Stories

Janine’s Story

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Janine is the proud owner of the small business she created, her bustling hair salon. Her hair salon did so well pre-pandemic that she consistently and faithfully made mortgage payments for 21 years on her home. Then, as COVID-19 began to impact our community, Janine's clients were affected, which in turn meant Janine was heavily impacted. Her salon became shuttered for the foreseeable future...
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Creating Stability in Times of Crisis

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AIA and HIP Launch Innovative Collaboration to Prevent Evictions and Stop Homelessness as COVID-19 Rages On It’s August, and for some, the beginning of a new month brings hope and the chance to start over. But rent is due the first of the month, and the looming threat of a big bill, coupled with job losses and hour restrictions due to the pandemic, can be devastating for many low-income families...
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The Meaning of Home

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Alfrieda's Story Just two weeks after Alfrieda and her family moved into their new home, schools shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a contract worker serving Trenton Public School students with disabilities, Alfrieda was not guaranteed a paycheck. The money quickly dried up. With no savings, bills to pay, and 6 mouths to feed, she was in dire straits. To make matters even worse, s...
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Beginning Action Steps Toward a Better Arm In Arm and a More Just Society

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Beginning Action Steps Toward a Better Arm In Arm and a More Just Society The senseless death of George Floyd and so many other Black Americans before him has again painfully illustrated the urgent need for a more just society in which all Americans stand against the systemic discrimination of Black Americans and all marginalized peoples.  Arm In Arm stands with all who have suffered racial ...
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A Letter from Our Executive Director: Reflections on a Difficult Week

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No matter the demands of the week—and there are often plenty in providing others enough food or rental assistance or help finding a job—our staff meetings are generally filled with enthusiasm and joy. The Arm In Arm team of staff and volunteers are a diverse group of extraordinarily dedicated people who simply find ways to overcome obstacles and continue caring for people in need. But last week...
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Derrick’s Story

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When COVID-19 came to our community, Arm In Arm was quick to adapt and provide our food services through home delivery. As we continued to see rising numbers of families in need of support, we knew our team would have to expand in response. We are thankful to welcome Derrick, who brings with him 14 years of food service from Princeton University. As a Delivery Specialist here at Arm In Arm, Derric...
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Phil’s Story

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Volunteering at the Hanover Street Pantry during the pandemic is quite different. While I dearly miss being able to greet and serve the families of the community, I am uplifted by the spirit of the staff and fellow volunteers at the pantry working with a new sense of urgency. Our community is faced with unprecedented need and Arm In Arm's staff and volunteers are trying to do our part by packing g...
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Brenda’s Story

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Brenda grabs a McCaffrey’s grocery bag and doubles it up with a second. This grocery supply she is gathering for a family will be heavy, and she doesn’t want the bag to break. She reaches out for a can of tuna, jars of peanut butter, a container of shelf-stable milk. She refills crates around her stocking station with rice, pasta, canned vegetables and fruit, and every other item she needs to fill...
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Amy’s Story

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My son and I were glad to have the opportunity to pitch in by delivering groceries from the Hanover Street pantry. Arm In Arm is functioning like a well-oiled machine, and when we arrived to pick up the groceries, they were already neatly packed, two bags per location, with a list of addresses and even a map to follow. It was so easy! I was also very happy to see that the food we were delivering w...
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Cecilia’s Story

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“One of the things I love about our Princeton community is the diversity,” said Cecilia Avila, coordinator of Arm In Arm’s Princeton pantry. “But it is hard to see some people being hurt by this crisis more than others. Our undocumented neighbors are especially hurting right now.”  While most people experiencing the pain of layoffs and furloughs resulting from COVID-19 have the opportunity to a...
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