.
With the help of PQM owners the Rothwells and CHFK staff and volunteers, the students were divided into five teams of three students, and each team received $150 to shop. The teams could purchase only non-perishable items, keeping in mind they were buying for a family of five. They were given a time limit of 30 minutes. And the team with the most items in their basket at the end won. The lesson was to show them how hard it is to budget to feed a family of five. The students were frugal, reading every price sticker and, in the end, they were thrilled to see how much they had collectively purchased.
All of the food was donated to the Homefront Food Bank. The Rothwell family also generously donated boxes of diapers.
"What an amazing community we live in, where a boutique, a foundation, high school students and a grocery store all work together to help feed hungry families," said Connie Mercer, CEO of HomeFront. "We are not surprised because we know how caring and wonderful Flutter, Christine's Hope for Kids, Pennington Quality Marketing and the young people in our community are--but we also could not be more grateful."
Christine's Hope for Kids was created to continue the legacy and generous spirit of Christine Gianacaci and her desire to help underprivileged children have an opportunity for a better life. The mission of the foundation is to continue Christine's spirit and loving qualities, to help less fortunate children, and to support local community agencies that work with and benefit children. CHFK not only wants to raise money to support their mission, but also teach and communicate the idea that every person can make a difference each day by helping others and being kind.
Your donation to the 2015 Times Annual Appeal will help Christine's Hope for Kids continue its mission to help kids in need in our community.
NJM Insurance group of West Trenton has pledged to donate $1,000 for every $5,000 contributed by the community and other business donors throughout the 2015 campaign.
To make a donation in support of Christine's Hope for Kids, make your check payable to The Times Holiday Appeal and mail to Times Charities, Inc., 413 River View Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08611.
All gifts will be acknowledged in The Times. Anonymity will be granted, if requested.
For more about Christine's Hope for Kids, go to www.christineshope.org.
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