Mercer Street Friends

06/19/2026

Last week, Senator Shirley K. Turner visited B.G. Gregory Elementary School, a Mercer Street Friends Community School, for her 11th Annual Book Fair, bringing the joy of reading directly to students!

As this year’s selected recipient school, every student had the opportunity to choose 10 books to take home for summer reading, helping keep literacy skills strong all season long. 📚😎

The day also featured guest readers, student book projects, and meaningful conversations with Senator Turner and Mayor Gusciora about overcoming challenges and reaching goals. Thank you, Senator Turner, for your continued investment in Trenton’s children and for inspiring a lifelong love of reading.

06/18/2026

to our Reading Intervention celebration, where we honored our incredible students and the big leaps they made in reading and literacy this school year! 📚 We’re “turning the page” on another successful year, and we’ve already “bookmarked” September when the story continues and new “chapters” begin to unfold!

Congratulations on another successful school year to our reading superstars! 💫🎉

🎥 Five Story Media

06/17/2026

Have you heard?! Our community partner, Arm In Arm, is hosting a No-Cost Farmers Market & Resource Fair on Saturday, June 20, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. in !

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with representatives from local community organizations, learn about available resources, and shop for fresh, delicious produce – all at no cost. We hope to see you there! 🍎🥦🥕

You're Invited! No-Cost Farmers Market & Resource Fair, Sponsored by Liquid Church Saturday, June 20th, 2026, 9:00am - 11:00am, Mill One , 1 N. Johnston Ave., Hamilton, NJ 08609. arminarm.org ~ Phone: 609-396-9355

06/16/2026

Summer Bridge is one of Mercer Street Friends’ most important programs, serving more than 300 students each summer. 😎📚 It helps close learning gaps between school years and supports continued academic growth for the students who need it most.

As part of our Community Schools Initiative, we are able to offer Summer Bridge at no cost to families or school districts. We fully fund the program, covering teachers and staff, transportation, field trips, and daily meals.

But we can’t do it without your support! With your generosity, we can continue this critical work and expand opportunities for local students. 💙 Help keep Summer Bridge strong this year – donate today: https://bit.ly/4aRIcRQ

06/12/2026

Yesterday, Mercer Street Friends CEO Bernie Flynn was honored with a ceremonial resolution by the New Jersey General Assembly, recognizing his exceptional leadership and dedicated service to and the State of New Jersey.

Throughout his tenure, Bernie has remained deeply committed to strengthening communities, expanding access to critical resources, and creating opportunities that help our neighbors thrive. His vision, dedication, and tireless advocacy continue to make a meaningful and lasting impact across the region.

We are incredibly proud of Bernie and grateful for all he has done for the communities we serve. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Bernie!

Special thanks to Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Assemblyman Anthony S. Verrelli for recognizing Bernie with this honor.

06/10/2026

We are overjoyed by the way our community showed up for the Sixth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration! The room was filled with celebration, connection, and, most importantly, an overwhelming sense of hope.

Thank you to everyone who attended and sponsored this year’s event. And congratulations to our honorees – we are grateful for your leadership and know you will continue making an extraordinary impact across !

To read more about the event, visit: https://mercerstreetfriends.org/leadership-and-service-take-center-stage/

06/09/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the sponsors of our Sixth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration! Your generosity and partnership make this event possible and help advance our mission throughout the year. Together, we are building stronger communities through food, family, and education services across . 💙🎉

06/08/2026

We can’t wait to see our community TOMORROW at 5:00 PM for the Sixth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration!

We’re looking forward to welcoming our community to our warehouse in for an evening filled with celebration, recognition, and meaningful connection. 💙🎉 See you there!

🔗 https://mercerstreetfriends.org/leadership-awards-celebration/

06/06/2026

Food insecurity is rising across . Every day, more families, seniors, and first-time visitors are turning to food pantries and community resources for support, stretching our emergency food system beyond capacity.

Because of your generosity, we can continue showing up for our neighbors when they need us most. Donate. Volunteer. Share a message of support. However you give, your community needs you now. 👉 https://mercerstreetfriends.org/ways-to-give/

06/05/2026

: Students in our Community Schools celebrated a major milestone last month at the Reading Intervention Celebration! 📚🎉

Students, families, teachers, MSF staff, Mercer County elected officials, and representatives from the New Jersey Department of Education came together to recognize students who successfully completed the 2025–26 program year – all of whom are now reading on or above grade level!

Literacy opens doors to opportunity both inside and outside the classroom and helps set students up for lifelong learning. We are so proud of all they have accomplished.

Read more in the Trenton Journal: https://trentonjournal.com/mercer-street-friends-celebrates-reading-intervention-students-for-academic-growth-and-literacy-achievements/