JOHN O WILSON HAMILTON TOWNSHIP NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER INC

THE CENTER OFFERS A WIDE-ARRAY OF SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO AID LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES INCLUDING EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, A FOOD PANTRY, COMPUTER LAB, HEALTH SCREENING/CLINICS, AND MORE. THE CENTER IS ALSO THE HOOME OF MANY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, SOCIAL AND CIVIC GROUPS INCLUDING THE GATEWAY COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP -EARLY HEAD START/HEAD START (GATEWAY HEAD START), MERCER COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION, THE GOLDEN AGERS OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (NA), AND PHI DELTA KAPPA, INC. THE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDED BUT WERE NOT LIMITED TO: INFORMATION AND REFERRALS,CASE MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF SELF- SUFFICIENCY AND STABILTY. FOOD PANTRY AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM. THERE WERE OVER 1,258 INDIVIDUALS SERVED DURING 2023 THROUGH THE FOOD PANTRY AND HUNGER RELIEF EVENTS. THIS REPRESENTS A 63% INCREASE OVER 2022. THE WILSON CENTER, INC.'S FOOD PANTRY PROVIDED ONGOING NOURISHMENT TO RESIDENTS WITHIN HAMILTON TOWNSHIP AND ADDITIONAL MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITIES. THIS YEAR THERE WERE 560 THANKSGIVING BASKET GIVEAWAYS.THERE WERE FRESH PRODUCE BOX GIVEAWAYS PROVIDED TO 394 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES THE WILSON CENTER WORKS TO MEET CRTICAL NEEDS OF COMMUNITY FAMILIES THROUGH SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND GIVEAWAYS. THESE INITIATIVES INCLUDE AN ANNUAL SCHOOL BACKPACK GIVEAWAY, A NEW BABYSITTING TRAINING PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PENN MEDICINE PRINCETON HEALTH, AND A ROBUST CHILDREN'S WINTER COAT GIVEAWAY. HOMELESSNESS ASSISTANCE THIS ASSISTANCE ENABLED PARTICIPANTS TO AVOID EVICTION AND AVOID UTILITY INTERRUPTION OR "SHUT-OFF". THIS PROGRAM OFFERS EMERGENCY RELIEF SERVICE IN THE FORM OF A ONE-TIME SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT TOWARD RENT, ELECTRICITY, WATER, OR HEAT TO THELP MITIGATE THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF FACING HOMELESSNESS AND/OR LOSS OF UTILITY. THE SENIOR SERVICES AND ACTIVITY PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 795 SENIORS WITH LUNCH AND LEARN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, CREATIVE CRAFTS, BUS TRIPS AND A HOST OF OTHER ENGAGING ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THE WILSON CENTER S.A.G.E PROGRAM(SENIOR ACTIVITIES, GUIDANCE, AND EDUCATION). THE S.A.G.E. PROGRAM AIMS TO FOSTER INCREASED CONNECTIONS, SOCIALIZATION, RECREATING, AND EDUCATION AMONG OUR SENIOR POPULATION. THE CENTER CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO OFFER COMMUNITY RESIDENTS ONGOING MONTHLY HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL AND DIABETES TESTING. THE CENTER COLLABORATES WITH THE HAMILTON BOARD OF EDUCATION'S 21ST CENTURY PROGRAM TO PROVIDE TUTORING FOR STUDENTS KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE. THESE TUTORING PROGRAMS ARE HELD TUESDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS. THE CENTER INCREASED ITS COMMUNICATIONA AND PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS IN 2023 AMONG INTERNAL AUDIENCES (REGISTERED CLIENTS AND PARTENR AGENCIES) AND EXTERNAL AUDIENCES (PRINT AND DIGITAL MEDIA, THE HAMILTON TWP. E- NEWSLETTER, AND SOCIAL PLATFORMS).