On Friday, September 13, TASK hosted our third annual community meal & BBQ to commemorate Hunger Action Month.

More than 550 patrons, staff, volunteers and community partners stopped by Escher Street to enjoy delicious BBQ from the TASK kitchen, listen to live music from TASK’s house band, The FunkTASKtiks, and relax on a beautiful day under several tents at neighboring Capital City Farm. During the month of September, hunger relief agencies around the country join together to raise awareness about food insecurity, which is surging across the United States.

In addition to good food and entertainment, TASK welcomed attendees inside for a brief ceremony that featured reflections on Hunger Action Month and an opportunity to recognize several important contributors over the past year.

In recognition of Hunger Action Month, speakers Mark Dinglasan, Director of New Jersey’s Office of the Food Security Advocate; Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli; Mercer County Executive Dan Benson; and Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora all made moving remarks about TASK’s role in helping to alleviate hunger and address its underlying causes. Dinglasan noted,

“Our understanding of food insecurity has changed. It’s not just about availability, it’s about access.”

All of the speakers recognized TASK and nonprofit partners Arm in Arm, HomeFront, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, Mercer Street Friends, the Rescue Mission of Trenton and the Trenton Health Team for joining together to create the Mercer County Food Security Leaders (MCFSL), a coalition aimed at combining research and resources to fight hunger and drive change across our area. By working together, the members of the MCFSL recognize that our organizations can create an even greater impact.

As TASK CEO Joyce Campbell noted, the coalition’s plan is already being put into action. For example, the TASK Food Truck has been working with Arm in Arm to provide food on alternating weeks at two Capital Health sites in Trenton. By switching off each week, the two organizations are ensuring that those neighborhoods have consistent access to food without interruption.

In addition, the TASK Food Truck is co-locating with the Rescue Mission’s mobile outreach unit once per week on Hermitage Avenue. Together, the organizations are able to provide food and addiction recovery services at a critical spot in the city. Added Dinglasan,

“We need to row in the same direction. The work we have to do together matters so much more now.”

An emotional L.A. Parker accepted TASK’s Advocate of the Year Award, sharing his own personal story of adversity and his reliance on social service organizations like TASK that gave him a lift up when he needed it.

TASK also presented the Community Partner of the Year Award to local Trenton optometrist, Dr. Thomas Marino, in recognition of his efforts to enhance access to eye care for the people in our community.

In addition, TASK shared a tribute to the late Larry Apperson, a longtime volunteer and founder of Cornerstone Community Kitchen (CCK) in Princeton, a TASK community meal site. TASK COO Paul Jensen presented Apperson’s family with a plaque that will be displayed at CCK.