Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK)

TASK is pleased to be partnering with BoardWalk Consulting in the search for our next Chief Executive Officer. Learn more about this opportunity in the Leadership Profile below or at this link: https://lnkd.in/emxgkMst Interested candidates can reach out to BoardWalk Consulting for more information.

In June, TASK hosted its most recent graduation ceremony to honor students from our culinary academy and GED programs. Nine students in all were celebrated by friends, family, volunteers and TASK staff. TASK CEO Joyce Campbell and COO Paul Jensen addressed the group and students were awarded with their graduation certificates during the ceremony. Graduates from Emilio's Culinary Academy, who have since gone on to work at places like Sodexo and Capital Health, received knife kits from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Washington Crossing's Rollie Rahn Memorial Fund. A member of the congregation shared a moving tribute to Rollie, whose passion was culinary education. Attendees were treated to a delicious buffet dinner, prepared by the TASK kitchen, including Chateaubriand and Salmon Wellington. A beautiful cake, donated by Eet Gud Bakery, was a hit with the crowd! Please join us in congratulating the recent graduates! We look forward to seeing all that you will accomplish!

Through August 25, Grounds For Sculpture will be featuring an indoor art exhibition curated by TASK and the Trenton Community A-Team. Entitled "Philotechnic Transformation," the exhibition spotlights the positive effect that creating art can have on people’s lives. The exhibition is located in GFS’ Education Gallery, in the Seward Johnson Center for the Arts. Tickets are available on the GFS website. An opening reception for the exhibition will be held this Friday, July 12, at 6:30pm. There is no cost to attend. Guests will enjoy light refreshments, acoustic music and poetry readings. For many years, the creative arts program at TASK has been a connection point for people, enriching lives through visual, written and performing arts. “We are delighted to feature the work of these talented artists this summer at Grounds For Sculpture,” shares Julio Badel, Director of Education and Community Engagement at GFS. “Their artwork showcases the importance of self-expression and the transformative power of art.” TASK, TCAT and GFS have been partnering together since 2022. With help from The DINA WIND ART FOUNDATION, GFS has offered TASK artists the opportunity to participate in high-level art classes at no cost. This program has given space for the artists to develop their technical skills and creative expression. “This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for our artists,” says Frank Lettieri, Jr., Creative Arts Specialist for TASK. “Grounds For Sculpture is a world-class cultural destination that displays works from around the world. We are excited that our artists will be able to share their talents in such an inspiring place.” Adds Tony Cantanese, Director of TCAT’s Art Studio, “Our artists have visited the grounds many times and are honored to be displayed in the same building where so many great artists have been featured.” TASK’s creative arts program is made possible, in part, by the Mercer County Administration Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the Mercer County Board of Chosen Commissioners and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Pictured here: "Inner City" by Emery Williams

A MESSAGE FROM JOYCE CAMPBELL, CEO Given the recent launch of our food truck, I can’t help but think a lot about driving these days: how we plan our route; the stops we make along the way; the joy we feel when we arrive at our destination. For the past eight years, it has been the highest privilege to be in the driver’s seat at TASK. Now, it is my turn to hand the wheel over to someone new. I have made the decision to retire at the end of 2024. When the opportunity at TASK came about, it was a natural fit. I was already deeply invested in the people of Trenton and keenly aware of the obstacles people encounter on the path to self-sufficiency. In 2016, I was honored to step into the CEO role here at TASK. It has always my goal to provide the most caring, comprehensive services to the people in our community who needed our help. The decision to retire was not easy, but it was one that I made some time ago, feeling strongly that I wanted to give TASK the time to plan and prepare for a smooth transition. Since then, trustees, staff and patrons have all been engaged to help ensure that the organization has the tools and resources it needs to continue to do the great work it’s been doing for 42 years. I am more confident than ever that TASK is prepared to meet the growing, ever-evolving needs of our community. My journey at TASK has involved many surprising detours. I could never have predicted I would be leading this organization through a global pandemic, and no one could have imagined how COVID-19 would accelerate an unprecedented rise in demand for the programs and services we offer. Despite it all, TASK has navigated this road of twists and turns and met the challenges head-on with creativity, commitment and a can-do spirit that has never waned. I’m so proud, and will continue to champion TASK’s good work. I will have many more opportunities over the next few months to thank you all for the incredible work you have done to turn hunger into hope. For now, please know that I am very grateful to have served this incredible organization. I look forward to continuing to help you and TASK put hunger in the rearview mirror, permanently. With gratitude, Joyce

Joyce Campbell, TASK CEO, has announced her intention to retire from the organization at the end of 2024. She has led the organization for the past eight years, a period marked by unprecedented growth in the need for TASK’s services. “I cannot imagine a more fulfilling role,” said Campbell. “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity. The decision to retire was not easy, but the time was right for this transition. I am more confident than ever that TASK is prepared to meet the growing, ever-evolving needs of our community.” Prior to TASK, Campbell had extensive experience as a social worker, advocate and leader at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, moving from frontline provider to overseeing the agency’s government relations and external affairs. She has also served on the boards of agencies like the Anti-Poverty Network of NJ, the NJ Coalition to End Homelessness, NJ SHARES and NAMI Mercer. Campbell’s leadership at TASK has been punctuated with no shortage of extraordinary events, including a global pandemic that led to rapid, significant growth at the soup kitchen. Today, TASK is preparing and serving some 10,000 meals per week, more than double the pre-pandemic amount. Under her leadership, TASK has also launched a variety of bold new initiatives. This year, TASK launched its first food truck, which is already serving more than 800 meals per week to some of the most vulnerable across the Capital City. Campbell also oversaw the expansion of TASK’s community meal site program, through which meals are delivered and served at 40 sites across Greater Mercer County. This growing demand has resulted in plans to increase meal production by 30% over the next year. Campbell’s impact on TASK goes far beyond the rising meal counts. In 2021, TASK obtained funding to serve as the lead agency in Mercer County providing identification services. Campbell has also championed TASK’s culinary training program and workforce development services. A search committee, led by TASK Board member Eleanor Horne, is working with consultant Michelle Hall of BoardWalk Consulting to launch a thorough and thoughtful search for TASK’s next CEO.

Thank you CBS Philadelphia, wakisha bailey and Visit Philadelphia for featuring TASK's food truck on your "Spreading the Love" series this week! https://lnkd.in/eZ5FK2zk In just the past three months since its launch, TASK's mobile meals program is already serving more than 800 people each week across Trenton. As we add more stops to our route and reach more people with nourishing, healthy meals, we are so grateful for the continued support of this innovative, impactful project. More meals, more places. That's the goal! **YOU CAN HELP!** By making a donation to TASK today, you can increase access to TASK's freshly-prepared, signature meals for hundreds more people across the community. Every dollar raised goes to help put more meals into the hands of families, children and seniors throughout the Trenton area. Visit https://lnkd.in/ecqQReEZ to make a gift today.

Amazing examples of local business leaders serving as community leaders! Thank you Axiom REACH Foundation!

We are privileged to work with so many committed, forward-thinking partners in the fight against hunger!

Congratulations to all of these distinguished women. We are so pleased to help recognize your amazing contributions!