At the start of 2026, County Executive Dan Benson reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fighting against hunger by stating, “The disruption to SNAP benefits caused by the Federal Government shutdown this Fall was a stark reminder that many of our residents struggle with food insecurity,” said Benson. “We’ve made it a top priority of our administration that no family in Mercer should go hungry, and during the past year we’ve taken significant steps which leave us better prepared to face the daunting challenges that lie ahead.”
At Arm In Arm we see the reality of this struggle every day. As our neighbors in need turn to us for support, we are grateful to County Executive Dan Benson, the Board of County Commissioners, and the Mercer County Office of Food Security for their strong partnership and the innovation made possible through the critical resources they provide.
In 2025, the Office of Food Security awarded over $200,000 in funds through its Food Security Innovation Pilot Grant. This grant funding was designated to drive client centered approaches to improve food access, especially in food deserts. Arm In Arm was awarded funding to pilot expanded hours at our Hudson Street Pantry, located in a food desert neighborhood in Trenton. By listening to families who could not visit us on weekdays, we expanded our hours to open on Saturday per month beginning in August 2025. On our first Saturday open we provided food to 11 families. We now reach over 100 households each month — families who otherwise would not have access to the fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, dairy and shelf-stable staples available at our food pantry.
Together, with our County partners, we are committed to ensuring equitable access to healthy food, ensuring every Mercer County family has the nourishment they need to thrive. We look forward to strengthening the impact of this pilot grant in the year ahead.