Tag Archives: Tori Duym

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ArtsHealth Mercer Offers Affordable Opportunities to Benefit Mental Health

By Tori Duym

ArtsHealth Mercer, a coalition of arts and culture based organizations in the Mercer County area, hosts several events per week for five dollars and under.

One of their most popular hosting locations is West Windsor Arts, where Aylin Green serves as executive director. In an interview with Green, who has a background in art and education, she revealed that ArtsMercer was launched as a coalition in 2023.

As Green stated, through this network of organizations, individuals throughout Mercer county are given the opportunity to interact and make connections with new people, while exploring their creativity. The tie between mental health and art is a prominent one that Green said she has seen “through many conversations and real life accounts,” both at their events and in her role as a teacher.

According to the ArtsHealth Mercer website, the several organizations included in their coalition host events year-round as a part of their mission to improve mental health through an artistic outlet. Although these events are year-round, there is a special spotlight on the month of November, with a few additional events “promoting health and healing,” since November is Arts & Health month.

When asked about the impact of art on mental health in the community, Green shared a story about an event where youth had the chance to explore several different mediums of art, and one young teenager whose entire demeanor changed when she began letting herself have artistic freedom.

“As soon as she got some clay in her hands, she opened up and she brightened up and I just saw this complete switch,” Green said.

She described this moment as one of her favorite memories from one of the countless events that she has attended.

Green also shared that she holds a personal connection to art and has witnessed the correlation between creativity and mental health improvement firsthand.

“I know what it means for me as an individual, it’s such an important part of my life, but through the course of my life,” Green said. “I have also gotten to see how it’s impacted others over time as well.”

She also explained that this coalition has created a more widespread opportunity for the Mercer County community to explore this outlet, all in an accessible and affordable way. The spaces provided by ArtsHealth Mercer accommodate events of all sizes and welcomes groups both large and small.

ArtsHealth Mercer offers a wide variety of events, ranging from ballet dancing and knitting to drawing and poetry. Some programs are ongoing, happening monthly or several times a month. One such program is Dancing in The Dark, which Green described as a “safe space for everybody and every body to dance.” 

The lights are turned low and people are free to dance however they may want to, without the fear of judgment. This event costs five dollars and occurs at least once a month. Green shared that this is one her favorite events to attend and it seems to be popular with the community.

ArtsHealth Mercer offers opportunities across the community at very affordable or no cost. These events showcase the benefits of mental health improvements seen by members of the coalition first-hand. Individuals of all ages are welcomed across the several events offered monthly.

Certain events require a registration prior to the start of the event, which can be found on the ArtsHealth Mercer website. The “Calendar” tab provides more information on each event, along with a full list of upcoming events.

“Because of the work that we do creating arts programs for the community, we regularly hear stories from them about what the arts have meant for them in their lives,” Green said.

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Voting is Your Right, Use Your Voice

By Tori Duym 

For many people, the question of “Am I allowed to vote?” is at the forefront of their minds, especially in a presidential election year.

People with a criminal record  or unhoused individuals may not be made aware of their rights and simply assume that they do not have any when it comes to voting. However, this is not true. 

Individuals who are currently incarcerated for any misdemeanor charges are still able to cast their vote from the facility that they are in. It is only if someone were convicted of a felony that they lose the opportunity to vote, only while actively incarcerated. 

Thanks to current legislation following the advocacy of many organizations, including League of Women’s Voters, at the national, state and local levels, there has been a shift for a more inclusive view on voting rights. Directly following their release from incarceration, citizens gain their right to vote once again. The only stipulation to this is that they must re-register, but this is made an easy process with the help of voting rights groups. 

Unhoused citizens or those without a permanent address also are entitled to their right to vote. Several organizations including Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Rescue Mission, and local churches or pantries will allow individuals to use their address to register with and receive mail at. Any address will work, as long as it is not a P.O. Box. 

Due to the increased presence and advocacy of organizations like the Hopewell Valley Division of LWV and community spaces that offer time for them to come in, Mercer County is becoming more informed about making their voices heard. These organizations focus on presenting people who may be unaware of if or how they can vote or register, with information on how to do so. 

LWV began at the national level in 1920, originally as an activism group, fighting to give women the right to vote, and eventually developing into a group to promote voting for all. Men and women alike are now a part of this organization and they provide “Voters Services” all over the country. 

LWV is a nonpartisan organization that works independently on the local level for the most part, besides an occasional partnership with small nonpartisan civic group. However, on the national level addressing issues such as the environment, education, health issues or voting rights, many partnerships are possible. 

Joann Held, president and coordinator of the Hopewell Valley League, has been in her position for about 20 years, and been with the organization for about 40. This local chapter of LWV has a small but active membership that are able to provide “Voters Services” not only during presidential election years, but every year. 

Held also pointed out that “everyone knows this year is a Presidential election, but there are other things on the ballot as well, like Senate elections and local officials as well”. LWV creates an informational guide on local officials called Know Your Valley, which can be helpful for that extra education on how to fill out a ballot in its entirety. 

LWV’s Hopewell Valley Division also makes sure voters are educated on the primary elections as well, as Held says “We have a card that explains Primaries, because a lot of people don’t vote in a Primary…you really do need to give them some information so they know how to go about it.”

LWV attends community events like Harvest Fair, and goes to community based spaces like local coffee shops, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and Pennington Farmers Market to help people learn their rights, handout information cards and packets, and help people check if they are registered or help them register. 

As of recently, the LWV has started attending naturalization ceremonies in Trenton as well and helping eager new citizens register to vote.

 “That has been a really wonderful experience…because they know they really want to participate in our civic environment,” Held said. 

According to Held, the most important thing to do when it comes to election time is to “make a plan to vote,” and not just go in blindly. 

She suggests asking for help from organizations such as the LWV and planning out how, when, and where you will be voting. Ways to vote include early in-person voting, mail-in ballots, or in-person voting on Election Day. 

As Held emphasized, it is important for people to be made aware of their rights so that they can have a say in who they want to represent their country, based on the policies that align with their personal views. 

If you are unaware of your voting rights, or have questions about the process of voting, visit the Hopewell Valley Division League of Women’s Voters website https://hopewellvalleylwv.org, or check nj.gov with the keyword “voting.”

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Accessibility of Mental Health Support Increased for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

By Tori Duym

In recent times, mental health concerns have grown to be a central focus of society. According to Mental Health America, about 19.86% of people are experiencing some form of mental health battle. Many individuals struggle in silence simply because they do not have access to the proper resources for treatment. Whether it be for financial reasons or lack of information, this can be avoided.

In May 2023,  Gov. Phil Murphy implemented a bill supporting unhoused individuals receiving free and accessible mental health care. Several government officials, such as the Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver and Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman have commented positively on this legislation as they believe mental health should be prioritized for all. 

The New Jersey state government partnered with the NJ Coalition for Ending Homelessness in the process of creating this legislation.

“This legislation is an important step in the right direction to provide the wraparound services people experiencing homelessness throughout our state so desperately need,” CEO Connie Mercer said in an article from the Department of Human Services.

Additionally, Mercer County has a mental health division that is committed to serving the community and offering help. This division is another element that works hand-in-hand with the implementation of Murphy’s bill. They can help unhoused individuals easily navigate these new resources and also address the concern of being able to afford the services.

The Division of Mental Health is a county-funded resource, and it plays a role in assisting to enforce the new bill as well, making sure that everyone in need is receiving access to essential mental health resources.

The Division of Mental Health’s mailing address can be found at 640 S. Broad Street in Trenton, NJ, P.O. Box 8068. Michele Madiou, director of mental health for the division, can be reached at mmadiou@mercercounty.org. The DMH can be reached at 609-989-6574. 

Several emergency shelters in the area including Rescue Mission and others in Mercer County now offer free mental health support for individuals experiencing homelessness. If you or someone you know is in need of support, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of these resources as New Jersey is now required to provide access to mental health support, thanks to the A-4755 bill.

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Hamilton Elks Lodge Strives to Provide for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness

By Tori Duym

On Feb. 7, the Hamilton Elks Lodge hosted an event to raise money and supplies for veterans experiencing homelessness as they help place them in apartments and homes, for the second year in a row. This event was held in conjunction with Business Networking International (BNI) as they work closely with the cause of housing veterans and providing them with the essentials needed to live comfortably. The event used a clever title, “3 hours 2 support 1 homeless veteran at a time,” getting their message across and explaining the event all in one. 

Rose Romaine, the head coordinator of this event through the Elks Lodge, who also has a connection to BNI, poured her heart and soul into organizing such a wonderful night to provide for a worthy cause. Joe Glover, president of the Elks Lodge, expressed his gratitude for all of the hard work Romaine put into the planning and execution of this event. 

“All of the credit goes to Rose, I’m just here to support and help provide veterans with the support they need,” Glover said.

Glover also expressed his gratitude for all of the volunteers and their hard work from everyone it took to make this event possible. He is very passionate about helping the homeless veteran community.

When speaking with Romaine, she provided information as to what goes into the Welcome Home packages that are provided to the veterans. She explained that each package comes with items like furniture, plates, bowls, silverware, bedding and some appliances. Their goal for the night was to raise a minimum of “$7,501, because we did $7,500 last year. . . but I would love to see us raise $10,000 this year.” All funds go directly towards buying “welcome home” packages for veterans experiencing homelessness. 

Business Networking International Area Director for Mercer County, Shawn Donelson, talked passionately about their co-sponsorship of the event, along with BNI’s annual golf tournament, to raise money for the same goal. He explained that this event raised the most money out of all of their events for the cause. 

Donelson emphasizes the importance of providing these welcome home kits to veterans, as he says “When a homeless veteran gets placed into a home, there are a lot of necessities that they need, including things like a bed, furniture, and more.” Welcome home kits include a wide variety of items,with the goal of raising enough money and donations to provide at least two full kits, with their future events continuing to provide more. 

During a conversation with Navy veteran Hank Elmer, he explained the impact of the event from his perspective. He currently serves as the committee chair of veterans, stating that after his tough return home from service, the Elks Lodge “works very hard to make sure veterans now won’t be treated the same way.”

Elmer also explained that the Elks Lodge works closely with the Veterans Association in order to place veterans in small homes or apartments. This process is possible for veterans who have served two years of active duty service and received an honorable discharge. There has been a significant increase in the number of veterans receiving assistance to find a home from last year to this year. According to Elmer, the amount has gone from approximately 12 veterans a month to over 30 now. 

The Elks Lodge has branches all over New Jersey, holding several annual events for veterans and to raise money for those who currently are experiencing homelessness. One of the most popular events, the Jim Hall Memorial Picnic, is held annually in June at the Brick Township Elks Lodge, which Elmer said has a large turnout each year. 

There are many opportunities to get involved or to receive assistance from the Elks Lodge in collaboration with companies such as BNI and other organizations like the Veterans Association. 

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Fran’s Pantry Distributes Resources at HomeFront

By Tori Duym

Local Mercer County shelter and resource center HomeFront continues providing necessities to individuals experiencing homelessness. Fran’s Pantry offers ample opportunities to get supplies such as food and hygiene products for no cost. 

The pantry is located in Lawrenceville and is open on Monday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Fran’s Pantry was opened as a result of the pandemic and is named after a major contributor and volunteer at HomeFront. It has proven to be a huge success, as it is beloved by many community members. The pantry provides countless opportunities for individuals who may lack access to food or hygiene products otherwise. 

According to Dylan O’Neill, HomeFront’s resource network director, the organization is on the lower end of the spectrum as far as requirements in order to receive access to the products and services. No documentation is needed; simply any type of photo ID is acceptable as a new client. Filling out a few forms to help better understand each individual’s unique needs is also requested upon first access to Fran’s Pantry. Clients are able to receive goods from the pantry starting that same day after filling out the forms. 

Fran’s Pantry reaches about 150 to 200 individuals per day, according to O’Neill, based on the data gathered by staff and volunteers. “Our pantry processes a client every five to eight minutes,” O’Neill continues. Ultimately, the pantry provides food for 5,000 to 7,000 individuals monthly.

Food is not the only resource available to those who may need to utilize Fran’s Pantry. Diapers, feminine hygiene products, backpacks, bedding, kitchen supplies and even furniture are often distributed to families or individuals as well. 

With the holidays approaching, HomeFront is kicking their efforts into high gear. Their annual Thanksgiving drive provides a turkey dinner to 300-400 families, as well as their Christmas drive to provide gifts for as many families as possible. HomeFront works with parents and provides two gifts up to $75 dollar value for each child in the family for Christmas.

While the language barrier has become a growing concern, Fran’s Pantry is equipped with several bilingual volunteers. According to O’Neill, only about 10% of clients speak English, making these staff members’ skills extremely useful. 

The pantry has received over 2.6 million dollars in donations over the past year and was able to distribute them throughout the community to those in need. HomeFront’s mission is to “pull families out of the cycle of poverty,” O’Neill said, as Fran’s Pantry has made strides toward accomplishing this goal. 

Dylan O’Neill touched upon the subject of decreasing resources as time passes and COVID-19 fades into the past. The governmental benefits are ceasing to continue, so HomeFront is working around the clock to provide all of the resources needed for individuals in the Mercer County community. Poverty has become a serious issue according to O’Neill, but they are working very hard to turn this around and support all community members.

Fran’s Pantry has grown into an extremely useful resource for the community. Contact HomeFront at homefront@homefrontnj.org or (609) 989-9417 with any questions or if you or anyone you know may benefit from their resources.