Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK)
72 1/2 Escher Street
Trenton, NJ 08609

Telephone: (609) 695-5456
Fax: (609) 695-1225
Contact: Jaime Parker
E-mail: jparker@trentonsoupkitchen.org
Website: www.trentonsoupkitchen.org

Organization Description and Mission

The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) is a charitable, non-religious, non-profit organization whose mission is to respond to the needs of hungry people in the Trenton area. It strives to:

• Provide meals to all those who are hungry; 
• Provide services to encourage self-sufficiency and improve quality of life; 
• Inform the wider community of the needs of the hungry; 
• Advocate for resources to meet these needs.

TASK depends almost entirely on the help of dedicated volunteers and generous financial support from individuals, local businesses, and community organizations. Its activities are all directed towards helping patrons achieve healthier lifestyles, increased self-esteem, and self-sufficiency. To this end, TASK and agencies using our facility provide a wide array of social, community, and health services. In addition to serving more than 3,000 nutritious meals per week, these services include:

• Social and Legal Services: Assistance with job searches, legal counseling and case management regarding disabilities, welfare, and housing, and food stamp certification and re-certification;
• Health Services : Monthly on-site services provided by Henry J. Austin Health Center, St. Francis Medical Van and other health care providers;
• Telephone and Internet Services: Access to telephones and the internet for information and email.

TASK also offers a number of free programs to patrons:

• Adult Education: One-on-one tutoring in basic literacy, math and preparation for the GED exam. Students set and work toward their own goals with the guidance and assistance of the staff coordinator and volunteer tutors.
• Computer Center: TASK’s Computer Center is equipped with ten computers for patron use. All of these computers are connected to the Internet, and a full-time volunteer is always on-hand to answer questions and give assistance. TASK offers structured computer classes in Microsoft Office Basics and computer hardware, as well as one-on-one tutoring in computer skills.
• Arts and Ideas: This program includes a variety of creative activities for TASK patrons of all ages.  Materials for drawing, painting, collage, and three-dimensional construction are always available, as are materials for crafts such as beading, knitting, and flower arranging. Original prose and poetry are often combined with the artwork. 
• Artists’ Cooperative: The A-TEAM Artists’ Cooperative was formed in 2001 by a small group of committed adult artists who attended the Arts and Ideas Program on a regular basis. They wanted to work together to promote their artwork and encourage other TASK patrons to participate in creative activities. Since founding the A-TEAM, the artists have visited several museums and galleries, displayed their artwork at TASK in an ever-expanding permanent exhibit, and have had group and individual shows at local galleries and churches.
• Volunteer Opportunities:  TASK is always looking for students to work with them on grant writing, fundraising, and surveying donors. The best way to volunteer is on a regular, scheduled basis, but the organization welcomes all volunteer work.
  

Community and Population Served by the Organization

The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, founded in 1982 by a small group of individuals from local churches and service organizations, serves the truly needy people of Trenton.

Research Questions

• TASK would like a student to identify areas of need for its services that the organization may have missed in the Trenton/greater Trenton community, highlighting the potential for collaboration with any community organization, including churches.

• How does the community get information about nonprofits? The student would need to design a survey instrument.  Should nonprofits invest in regional newspapers, local newspapers, billboard, magazine, radio, attendance at community events, cable-tv, etc. to improve visibility in the community and increase fundraising?  What works in terms of building community visibility?

• TASK has a well-established and growing donor base and is interested in finding out more about what initially attracted them to TASK and what they like and don’t like about our services. Students could conduct surveys, interviews and/or focus groups in order to help TASK learn more about our donors.

• In line with the previous question, in learning more about their donor population, TASK would like to know how characteristics of online donors versus donors by check differ. What are the specific characteristic trends in each group, and why are they attracted to donate through these different venues?

• Until now, TASK has focused its services on the city of Trenton.  However, TASK would like to know whether the organization should expand to serve the greater Trenton area.  Hamilton, Hightstown, and other nearby areas potentially need help feeding the hungry.  To help us make this decision, a student should analyze how to cover costs involved.  Seeking government funding would lead to questions about patron eligibility, such that services could no longer be anonymous.  Because TASK has pledged to preserve the anonymity of its patrons, the organization currently relies on individual donations and corporations for financial assistance.  Will individual donations alone support an expansion into greater Trenton? 

• TASK is willing to accommodate students in forming a research question to suit personal interests, although TASK cannot intrude on the privacy of its patrons.  TASK would help a student to answer broad research questions related to the work of the organization.

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