More Meals, more places. That’s the goal.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, TASK has seen a sharp increase in the number of people coming to us for help. From seniors to families, the impact of rising consumer costs, stagnant wages and a lack of affordable housing — along with the end of many pandemic relief programs — has significantly impacted our community.

Therefore, it was no surprise when the U.S. Department of Agriculture released their most recent report in October, indicating that nearly 17 million households across the country are experiencing food security, an increase of nearly 3.5 million households compared to the previous year.

These numbers interrupted a yearslong trend of declining hunger in the U.S., and revealed that families with children have been disproportionately impacted.

Today, 37% of Trenton’s children are living in poverty, a significant indicator of hunger.

At TASK, we have seen the impact firsthand. To meet the rising need, our kitchen is preparing 10,000 meals per week — nearly twice the pre-COVID amount — and we have expanded our network of community meal sites. With your support, we have put more meals into the hands of more people than ever before in our 41-year history.

And, together, we will do even more.

This January, TASK is proud to announce that we will be launching mobile meals.

This project will initially focus on serving the City of Trenton where 27% of the population lives below the poverty line, a rate more than twice the average in New Jersey.

In addition, Trenton is a food desert. In a city of 90,000 people, most Trenton residents do not live within a half a mile of any of Trenton’s three grocery stores. In a city where transportation is challenging, this greatly impacts people’s ability to access food.

Our most recent survey reveals that 28% of diners began coming to TASK within the last year. Two-thirds of respondents said that TASK provides their main source of food.

And that’s just at our Escher Street dining room.

TASK’s 35 community meal sites, particularly those within the City of Trenton, consistently report an increase in need, with some sites experiencing lines that stretch city blocks, forming hours before the meals even begin.

TASK’s mobile meal program is just the first step on our journey to help expand food resources in Trenton.

Our food truck will offer TASK’s signature freshly-prepared and balanced meals to more than 1,000 people each week in their own neighborhood, making food more convenient and accessible than ever.

Together, we can ensure that every household has reliable access to healthy, nutritious food. Together, we can drive hunger out of Trenton.