In December, the Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) volunteers supported our local community at Rise Food Pantry & Thrift Store (133 Broad Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520) after a fire incident.
On the morning of November 20th, our Rise Pantry was at risk of going up in flames due to a nearby fire at the back of our building. Through the efforts of our local first responders and volunteers who were onsite, we were fortunate that it was spared.
Thank you to all of our local first responders who rushed to the scene to help save our Rise Pantry and its invaluable contents! We are immensely grateful for them, and for the outpouring of support from our community. Together, we Rise.
A Letter From Our Executive Director
Rise Pantry Needs Your Support
Dear Friends,
Nestled at the core of our community, Rise Pantry transcends being a mere food source; it represents a bastion of hope, compassion, and steadfast dedication to our neighbors. With the investment of nearly 13,000 volunteer hours yearly, we pour immense devotion into nourishing and aiding those among us who are most vulnerable. Our efforts manifest in tangible support, including holiday bags complete with blankets, 3,000 yearly personal care packages, and even specialized monthly pet provisions for 85 families, all ensuring that essential items reach approximately 879 families, encompassing 1,043 children and hundreds of USDA-registered households.
Faced with a recent crisis, our beloved pantry was at risk from a nearby fire, threatening our facility and the precious provisions stored within. The flames spared us by fortune and favorable winds, yet the incident has precipitated a dire need for funds to restock and improve our fire defense systems to avert future perils (one of our wonderful staff members attempted to battle the blaze with the few fire extinguishers that we had in an attempt to save our neighbor’s property before first responders arrived on scene).
We turn to you through our website, njrise.org/donate-now, to rally the spirit of community and generosity. Your contributions are pivotal in restoring our food supplies, personal hygiene products, baby essentials, and pet food. Beyond recovery from one of our busiest seasons yet, your support will bolster our infrastructure, ensuring we remain a dependable pillar for our elderly and families during crucial evening and emergency distributions.
Join us in fortifying the Rise Pantry, our community’s beacon of resilience. We are deeply grateful for your empathy and backing in these crucial moments.
With a grateful heart,
Leslie Koppel
Executive Director
GPA members (Kristine Wang, 12/3, 1 hr; Cici Yang, 12/3, 1 hr; Vivien Yang, 12/3, 1 hr; Cindy Chen, 12/3, 1 hr; Martin Zhao, 12/3, 1 hr; Owen Zhao, 12/3, 1 hr; Cassie Wang, 12/3, 3 hrs; Jeffrey Jiang, 12/3, 6 hrs; Adam Ding, 12/4, 1 hr) donated non-perishable foods, helped hand out and carry out food boxes, helped set up, guide clients through and clean up the food distribution. Shopping and helping others go hand in hand at Rise! Stop in for a few hours or spend the day-lots of volunteer opportunities to fit their skills and schedule. Lots of tasks to help keep the shop going.
