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Arm In Arm – Valentines for Food

Partnering with Arm In Arm to Feed Our Neighbors: A Community Response to a Shared Need

Valentines for Food is one way Nassau lives out the message inscribed in our Chancel: loving God fully, abiding in love, and serving Christ in our neighbors. As need continues to rise, so does the opportunity to respond with faith, compassion, and hope.

We invite you to join us this February as we partner with Arm In Arm to ensure that our neighbors have food on their tables—and a reminder that they are not alone.

SUPPORT ARM IN ARM’S ANNUAL VALENTINES FOR FOOD DRIVE

Ways to Get Involved

Valentines for Food offers multiple ways to participate, recognizing that generosity takes many forms:

  • DONATE: Drop off food to the pantry at Nassau (download the shopping list below).
  • CONTRIBUTE: Monetary donations can be sent to Nassau or directly to Arm In Arm.
  • VOLUNTEER: your time at one of our pantries in Trenton or Princeton.

Each pathway reflects our shared calling to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).

ACTION STEPS

DONATE: healthy, non-perishable food to our pantry, 12-16 oz. cans, no glass containers, please! Remember to check expiration dates.

  • Corn Flour (Maseca)
  • Canned Vegetables (low-fructose)
  • Rice
  • Canned Proteins (tuna, salmon, chicken, chili)
  • Canned Beans (low-sodium)
  • Peanut Butter
  • Cereal
  • Canned Fruits
  • Seasonings
  • Shelf-Stable Milk (Parmalat)
  • Honey
  • Vegetable/Canola Oil

    • CONTRIBUTE: On-line or by mail and remember that your gift will be DOUBLED thanks to the generosity of a faithful group of Nassau Presbyterian Church members.

    • Arm In Arm: arminarm.org/valentines or by using the Valentines for Food envelopes in Nassau’s pew racks (make checks payable to “Arm In Arm” and note in the Memo: “Nassau”)
    • Nassau: https://nassauchurch.org/giving/give-now/or mail to 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542 (make checks payable to “Nassau Presbyterian” and note in the Memo: “Valentines for Food”)
    • Contact the church office by phone 609-924-0103 or by email if you have any questions.

    VOLUNTEER: at one of our food pantries during the week. Email for more details.

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    Did you know that in a single year Arm In Arm provides enough food for its clients to prepare approximately one million meals for themselves and their families? When you support Valentines for Food, you support Arm In Arm’s effective response to food insecurity in our area.

    Why Valentines for Food Matters Now

    Food insecurity in our region has increased dramatically in recent years. According to Arm In Arm, the number of families seeking food assistance has grown by 115% over the past five years, with demand continuing to rise. In 2025 alone, Arm In Arm served families through more than 50,000 visits to its food pantries and mobile distributions, an 18% increase over the previous year.

    Even more striking: today’s need exceeds levels seen during the height of the pandemic. Arm In Arm now sees approximately 250 new clients each month, underscoring the ongoing and urgent nature of hunger in our community.

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    How Arm In Arm Responds

    Arm In Arm operates a comprehensive network of hunger-prevention services designed to meet people where they are:

    • Two brick-and-mortar food pantries in Mercer County, including the pantry hosted at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton

    • A Mobile Food Pantry and Resource Center, serving food-insecure neighborhoods 3–5 times per week

    • Regular home food deliveries for seniors and families with limited mobility

    • A strong commitment to providing fresh, healthy food, including fresh produce and nutrition education

    In Princeton alone, Arm In Arm’s pantry provided groceries through more than 9,500 pantry visits and deliveries in the most recent fiscal year—more than four times the pre-pandemic level. Approximately 400 local families and seniors rely on this pantry regularly, many receiving bi-monthly home deliveries supported by volunteers.

    Remarkably, even as demand has surged, Arm In Arm has never seen its shelves go empty, thanks to the generosity of donors, congregations, schools, and community partners.

    How Your Support Makes a Difference

    Every gift—of food, funds, or time—has real impact.

    A typical grocery order distributed by Arm In Arm includes:

    • $20–$25 of food purchased directly by Arm In Arm

    • $30–$40 of donated food from food banks and community drives

    Together, this means each order provides $70–$80 worth of groceries to a family in need.

    Since its beginnings in 2005, Valentines for Food has raised more than $400,000 and 180,000 pounds of donated food, enough to feed over 28,000 families. What began as the vision of Nassau member Don Dickason has grown into a county-wide effort anchored by congregations, schools, and community partners working together to care for neighbors.

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