HomeFront joins in Christmas celebration

Christmas came early for many area residents dealing with homeless situations.

Not as premature as July although finding the spirit of giving during any season means the exchange benefits both sides of the interaction.

On December 12, Christmas came arrived for HomeFront families who are homeless and living at four local area motels.

Mind you, people who faced challenges prior to COVID-19 2020, were cast into more dire straits when the pandemic arrived.

On the aforementioned date, The Pennington School filled two school buses and a minivan with 150 meals, 200 warm coats, plus 100 Holiday Cheer Bags containing presents, toiletries, books, blankets, hats, gloves and sweets collected from its students and staff then headed off to those local motels.

For the last 26 years, The Pennington School had ensured local families who are homeless or living in poverty get to share in the joy of the holidays.

Poverty and shelter challenges should not exclude persons in need.

The faculty and students had hosted an annual holiday party at their school for over 400 of HomeFront’s clients. Of course, COVID-19 forced change as The Pennington School mission adjusted.

Last year, guests, most of them children, enjoyed an oncampus visit which included a romp through ‘ Santa’s Toy Shop’ for the selection of a toy. The gifting included a book for each guest.

“This year,” says Home

Front’s Support Services Liason, Liza Peck, “we had many phone calls and Zoom meetings with Pennington School’s leadership, head of food service, and students in their peer leadesrhip program, to figure out how we could celebrate the holidays with our families in the middle of a pandemic.”

Lizzy Adams, one of The Pennington School peer leaders, who succeeds athletically and academically, expressed amazement, “at The Pennington School community and its quick response to the call to create bags and its eagerness to help. Many teachers and students asked to do more and help additional families. I realized how good it felt to think of others during this trying time. Helping HomeFront is an opportunity to show care and compassion for our neighbors, a true act of service for our community. We are honored to help.”

Adams, Class of 2021, enjoys the wonderful times of wild-eyed and open-hearted youth that will last a lifetime if nurtured. In reality, Adams is just a young version of Connie Mercer.

“These families, of all the local families we serve, are the hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Mercer, HomeFront’s CEO, who started this Mercer County-based organization on wings and prayers.

“They have one room for the whole family, kids trying to remote school, nowhere to cook or play. We have committed they must never feel like they are alone.”

Throughout the pandemic, HomeFront has visited the motels at least three times a week and delivered over 5,600 meals as part of their new “Double Helpings” program.

Weekly in-person and virtual children’s programming including tutoring has also been provided for these families, as well as help with basic needs.

“As we handed out holiday presents this weekend” said Ms. Liza Peck, support services liaison for HomeFront Family Campus.

“One woman kept saying how much it mattered that people cared about them.” Another said, “I didn’t think there was going to be Christmas this year.”

In addition to the gifts HomeFront delivered to families at the motels, the nonprofit followed with a distribution of over two thousand more donated presents.

Gifts were requested by children from households HomeFront helps throughout the year with temporary shelter, permanent housing, children’s programming, food and essentials, education, or job training.

Last year HomeFront answered 32,417 cries for help for housing, food, and other life changing assistance.

“We are so incredibly fortunate, especially during this pandemic” said Ms. Mercer “to live in a community where we have many partners, including The Pennington School, which harbor the Christmas spirit of caring for their neighbors, all year long.”

If this article awakens your spirit of giving then make a donation to any Mercer County non-profit or simply do something special for a neighbor.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.