Hope in Action: April at Arm In Arm |
|
|
Throughout April, we celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Month
and the incredible impact of our volunteers.
| |
April was Volunteer Appreciation Month, giving us a special opportunity to celebrate the incredible people who make Arm In Arm’s work possible each and every day.
Throughout the month, our team visited volunteers across our locations — from our brick-and-mortar pantries to our Mobile Pantry sites throughout Mercer County — delivering meals, snacks, t-shirts, water bottles, and, most importantly, our heartfelt gratitude. While these small gestures could never fully reflect the depth of our appreciation, we wanted our volunteers to know just how much they mean to all of us.
Every month, nearly 300 volunteers help power Arm In Arm’s mission. They unpack boxes, pack bags, load vehicles, distribute food, greet neighbors, and bring warmth and dignity to every interaction. Quite simply, we could not do this work without them.
But beyond the hours they give and the tasks they complete, our volunteers embody what it truly means to be Arm In Arm. They show up for their neighbors with compassion, generosity, kindness, and a willingness to stand alongside others during difficult times. They help create welcoming spaces where community members feel seen, respected, and supported.
Whether volunteering once a month or several times each week, each person who gives their time becomes part of a larger community effort to ensure that families across Mercer County have access to food, stability, and hope.
To all of our volunteers: thank you for the energy, care, and humanity you bring to this work. We are endlessly grateful to stand Arm In Arm with you. To those who want to join them, please click here to sign up today.
| | |
Welcome to the team!
We’re excited to introduce Kimberly Mendez, our new Hunger Prevention Operations Specialist, and Karly Mendoza-Díaz, our new
Housing Stability Services Case Manager.
| |
Kimberly is excited to join Arm In Arm and holds a Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Management from Rider University. She brings several years of experience in nonprofit and social services settings.
Her professional background includes roles as a bilingual receptionist, court advocate, and case manager, where she has supported diverse communities with compassion, advocacy, and care. Most recently, she worked as a Bilingual Case Manager at Accompany Now, providing culturally and linguistically responsive services for unaccompanied children. In that role, she conducted assessments, developed case plans, ensured placement safety, and connected clients to essential resources.
Kimberly was born and raised in Guatemala and has spent most of her life in Trenton. She is passionate about social work and committed to empowering vulnerable populations by helping reduce systematic barriers. She is already collaborating with the team and contributing to Arm In Arm's mission.
| | |
Karly is a dedicated professional with experience in case management, community-based services, and policy-informed advocacy. In her role at Arm In Arm, she supports individuals and families navigating housing instability across Mercer County by assessing eligibility for services, coordinating resources, and developing plans that promote long-term stability. She also collaborates with community partners to ensure clients are connected to the support they need.
Karly earned her Master of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in United Nations and Global Policy Studies from Rutgers University–New Brunswick, graduating summa cum laude. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish from Rutgers, where she graduated magna cum laude as an SAS Honors Scholar. As a proud first-generation college graduate, her academic work has focused on human rights, migration policy, and strengthening protections for displaced communities.
Throughout her academic and professional journey, Karly has been committed to supporting vulnerable populations, particularly migrant children and families. Her experience working directly with individuals navigating complex systems has strengthened her ability to connect
clients to essential services and advocate for their needs.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Karly is passionate about serving diverse communities and
ensuring individuals feel supported and empowered. She is excited to join Arm In Arm and contribute to an organization dedicated to expanding access to housing stability and resources for individuals and families across Mercer County.
| | Upcoming Events You Won’t Want to Miss! | | Pantry Visits Up 20% — and More Neighbors Need Support | |
 | | Across Mercer County, more and more families are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of everyday life - from groceries and rent to utilities, transportation, and other basic necessities. As financial pressures continue to grow, Arm In Arm is seeing more neighbors than ever turning to us for food assistance and housing stabilization support. Pantry visits and food distributions are currently running more than 20% above prior-year levels, with demand increasing significantly in recent months. Last month, Arm In Arm served families through 6,000 pantry visits and deliveries-- the highest monthly level of service we have ever seen. At our Hudson Street Pantry in Trenton, monthly visits grew from 976 in January to 1,925 in April — nearly doubling in just a few months. Behind these numbers are real people and families: seniors living on fixed incomes, parents working hard to make ends meet, and neighbors facing unexpected hardships while trying to keep up with rising costs for groceries, rent, utilities, and transportation. Food prices have increased more than 19% since 2022, with grocery prices continuing to rise another 2.9% year-over-year, placing even greater strain on already tight household budgets.
As the need in our community continues to grow, we are deeply grateful for the volunteers, donors, partners, and supporters who make it possible for Arm In Arm to continue showing up for our neighbors with food, compassion, dignity, and hope.
| | |
Arm In Arm is looking for summer volunteers to help pack, sort, and distribute food to neighbors facing hunger across Mercer County.
2 and 3 hour shifts available
We welcome individuals as well as corporate teams, church groups, civic organizations, and other community groups looking to make a meaningful impact together.
Come stand Arm In Arm with your community.
click here https://arminarm.org/volunteer-opportunities/
| |
Get involved today:
Donate or Volunteer to support our local community.
| | Follow us on Social Media | | | | |
