News

Emilio’s Culinary Academy at TASK feeds the minds, stomachs of Trenton residents

By Brie Wells

At the Heart of the Trenton community lies the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), which has been serving the city for over 40 years. With the mission of feeding those who are hungry in the local community, TASK provides thousands of meals to clients facing food insecurity and homelessness each week.

In addition to serving hot meals, TASK offers adult self-sufficiency programs to help improve clients’ quality of life. One of their most popular programs is Emilio’s Culinary Academy.

The academy was founded in February 2020 in conjunction with the Catalyst Kitchen Impact grant, which provides funding for culinary programs and soup kitchens that aid underserved communities. The purpose of the academy is to reach out to a population who may have difficulty entering the workforce and give members the opportunity to gain education and access to skills that will help them secure a better future.

The program is designed to equip students with culinary skills and other soft skills including resume writing, job preparation and the ability to access resources such as social work or case management.

With the recent renovation of the kitchen, the brand new practice space at TASK allows up to four students to receive hands-on training from seasoned chefs who work tirelessly to run the program. The program consists of eight weeks of practical culinary education. This includes food safety certification and two weeks of internship working in the TASK kitchen putting their new skills to use. Regarding the success of the program, Co-Director Adam Livow said, “Within 10 weeks of time we have students graduating the program and being lined up with job offers….They are going from being unemployed to being self-sufficient and having a steady paycheck which gets them that much closer to self-sufficiency.”

The program has previously graduated a number of cohorts of students successfully and the staff are looking forward to graduating the next class. Alumni have found major success working for companies and institutions such as UPS, Wayfair and Rider University.

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An Update on the Covid Restrictions

By: Brie Wells

Update on the Covid Restrictions

As the anniversary of the Covid 19 pandemic rounds the corner, many Americans are questioning what the future will look like as vaccine rollout continues across the United States and covid regulations relax. With vaccine rollout expanding to child care workers, transportation workers, and additional public safety workers in the state of New Jersey as of March 15th, many wonder when the state can continue to reopen and students can start going back to school. According to New Jersey Covid 19 Informational Hub, New Jersey is in Stage 2 of Governor Murphy’s reopening plan. In stage 2 moderate risk activities are allowed to restart and all New Jerseyans are advised to wear a face covering and to participate in social distancing. New Jerseyans are also advised to work from home if it is feasible to do so. Since June 15th, 2020 relaxation of restrictions has been declared from the governor’s office, with the newest being announced March 19th, 2021, which states that the limit on general indoor gatherings increases to 25 people and increases the limit to general outdoor gatherings to 50 people according to Executive Order 225.

With the relaxation of restrictions continuing, many are questioning if Governor Murphy will take the lead of other states and radically lessen Covid 19 restrictions.  On March 2, 2021, the Texas Governor, Gregg Abott, issued Executive Order (GA-34), which lifted the mask mandate in Texas and increased the capacity of all businesses and facilities in the state to 100 percent. Similarly, in Mississippi, Governor Tates issued Executive Order 1549 on March 3rd, 2021 in which the mask mandate would be lifted in Mississippi. Other states such as Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut also continue to lift restrictions on restaurants and other businesses as vaccine rollout continues. According to the CDC Covid Data tracker, 127 million vaccines have been administered in the United States and the amount of Covid 19 cases have been decreasing generally in the past nine weeks. Although Covid 19 cases are generally declining, the CDC has advised against the rapid relaxation of restrictions in states like Texas and Mississippi. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control, said in a briefing on March 3rd,2021 that “We at the CDC have been very clear that now is not the time to release all restrictions.” She also went on to state that “The next month or two is really pivotal with how this pandemic goes as we scale up vaccinations, we really do need to decrease the amount of the virus that is circulating as we are trying to vaccinate all of the public.”

Seemingly Governor Murphy is following in the footsteps of the CDC and other states as he remains cautionary about reopening. In an interview with CNN, Governor Murphy stated “My guess is we won’t be opening up further capacities for some time now because of the caseload.” He then went on to say “We are back to leading the nation in the spread of this virus…” and, “We want to do this safely, responsibly, we don’t want to ever have to go back.” At this time New Jerseyans can expect restrictions to stay in place and should continue to hope that with more vaccine rollout and stricter control of variants within the Garden State, that it will hopefully lead to the arrival of Stage 3 on the road back to normalcy.

Update 

As the summer approaches Covid 19 vaccination rates continue to increase across the United States. According to the CDC, as of June 3rd, 2021  169,090,262 doses of the vaccine have been given out in the United States. In the state of New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Department of Health 8,755,436 doses of the vaccine have been administered in the State of New Jersey and the rates will continue to increase as the Governor continues to push New Jerseyans to get vaccinated. As vaccination rates increase and mask mandates restrictions relax, New Jersyeans can expect the arrival of Stage 3 of Governor Murphy’s Covid 19 Relief plan to be near in the distant future.

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Food Insecure in the Garden State

By: Zion Lee

In 2020, America’s Health Rankings United Health Foundation reported that New Jersey was the third most food insecure state in the U.S. preceded by New Hampshire and Hawaii. Such disparity presented by the data is concerning as, despite New Jersey being reported as amongst the top three richest states in the U.S., a portion of its population is struggling with food insecurity. Food insecurity, lacking the ability to financially access food resources, is a major concern that has a widespread impact. Not only does food insecurity affect the basic needs of those affected, but many individuals will see an increase in risk for food insecurity. Food insecurity does not discriminate as those who are living below or above the poverty line and who are impacted by specific environmental conditions such as where individuals were born, live, work, and learn, factors known as social determinants, are all susceptible to the issue.

 This inequity must be addressed as obtaining one’s daily nutritional requirements is imperative to not only maintaining physical health, but also cognitive health as supported by the CDC. While food insecurity deals with food and hunger, there are other factors that can contribute and be exacerbated by food insecurity, including health and quality of life. The basic needs of individuals must be met in order to increase the quality of life and provide them with the time and ability to address the complexities of life such as maintaining a job, supporting ones’ family, enriching ones’ social life, and prevent serious debilitating medical issues that can lead to further complications as food insecurity prevails.

If you or someone you know is impacted by food insecurity in Mercer County, The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (72 Escher St, Trenton, NJ 08609),  Arm in Arm (123 E Hanover St, Trenton, NJ 08608), and various other sites in The Streetlight Resource Guide are able to help provide you with resources and food.  Together, we can work towards ensuring food security.  

Source Link: https://hungerandhealth.feedingamerica.org/understand-food-insecurity/

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Vaccine Availability In Mercer County

By: Zion Lee

For more than a year, the global COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of people contracting the virus, becoming ill, and in some cases, dying. However, thanks to modern medicine, there are currently three types of COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized for large-scale clinical trials in the United States. These vaccines help the recipients’ bodies develop immunity to the virus without having to catch the illness. The mRNA vaccines, protein subunit vaccines, and vector vaccines help give our bodies the ability to recognize the virus if COVID-19 is ever contracted. It is important to note that none of the vaccines can give you COVID-19, but instead they help your immune system in the event that you should ever get COVID-19. 

Governor Phil Murphy announced that those experiencing homelessness, in addition to those who are currently in domestic violence and homeless shelters, are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on March 15th, which since has past. Soon after, Governor Phil Murphy announced that everyone over the age of 16 are eligible to be vaccinated.  The COVID-19 vaccine does not cost the recipient any money and will not require individuals to pay any coinsurance, deductibles, or copay. In fact, the vaccine is available regardless of whether or not you possess health insurance coverage or not.  Some places that are offering vaccination appointments are Capital Health System- Hopewell, CURE Arena Trenton, Henry J Austin Health Center, Hunterdon Family & Sports Medicine at Hopewell Valley, Mercer County Community College, Rite Aid in Trenton, Riverside Urgent Care of Ewing, Robert Wood Johnson Hamilton, ShopRite Hamilton, and ShopRite Pennington. After being vaccinated, your immune system will be prepared to fight the virus. However, even after being vaccinated, The Streetlight suggests that everyone continues to exercise caution and follow CDC guidelines.

 

The CDC has more information regarding how the vaccine works if you’re interested.

 

Vaccine Registration Questions? The New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center operates daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 855-568-0545

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The Effects of COVID-19 on Mental Health

By: Abby Duff

Since the arrival of COVID-19 to the U.S. a year ago, the pandemic has led to a rise in unemployment, a shortage of vital resources, and an intense decrease in human contact. The lack of once guaranteed daily interactions with other people has had detrimental negative impacts on individuals’ mental health in one way or another.

There have been increased reports of excessive alcohol consumption, sleep and eating disorders, and chronic conditions such as anxiety and depression as a result of the effects of the pandemic. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Household Pulse Survey, between January 2019 and January 2021, the amount of adults reporting severe anxiety and depression disorders has skyrocketed from 11% in 2019 to 41.1% in 2021. These spikes have been particularly prevalent in individuals who have experienced job loss, communities of color, young adults, and essential workers. 

In addition, the KFF reported that 48% of Non-Hispanic Black adults and 46% of Hispanic or Latino adults were more likely to report a mental health disorder in comparison to White adults, who were reported at 41%. Adults that experienced job loss and, subsequently, a source of income had increased rates of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and a higher likelihood of suicide. Essential workers have experienced increased anxiety and thoughts of suicide during the pandemic, as they are subject to conditions that could lead to contracting COVID-19 at their place of employment on any given day. Young adults whose daily routines have been turned upside down by the cease of in-person instruction have reported higher rates of anxiety and depression, as well as, substance abuse. Nearly all of these demographics are afraid to reach out and receive counseling for fear of judgment or financial restrictions. 

It can be hard to talk to friends and loved ones about mental health struggles, especially when you can’t find the words to say how you’re feeling, and speaking to a specialist is usually expensive. However, there are several local organizations that offer free or at least affordable mental health services, and there are other measures that can be taken to improve one’s mental health when struggling, regardless of whether it is the result of the pandemic or a lifelong struggle. The Mercer County Division of Mental Health provides a hotline (877-294-4357) to all residents who are in need of help and do not know who to contact. The Diocese of Trenton also provides free mental health counseling to anyone who is in need. MercerResourceNet.org has a list of organizations in the local area that can help people of all demographics who are suffering. 

As the spring approaches and the weather improves, please remember that even a walk in a park and a conversation with a friend (while adhering to CDC Guidelines, of course) can go a long way for someone who is struggling, so reach out to your friend and loved ones, and do not be ashamed to ask for help, you are loved. 

Mental Health Resources:

Mercer County Division of Mental Health

Diocese of Trenton

MercerResourceNet

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Plasma v. COVID-19 In Mercer County

By: Zion Lee

As a global pandemic has driven unemployment to an unprecedented high, millions of people are still without jobs or a steady income.  One way to earn money during this time would be through the donation of plasma.  While jobs may be scarce, almost everyone can donate plasma and be paid for their donation.  In fact, America remains the number one provider of plasma to the world as laws allow individuals to donate their own plasma for monetary compensation. Some argue that the plasma industry thus profits off of “economic desperation”, yet such claims often overlook the benefits of for-profit plasma donation. Not only are donors given money for their donation and time, but individuals in desperate need of plasma and plasma-based products, such as medications, can also receive the aid they need. 

In the past the, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has put out public service announcements (PSAs) that outline the importance of donating plasma. According to the HSS “These studies will require the help of Americans who have recovered from COVID-19 who are willing to donate their plasma.” Thus, there is no real reason as to why donating plasma for money is a bad thing. In fact, such a philanthropic act can help save hundreds or even thousands of lives. So, whether you are someone struggling with homelessness, job insecurity, or even a student who may need some spending money, you can be compensated for helping the world fight against Covid-19 and other diseases.

As the pandemic continues, the plasma shortage must be addressed before it exponentially increases and becomes another global issue that needs to be tackled. According to the Red Cross, if you are in good health or have had COVID-19 but are now symptom-free and recovered for at least 14 days since the last date of symptoms, you can give convalescent plasma. As the pandemic continues on, it may behoove members of society to donate plasma to help fight not only the pandemic but illnesses and diseases that rely on plasma to provide aid to those afflicted in our communities.

 

Here are some links to donate plasma!

Donate with CSL in Hamilton

Donate with Red Cross in Princeton

Donate with Grifols in PA

News

Mental Health & The COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Brie Wells

Close to 3.1% of adults in New Jersey live with serious mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Mental Health affects all aspects of life and is defined as a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. As the Coronavirus Pandemic churns on and death rates rise, mental health in surrounding communities has taken a tremendous toll. 

According to the CDC, The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with mental health challenges and a rise in illnesses that are related to morbidity and mortality rates. As the days go on more and more cases increase and the national average goes up tremendously. In relation to public health emergencies, such as COVID-19, the spread of disease may affect the health, safety, and well-being of many individuals. This can cause a plethora of problems such as insecurity, confusion, emotional isolation, and stigma in relation to communities who have faced economic loss, work and school closures, inadequate resources for medical response, and deficient distribution of necessities according to the New England Journal of Medicine. 

The frequency of these events which have been caused by the disease and the necessary mitigation activities used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 such as physical distancing and stay-at-home orders have dramatically affected the mental health of thousands of people. New Jersey remained under a mandatory stay-at-home order for months limiting access to stores, industries, and vital resources for all New Jersey residents. Recently, the stay-at-home order was lifted but New Jersey still has restrictions on travel and the reopening of business to contain the spread of COVID-19 which has prevented the return to normalcy.

In these times many New Jersey residents may need help with mental health resources and there are many options that are being offered to the community. One resource is through reaching out to NJ Mental Health Cares if one fears that a person they love may be struggling with mental health. NJ Mental Health Cares is a state health information and referral service that can help people who are dealing with anxiety and worry in relation to COVID-19. Residents can reach NJ Mental Health Cares by calling 1-866-202- HELP or by visiting https://www.njmentalhealthcares.org. 

Another resource that can help with the handling of mental health is the advice listed on the CDC website to deal with mental stress related to COVID-19. These tips include knowing what to do if you are sick and are concerned about COVID-19, knowing where to get treatment, taking care of one’s emotional health, taking breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media and using methods such as meditation or stretching to reduce stress. 

One final resource available to the public is a free hotline open to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to have a place to seek emotional support. Residents can call the video hotline at 973-870-0677 Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Although the cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in New Jersey, it is important to remember that keeping yourself healthy involves taking care of both physical and mental health. 

 

Links to Research 

https://www.nj211.org/covid-19-and-mental-health

https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/clients/mental/

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2008017

https://www.rtor.org/directory/mental-health-new-jersey/

https://www-doh.state.nj.us/doh-shad/topic/MentalHealth.html

https://www.mhanj.org/covid-19/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fmanaging-stress-anxiety.html

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The Pantry at Mercer County Community College

By: Hannah Keyes

The Pantry located at the Trenton campus of Mercer County Community College has been working to serve food insecure college students since opening in late 2019. The motivation for the creation of The Pantry has been the passion to combat the growing hunger problem seen on many college campuses including 

The mission statement of The Pantry is “to alleviate the barriers and challenges associated with food insecurity and hunger so that Mercer’s students can remain in school and, ultimately, earn their degrees.” Education is often seen as the main avenue to improving the quality of life for those who have grown up below the poverty line. However, the stressors associated with food insecurity can affect student success in many ways. Stressors such as money, grades, motivation, the capability to pay attention, and to balance school, work, and personal life can prove to be extraordinarily difficult. In the end, such factors can affect how long it takes for someone to obtain their degree. After all, the more time one spends in school, the more money they have to pay: debt being yet another obstacle in the way of improving one’s quality of life that would compound on top of being food insecure. Every year college education costs increase and students are forced to live on a hardly liveable budget. 

According to College & University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA) 30% of college students are food insecure and 56% of food-insecure students are working. In a food access survey of 50 MCCC students, half said that they had gone hungry because they didn’t have money for food and 41% said they had qualified for state or federal food assistance programs. The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the issues for these college students. The Pantry at MCCC has taken steps to try to best address this issue and help their students. They encourage students to check their eligibility for food assistance through New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is a federal program that can help individuals and families with low incomes buy the groceries they need to eat healthily. 

The Pantry is working to help students as much as possible through its food distribution. According to an article from the MCCC school newspaper, The VOICE, MCCC student, Jennifer Famularo, who had received help through the food pantry said, “when times were rough, the college was able to provide some food so I could continue to study.” 

The Pantry is located on the James Kerney Campus in room KC403. It is open Monday–Thursday 10:00 am–3:00 pm during the fall and spring semesters of college operations. To contact The Pantry, send an email to foodpantry@mccc.edu. If you are not an MCCC student but still need access to food, The Pantry offers a listing of local food sources here. The MCCC Pantry is always looking for donations, please use this link to donate

 

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Resuming School in a COVID World

By: Abby Duff

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen school closures across the country. The closures are taking their toll on student’s education, attentiveness, and mental health. Many schools have reopened their doors for the 2020-2021 school year, while others have chosen to go completely online, however that decision has been more difficult to make for schools like Sprout U School of the Arts in Trenton, NJ.

Sprout is an institution that values diversity and embracing culture, and the way they learn has been very hands-on, so the pandemic has been a major shock to their usual system. However, after getting a chance to speak with Danielle Winslow, known by her students as “Miss. Danielle,” the founder and principal of the school, it is clear that they are well-underway this school year, and are operating in the best, most normal way they possibly can.

At first, she said it was a challenge to develop an attainable AND affordable plan that could accommodate all of the students at school, as there is a wide age range stretching from preschool to high school. The majority of the students were unable to afford computers and headphones to support the new virtual learning environment, however generous community donors were able to provide them with the proper technology for classes. Because of this, students can learn online both at the school and remotely if need be. 

Another issue she encountered while developing the reopening plan was that many of the teachers resigned for fear of getting COVID. Because of this, she had to find an affordable, yet an engaging way for her students to continue their education both online and as normally as possible. Ms. Winslow was able to receive a grant from Pearson Online Academy, an online school program that provides both live and self-completed lessons. This program allows everyone to keep learning in person, as well as work from home on days off.

The students have class at the school every day except Wednesday. On Wednesdays, a cleaning service comes in and deep cleans the building to prevent the spread of COVID among the students and teachers at Sprout, and so far they (thankfully) have had no cases this year!

Even though the circumstances are different this year, Ms. Winslow has still found ways to allow her students to continue pursuing their artistic and creative passions. A few days week groups of students travel to dance lessons, and other days, an organization brings in instruments for the students to use and learn how to play at the school. They continue to perform plays and musicals, socially distanced of course, and the spirits are still high at Sprouts. I have been volunteering at Sprouts for the past few months, and have seen firsthand how optimistically and gracefully Miss Danielle and her students are handling this transition year! 

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TASK Tackles Quarantine

By: Zion Lee

It seems life has taken a sharp turn with the global pandemic brought by COVID-19. Yet, as time has gone on, society has proven to be able to adapt as the unfortunate circumstances of COVID-19 have become a new normal. Even in the face of adversity, some things never change: like needing to eat. Fortunately, one place in Mercer County comes to mind when thinking about a reliable spot to eat, The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK). Whilst COVID-19 has forced many businesses to close, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen has weathered the storm by adapting to these trying times to provide essentials to those in need.

As COVID-19 closed millions of businesses and changed the lives of billions of lives around the world, The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen has done its best to maintain a consistent meal schedule, serving thousands of patrons each week. While indoor dining was halted due to safety concerns, TASK has been able to provide almost 40,000 meals each month through packaged hot meals, prepared lunch and dinner, given out the front door of the facility. 

In addition to the hot meals, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen also has continued conducting social work help over the phone and has begun offering its beloved art and music programs again. In an interview with Jaime Parker of TASK, she shared that TASK’s focus is to “get everyone’s immediate needs met”. Now more than ever, it is the “perfect time for people to work towards their high school diploma” even despite the hardships at hand. And while “the digital divide is a big problem” for many patrons, TASK works to “close the gaps that exist” to this day. Individuals interested in receiving assistance from the case manager have been able to reach them over the phone and in the new tent patio at the TASK location to provide assistance to individuals who do not have cell phones with COVID-19 safety restrictions in mind. TASK has also been providing individuals with guidance on how to set up Zoom accounts for online interviews and even secure jobs with companies like “Amazon”. In addition, as the winter approaches, TASK is working with Homefront to create a warming tent for individuals who are looking for a place to stay when the months get colder.  

Even despite the threat of a global pandemic, it seems that the staff at TASK have been able to develop a plan that would ensure maintaining optimal service for their patrons. Anyone interested in receiving meals or social work help should head to TASK at 72 Escher St, Trenton, NJ 08609. The effective plans deployed by TASK such as providing packaged food, offering social services over the phone, and working to hold art classes have displayed the dedication and adaptability of the staff at TASK in the face of COVID-19.

 

Here is a link to TASK’S Official COVID Response

Shining a light on homelessness in and around Trenton, New Jersey.