Help Interfaith Caregivers Make a Difference on Saturday, October 22

Oct. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- To help feed our area’s hungry and celebrate “Make a Difference Day” -- the largest day of service in the United States -- Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County (formerly Interfaith Caregivers Trenton) will collect donations of non-perishable food, toiletries and cleaning supplies at its new headquarters at 3635 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 16, Hamilton, NJ, from 11 am - 4 pm on Saturday, October 22. Gift cards and monetary donations are also welcomed. WPST radio will be on hand to promote the food drive from 11-1, and attendees will enjoy games and prizes.

The “Feed the Hungry” drive is in support of TEAM (Trenton Ecumenical Area Ministry), an ecumenical faith-based coalition of churches is Mercer County that seeks to strengthen partnership and collaboration between denominations and expressions of Christian faith, and to promote inter-religious dialogue, cultural and racial-ethnic sensitivity, respect and understanding. Through its Emergency Assistance Program, TEAM will distribute donations among 25 congregational food programs in the Greater Trenton area. Community partners joining Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County (ICGMC) with this effort include Allstate Office Interiors; Hercman Properties; NJ Youth Corps.; Mount Carmel Guild; and The Progressive Center for Independent Living.

Citing a report published in March 2011 by the New Jersey Poverty Research Institute indicating that more than one in three children in the City of Trenton live in poverty, ICGMC Executive Director Sarah Thoma states, “There are increasing numbers of people in our area, and throughout the country for that matter, in need of basic food assistance. The USDA says that 16 million children live in ‘food-insecure’ households, meaning that, due to a lack of resources, their families have had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food. Interfaith Caregivers provides other basic services to community members in need throughout the year and is happy to assist TEAM with this effort.”

An interfaith coalition of 27 member congregations, Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the independence and dignity of homebound elderly and people with disabilities by matching them with caring volunteers who assist with the tasks of everyday life. With close to 300 volunteers serving more than 300 individuals throughout Mercer County, ICGMC helps reduce the loneliness and isolation that often accompanies old age and disabilities. Sample services include transportation to doctor’s offices, grocery shopping, friendly visiting, respite care, light housekeeping, telephone reassurance, occasional meal preparation, indoor/outdoor chores, minor home repairs and other non-medical help that often enables the care receiver to remain in their home. For further information about the organization’s services or “Make a Difference Day,” call 609-393-9922 or visit www.ictrenton.org.

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Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County, an interfaith coalition, is dedicated to promoting the independence and dignity of homebound elderly and people with disabilities by matching them with caring volunteers who assist with the tasks of everyday life.