Fighting Hunger for WW-P Students and Families
- Dan Weiss
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Local Parents Lead Fundraiser to Support Students Impacted by Federal Shutdown
With the federal government shutdown disrupting essential programs like SNAP, many families across our community are feeling the strain, including students and families in the West Windsor-Plainsboro (WW-P) School District. For some, the sudden loss of food assistance has meant facing difficult choices at the grocery store and at the dinner table. Two WW-P alumni and current district parents, Elizabeth Wagner and Allison Simi, decided to take action. Knowing that 4.5% of WW-P students, roughly one in every classroom, qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, they have launched a community fundraising effort in partnership with Send Hunger Packing (SHuP) to make sure local kids have access to food when schools are closed.
“Kids can’t learn and grow if they’re hungry,” they wrote in their letter to families. “If we put all our gifts together, we can make sure every child in our community has secure access to food this season.”
A Goal to Feed Every Student in Need
Through SHuP, Wagner and Simi are working to raise $40,000, which would provide every food-insecure WW-P student’s family with a $100 grocery store gift card. These cards allow families to purchase food that fits their individual needs with dignity and flexibility.
SHuP already provides weekend food packs for more than 100 WW-P elementary school students, and this expanded effort aims to reach middle and high school students as well. Donations can be made directly at www.shupwwp.org/donate. To ensure your contribution supports this specific local effort, include “WWP SHuP / little free pantry” in the comment line.
“This is about neighbors helping neighbors,” Wagner said. “We know these kids. They’re our children’s friends and classmates.”
A Community Effort: Food Drive at the Senior Center
In addition to financial donations, the West Windsor Senior Center is joining the effort by hosting a food drive from November 12 to 21, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM. Donations of non-perishable, unexpired food items such as canned chicken or tuna, cereal, ravioli, soup, vegetables, and shelf-stable milk can be dropped off at:
West Windsor Senior Center
271 Clarksville Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550
📞 609-799-9068
All items collected (no glass items please) will go directly to Send Hunger Packing and the Little Free Pantry to support struggling local families.
Additional Community Food Support at Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church
In addition to the SHuP fundraiser and the West Windsor Senior Center food drive, local faith communities are also stepping up to help. Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, located at 154 South Mill Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550, offers ongoing support for anyone in need of food.
Outside the church, there is a free pantry that is available to all. Neighbors can take what they need, when they need it, no questions asked. Inside, the church also hosts a community meal every Thursday at 6:15 pm, which is free and open to everyone, regardless of background or circumstance.
If you or someone you know could benefit from these resources, the church Office Administrator is available Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. You can call 609-799-0712 or email admin@dutchneckpresbyterian.com to connect or learn more. Additional information is available on their website: www.dutchneckpresbyterian.com.
WW-P School District’s Support for Families During the Shutdown
The West Windsor–Plainsboro Regional School District (WW-P) is taking proactive steps to support families who may be affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown and disruptions to SNAP food benefits. The district recognizes that many households are under extra strain due to missed paychecks or delayed federal food assistance, and they want families to know they are not alone.
WW-P will continue to provide free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch to all eligible students throughout the shutdown. Families whose financial situations have changed are encouraged to apply or reapply for meal benefits through PaySchools Central or by downloading the application from the district website. Even small changes in income may qualify a household for support.
Elementary school families who already receive food benefits and wish to participate in the Send Hunger Packing (SHuP) weekend bridge program can contact their school nurse for more details. Families can also reach out to their school counselor for help completing benefit applications, language assistance, or connecting with additional community resources.
The district also highlights several community and government programs that remain active:
Work First NJ (WFNJ) benefits are still available even while SNAP is paused.
Local food banks, food pantries, and faith-based organizations are ramping up efforts to meet community needs.
Mercer Street Friends continues to accept donations for “Send Hunger Packing-WWP/Little Free Pantry,” which directly supports WW-P families.
The Plainsboro Food Pantry is also accepting shelf-stable food donations and monetary contributions to serve local residents.
Families and community members can read the full district announcement and resource list here:👉 WW-P Local Food Resources for Families
Through these efforts, WW-P continues to demonstrate that our schools are more than classrooms — they are a foundation of community care and compassion.
How You Can Help
Donate online: www.shupwwp.org/donate and include “WWP SHuP / little free pantry” in the comment.
Drop off food: Bring non-perishable items to the West Windsor Senior Center between November 12 and 21.
Support local partners: Volunteer or donate to Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, the Plainsboro Food Pantry, or Mercer Street Friends.
Spread the word: Share this story on social media or with your neighborhood group to encourage others to give.
Together, we can ensure that no child in West Windsor-Plainsboro goes hungry this season.