Each January, the MEND team typically focuses on goal setting for the year.

While you may have heard of “OKRs” (Objectives & Key Results), we prefer to refer to them as “OKRAs,” or “Objectives & Key Results, for Awesomeness!”

Regardless of the name, your commitment to this work has inspired some ambitious plans for this year, which we will share with you once they are finalized.

As each day brings new headlines and challenges, your support keeps us focused and ready to tackle the year ahead.

Thank you for your continued investment in this work, and, as always, please reach out if you’d like to connect!

Regards,
Robin Peacock
Executive Director

P.S. – Hungry for more okra knowledge? Here’s a little extra info on the produce powerhouse!

The Blessed Sacrament Food Pantry has served Newark with compassion since 1984.

Celebrating 40 years, food pantry manager Helen Brooks recalls its early days, fundraising on Broad Street, and the pantry’s journey to becoming a vital community resource.

The pantry thrives with dedicated volunteers, many retired and eager to give back. Helen values MEND’s support in stocking food and essentials like diapers.

Despite challenges, she dreams of expanding into a larger, more organized space, crediting MEND and community support for making their mission possible.

At Blessed Sacrament, love for clients drives everything. Open four times a month, the pantry serves mostly young families with respect and dignity.

Helen’s team creates a welcoming space with client-choice shopping and multilingual volunteers and signage. The pantry has grown from humble beginnings to supporting over 800 clients monthly!

Do you want to know more? Check out this infographic from earlier this year

and stay tuned for MEND’s full Impact Report this summer.

The Maplewood Chili Cookoff returns on February 23, 2025, at The Woodland, from 2:00 – 5:30 PM. Enjoy chili tasting, voting, and crowning a champion – with all proceeds benefitting MEND! Tickets go on sale February 1st.

The NJ Office of the Food Advocate (OFSA) has shared two key resources to help community members navigate changes arising from recently-issued Executive Orders:

In addition to sharing these resources widely, MEND is regularly communicating with community leaders about trends they are seeing, as well as training opportunities, as needed.

The crazy folks who bring you 10 days of 10Ks (coming back on July 13th, 2025!) are hosting the One Mile Fox this Saturday: just one day and just one mile – with 25% of all proceeds going to MEND!

This chip-timed race is fun, healthy, family-friendly, and walker-friendly. The first heat starts at 10:00 am at the Springfield Avenue Gazebo, 1662 Springfield Ave., Maplewood, NJ, 07040.

MEND is thrilled to welcome Angel Williams as its new Manager of Communications!

A proud Rutgers-Newark graduate, Angel previously worked at Rutgers as a Marketing and Communications Specialist.

She is passionate about amplifying stories of resilience and hope within our community, and she looks forward to collaborating with MEND’s community partners, volunteers, and supporters to expand impact and reach.

MEND is in the process of switching to a new volunteer management platform. While it’s taking longer than anticipated, it should ultimately make your volunteer sign up experience much smoother! Thanks for your patience!  

Existing volunteers: Email info@mendnj.org for any assistance with your volunteer shift.

MEND’s Advisory Board of food pantry managers kicked off 2025 with their Annual Prayer Service, a 30+ year old tradition! This service is a reflective and inclusive gathering open to all, regardless of religious or spiritual beliefs, and the theme was, “The Year of Hope and Blessings!”

February is National Grapefruit Month!

Did you know…

Why did the grapefruit go out with the prune?