Volunteer

Rent Parties - "A Party With A Purpose"

Local residents have been turning their gatherings into "parties with a purpose." Rent parties are helping working homeless families with that first step in securing a home of their own. Families and groups in Mercer County are reliving an exciting part of the Harlem Renaissance culture by joining with friends and neighbors to eat traditional home-cooked foods, chill out to the tunes of Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie, and "pass around the hat" to help a working family achieve self-sufficiency. Learn more about Rent Parties.

Here's what some of our Rent Party hosts have had to say:

This year, the Junior League of Greater Princeton hosted three separate rent parties at member's homes. "We raised a combined total of $850," said Junior League member Shannon Hartley-Green. "We were able to pay for one month's rent for a family."

Christine and Tim Stives - of Princeton Junction saw their party as not only a chance to raise money, but also to raise awareness: "Our Rent Party is a way to raise consciousness of the homeless crisis in Mercer County, and at the same time, ask our friends to pitch in with a cash donation and make it possible for a needy family to move into a place of their own. We believe that there is no greater investment than helping a family achieve self-sufficiency. While the party is ultimately to benefit HomeFront clients, it is an evening of fun, food, and friendship. Neighbors and friends will be joining us for great food, great music, and a great cause."

Students at Princeton Day School - took the idea of rent parties in a creative direction. They held a Rent Party Dance to benefit the clients of HomeFront and raised enough to provide the "grub stake" to move one family into permanent, sustainable housing. "It was a no-brainer," said one of the student chairpersons. "We kicked up the ticket price by two dollars so we could give the difference to HomeFront. Once people knew why they were paying a little bit more, they were happy to help. After the dance got going, we "passed the hat." There was this great spirit to the night because everyone knew that if we raised enough, we could move a family into an apartment."

For more information, call 609-989-9417 or send an email to: .