Drive-Thru Food Distribution In East Windsor On April 9

EAST WINDSOR, NJ — The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) and Rise will host a drive-thru food distribution on Saturday, April 9. The food distribution will provide roughly 100,000 pounds of groceries to around 1,300 households from greater Mercer County.

This will be the fifth collaboration between TASK and Rise since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the non-profit said.

Food distribution will take place in the Modway parking lot, at 329 Wyckoff Mills Road, East Windsor. The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each household will receive more than 75 pounds of groceries including poultry and fish, fresh produce, juice, milk and paper products. Attendees will remain in their vehicles to drive through the contact-free distribution line to collect food.

TASK and Rise have worked together four times before to pull off similar events. In total, they have provided approximately 450,000 pounds of food to roughly 4,500 households in the County.

“One thing we’ve noted at our drive-thru distributions is just how many folks mention that this is their first time at an event like this,” said Joyce Campbell, TASK Executive Director. “So many people have said things like, ‘Now I can pay my bills this month.’ Consistent access to nutritious food, like the kind that TASK and Rise provide every day, is more important now than ever.”

Both organizations say that the number of food-insecure people will continue to grow. With inflation at a high, households have been hit hard at the grocery store. Food prices have jumped since last year, gas prices have risen, and an unstable job market continue to affect families.

“This event represents the power of community organizers who help our neighbors navigate tough times," said Leslie Koppel, Rise Executive Director. "It is a privilege for Rise to work with TASK and our many donors to coordinate meaningful relief for local families who are struggling.”

Rise was founded in 1967, and provides social support services in eastern Mercer County. Apart from the Rise Pantry, they also operate the social-enterprise Rise Thrift Store and the Rise Academic Enrichment Summer Camp.

TASK has been serving the Mercer County region since 1982. They operate the only week-day soup kitchen in Trenton. TASK offers various resources to encourage self-sufficiency and improve quality of life including social services.