Resources
Free school meals for all for SY 2021-’22
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved funding to offer all students breakfast and lunch at no cost for the 2021-2022 school year regardless of eligibility status, income, need or other defining characteristics. However, the PPS administration notes, “qualifying for free or reduced-price meals may provide your family with additional benefits such as P-EBT funding, reduced rates for sports, and potential free college applications, so please be sure to fill out a free application if you are potentially eligible.”
April 2021
Riverside is excited about the upcoming Garden State on Your Plate list – sweet potatoes & strawberries are favorites. An upcoming project with Rutgers: 250 seeds for a statewide Master Gardener trial to determine preferred pruning practices by weighing harvests.
Edible Gardens will again rent Mason Bees again and soon will share last spring’s videos. Has offered STEAM programming to Riverside PreK in coordination with the Science/STEAM teacher, but with less than half the children in school, it’s a challenge. Plans are to continue the after-school garden sessions.
Restoration and renewal at PMS Edible Gardens
Edible Gardens at Princeton Middle School (formerly John Witherspoon Middle School) were restored and enlarged in 2019, under the direction of Steven Schultz, who donated labor and and coordination as owner of Bountiful Boxes, a raised garden box business in Princeton. The Edible Gardens are used by students in the Food Science course, by students in the PUMS Cooks+Gardens program, and have been used by Princeton University students enrolled in the Science, Society & Dinner course hosted by PUMS in its Teaching Kitchens.
Growing good food at Princeton Middle School
Food grown at Princeton Middle School supports students’ work in the Food Science Wellness class, as well as those participating in the after-school seed-to-table program, PMS Cooks+Gardens.
The new shed at Princeton Middle School Edible Gardens
Finally, a place to store hoses, wheelbarrows, garden gloves, and more!
Growing corn at Princeton Middle School
Driving by, you can see the stalks reaching toward the sky.
What’s growing at Johnson Park?
New garden beds are in the future at Johnson Park Elementary School. The long-cherished garden beds, sheltered from deer by their location in the courtyard, are showing their age.
Garden beds in storage during construction
Repairs and renovations put the Edible Gardens at Princeton High School in a construction pathway, so several of the raised garden beds were put into storage. There are two raised beds/boxes that Principal Jessica Baxter calls the Memorial Gardens, on the west side of the school. Topsoil, taken from the garden area, is there as well. The area outside the English office is planted with edibles and is near a water supply.
Finding food now in Princeton
Here’s information compiled by Princeton’s municipal government.
Arm In Arm (previously Crisis Ministry of Mercer County)
Has three food pantries which provide a variety of shelf-stable foods and fresh foods such as produce, protein and other baked goods. This facility also offers education on healthy foods and how to make grocery shopping cheaper and efficient. Arm In Arm also offers health screenings and provides personal care products.
In Princeton: Nassau Presbyterian Church
61 Nassau St.
In Trenton: 123 E. Hanover St. and 48 Hudson St.
Phone: (609) 396-9355
Web: http://arminarm.org/ending-local-hunger-and-teaching-nutrition/
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday: 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday 1:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Cornerstone Community Kitchen
The Cornerstone Community Kitchen (CCK) offers a free and nutritious meal every week, even on holidays. Volunteers from the community serve the meal from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. In partnership with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), this ministry of Princeton United Methodist Church (PUMC) now serves more than 100 people each week. Some come for the food, while some for the fellowship and friendly atmosphere. All are welcome, no questions asked.
Princeton United Methodist Church
7 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, New Jersey 08542
Phone: (609) 924-2613
Web: http://princetonumc.org/ministries/outreach-program/cornerstone-community-kitchen/
Day/Time: Wednesday, 5:00 – 6:30PM
First Baptist Church of Princeton
Partnering with The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) to create Princeton Community Dinner. Every Tuesday we invite you to come to the church for a free dinner to eat here or take home.
First Baptist Church
28 Green Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: (609) 924-0877
Web: www.1stbcpnj.org
Jewish Family and Children’s Service
Food Pantry and Vouchers – JFCS stocks a Kosher food pantry and freezer which is available by appointment to those in need of food. JFCS also provides supermarket gift cards to supplement the pantry with fresh food.
707 Alexander Rd. Suite 102, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Phone: (609) 987-8100 or 1 (877) 408-5327
Web: http://www.jfcsonline.org/services/
Kosher Meals on Wheels
Will deliver meals for people that are homebound. If you live in the East Windsor or Princeton area they will deliver on Monday’s & Wednesdays. If you live in the Trenton or Ewing area they will deliver Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. In order to be eligible for these services you must call to be screened.
707 Alexander Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Phone: (609) 987-8100
Web: www.JFCSonline.org
SHUPP (Send Hunger Packing Princeton)
Has been created to assist children in Princeton with families who are in need of financial support by providing them with weekend foods throughout the school district. This program is a partnership between Princeton Human Services and Mercer Street Friends.
Phone: (609) 285-3233
Web: http://www.shupprinceton.org/
https://www.princetonnj.gov/resources/food-resources-in-princeton