STRIKE OUT HUNGER OVERVIEW:
Strike Out Hunger is a multi-prong initiative that unites companies, individuals, and advocates to alleviate hunger in Mercer County. The United Way estimates that there were already over 61,000 local families struggling to make ends meet and to put food on their table*, and since the pandemic this number has exponentially increased. Strike Out Hunger provides meals, fresh produce, and non-perishables to the food bank and food pantry beneficiaries, especially during the summer months when food becomes even more scarce for households in our community.
With the assistance of volunteers, Strike Out Hunger will provide meals through our signature meal packing event; harvest and distribute fresh produce; collect non-perishable food; deliver food pantry packages directly to the homes of those who have mobility issues. This year to ensure that local food pantry shelves are stocked with culturally relevant food items we initiated ‘Flavors of the Community' a guide to culturally relevant food items so people of all cultures have access to familiar foods, flavors and spices. SOH also includes accessing supplemental income that can be used for basic needs through our Free Tax Preparation program (VITA) and our Benefit Access program.
*Source: United Way NJ ALICE Report 2023 & Feeding America 2020
Summer Food Drive
Hunger does not take a vacation! You can get involved and help alleviate food insecurity in our community during the summer months when pantry pantries need it most.
Donate Non-Perishable Food:
Drop off food at one of our many local food collection site partners OR at a community food pantry near you.
Become a Food Collection Site:
- Sign up at www.uwgmc.org/sohsitesignup.
-
We will drop off a food donation box at your site and provide promotional flyers for distribution. Check this list for suggested non-perishables.
- The collection will happen during the month of July.
- United Way of Greater Mercer County staff will coordinate the pick-up of donations.
Trenton Summer Food Service
The City of Trenton provides free summer meals to children 17 years of age and younger during the summer months when school is out. Free healthy meals and great outdoor activities are available Monday-Friday at various park locations beginning on July 1, 2024 and ending on August 23, 2024.
For List of locations visit: www.trentonnj.org/724/Summer-Food-Service
Volunteer Opportunities
You can help provide fresh fruits and vegetables for families and individuals living in food deserts or struggling to make ends meet. United Way of Greater Mercer County has partnered with Rolling Harvest Food Rescue to help with the distribution of fresh produce to local food pantries.
Volunteers can sign up to glean, and gather leftover fresh produce after a harvest with Rolling Harvest. This is a great opportunity to help alleviate hunger in the community.
For more information on these volunteer opportunities visit Galaxy Digital portal or contact Denise Daniels at denise.daniels@uwgmc.org.
Flavors of the Community
‘Flavors of the Community' is designed to support neighbors experiencing food insecurity. It ensures that local food pantry shelves are stocked with culturally relevant food items, so people of all cultures have access to foods, flavors and spices they are familiar with.
View a PDF of the Flavors Brochure
Donate to Your Local Food Pantry
The need for food has intensified as a result of the pandemic. Families have to choose between other necessities like housing and healthcare.
To help, donate nonperishables to your local food pantry. Take a bag(s) filled with food to your nearest food pantry.
Meal Packing Event Kickoff
Thank you to all the participants in the Strike Out Hunger meal packing event. Together you packaged over 50,000 meals that will be distributed to local food bank and food pantry partners to ensure families have access to food throughout the year – particularly during the summer months when food becomes even more scarce.
June 11, 2024
10 AM-12 PM
The College of New Jersey
2000 Pennington Rd
Ewing, NJ 08628
Check out photos from this years event!
Check out event photos from 2023.
Check out event photos from 2022.
Celebrity Bartender Fundraising Event
Fundraising event to benefit Strike Out Hunger
This event will return in 2025
All TIPS will benefit the UWGMC Strike Out Hunger Initiative
2024 Celebrity Bartenders includes: Nina Melker (County Commissioner, William Penn Bank), Hal English (Princeton Mercer Chamber), Frank Lucchesi (PSEG), Jeremy Deck (HUB International Limited), Jeff Hurley (Trenton Thunder), Kat Lekko (Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber), Claire Cossaboon (Grounds For Sculpture), Chris English (William Penn Bank), Dan Smith, Lori Denko (DanMor Mechanical)
and featured the 94.5 FM PST Chris and the Crew Morning Show – Chris Rollins, Joe & Gianna
Does Someone You Know Need Help?
We all need help sometimes. As a result of the pandemic, more families and individuals are struggling to put food on their tables. Play a role by letting family, neighbors, friends, or coworkers know about available resources in the community.
Available resources
For more information
Please contact Denise Daniels at denise.daniels@uwgmc.org
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SOH 10 Years - Milestones at-a-glance
Download a copy of Milestone here
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 SPONSORS
POWER HITTER SPONSORS
LEAD RUNNER SPONSORS
STARTING PITCHER SPONSORS
HOST SPONSOR
MEDIA SPONSOR
For PDF of 2024 SPONSORSHIP PACKET Click Here
DIAMOND: $10,000 – EXCLUSIVE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
- Brief speaking role by a company representative during the Strike Out Hunger kick-off event in June
- Membership to United Way Tocqueville Society (national benefits)
- Feature article in one (1) monthly e-newsletter
- Logo on food collection box in locations throughout Mercer County during summer months
- Logo on signage at Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- One (1) employee participation on Strike Out Hunger Committee; Benefits to committee participation include networking with business and civic leaders and additional recognition on social media, UWGMC website, annual report, and other outreach & marketing collaterals
- One (1) exhibit table on event day kick-off (bring your promotional materials & products)
- Company team registration for up to 25 to participate in meal packing at the Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- Special acknowledgment during Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- Inclusion in UWGMC’s social media for the kick-off event (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn)
- Sponsor-level recognition in press releases, ads, PSAs, eblasts and website related to Strike Out Hunger media impressions reaching more than 10,000
- Listing under Caring Corporations on the UWGMC website
HOME RUN: $7,500 – 3 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
- Feature article in one (1) monthly e-newsletter
- Logo on food collection box in locations throughout Mercer County during summer months
- Logo on signage at Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- One (1) employee participation on Strike Out Hunger Committee; Benefits to committee participation include networking with business and civic leaders and additional recognition on social media, UWGMC website, annual report, and other outreach & marketing collaterals
- One (1) exhibit table on event day kick-off (bring your promotional materials & products)
- Company team registration for up to 20 to participate in meal packing at the Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- Special acknowledgment during Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- Inclusion in UWGMC’s social media for the kick-off event (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn)
- Sponsor-level recognition in press releases, ads, PSAs, eblasts and website related to Strike Out Hunger media impressions reaching more than 10,000
- Listing under Caring Corporations on the UWGMC website
POWER HITTER: $5,000 - 5 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
- Logo on signage at Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- One (1) employee participation on Strike Out Hunger Committee; Benefits to committee participation include networking with business and civic leaders and additional recognition on social media, UWGMC website, annual report, and other outreach & marketing collaterals
- One (1) exhibit table on event day kick-off (bring your promotional materials & products)
- Company team registration for up to 15 to participate in meal packing at the Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- Special acknowledgment during Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- Inclusion in UWGMC’s social media for the kick-off event (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn)
- Sponsor-level recognition in press releases, ads, PSAs, eblasts and website related to Strike Out Hunger – media impressions reaching more than 10,000
- Listing under Caring Corporations on the UWGMC website
LEAD RUNNER: $2,500 - 15 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
- Company team registration for up to 10 to participate in meal packing at the Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- Special acknowledgment during Strike Out Hunger kick-off event
- Inclusion in UWGMC’s social media for the kick-off event (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn)
- Sponsor-level recognition in press releases, ads, PSAs, eblasts and website related to Strike Out Hunger – media impressions reaching more than 10,000
- Listing under Caring Corporations on the UWGMC website
For more information contact
Sandra Toussaint at sandra.toussaint@uwgmc.org
The Strike Out Hunger Committee provides their expertise, time, and efforts to help make our initiative a success.
Eden Aaronson
Jewish Family and Children's Service
Claire Cossaboon
Grounds For Sculpture
Desmond Hayes
GeoGreens
Therese Hollander
Northfield Bank
Jennifer Keyes - Maloney
The College of New Jersey
Judy Lansing
M&T Bank
Kathleen Lekko
Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber
Joe Lemkin
Stark & Stark
Sal Levatino
Princeton Rotary/ SL Business Solutions
Jessica Malone
Princeton University
Rajashekar (Raj) Manimaran
The College of New Jersey
Mary Moulds
NJ Pagents
Marion Reison
Eating For Your Health
Jeff Richardson
NJM Insurance Group
Ryan Sherberg
Mercer Street Friends
Elvin Santiago
Horizon-BCBSNJ
Peggi Shader-Gother
Investors Bank
Hillary Spivak
Arbonne
Sue Tame
Ernst & Young
Kira Williams
Mercer Street Friends
Jennifer Woods
RWJF and UWGMC Board Member
Elyse Yerrapathrun
Rolling Harvest
