Mercer County’s annual holiday meal drive, run by the Department of Veteran Services, collected about $11,000 for last year’s holiday season.
The drive provided holiday meals for about 100 veterans and their families.
Introduced in the fall of 2006 by chief of Veterans Services Edward Mazzeo, the drive to date has raised $72,269, averaging more than $10,000 per year and equaling more than 1,000 meals for veterans and their families
The holiday meal fund drive is an annual county endeavor. Rather than collecting donations of food, Mercer County’s Department of Veteran Services accepts monetary donations that go toward the purchase of grocery gift cards veterans can use to purchase holiday meals. Veterans pick up those vouchers in time for holiday meal preparations.
Donations are accepted throughout the year, not just during the holidays. To donate, make checks payable to Mercer County Trust Fund. Mail donations to the Mercer County Department of Veteran Services, 2280 Hamilton Ave., Hamilton, NJ, 08619.