JULY 2025
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Arm in Arm hits the road to fight food insecurity BY GRACE MURPHY
As a line of families stretched outside a branch of the Mercer County Library system one recent weekday morning, volunteers from the Arm in Arm mobile food pantry unloaded crates of fresh produce, rice, and eggs — just one stop of many made each week to help fight hunger in communities within the county. Launched during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Arm in Arm’s mobile pantry has become a vital resource for families struggling with high food prices, reduced benefits, and limited access to healthy groceries. Operating six days a week, the
Lawrence High School sprinter Samya Jenkins runs in a 200 meter race.
Samya Jenkins finds her how far would you go if they stride on and off the track were sick?
game and the competition pushes you.” Well, first off, Jenkins fourth and fi fths Samya Jenkins is really fast. So fast that were actually firsts, seconds and thirds she outruns her memory. during most of the big meets her freshman “At middle school I was winning every year. week and then I got to high school and Secondly, she returned to getting a lot of went down to fourth and fi fth,” the Law- firsts this past spring. rence High sophomore said. “It was kind of But when she didn’t, the sprinter was not Welcome Capital Health. upsetting for me. Butto that’s the whole game happy See JENKINS, Page 10 of track. Every level you get to, it’s a better When someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.
BY RICH FISHER
Brian Hughes, ex-county executive, passes away BY BILL SANSERVINO
Brian Hughes, who served as Mercer County executive for 20 years and was a prominent advocate for open space preservation and regional economic development, died this morning. He was 68. A Democrat from Princeton, Hughes was the son of former New Jersey Gov. and state Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard J. Hughes. Hughes was first elected county executive in 2003 and
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truck stops at libraries, youth centers, and housing organizations throughout the area, including at the Lawrence Branch of the Mercer County Library every week. A full schedule is available at arminarm.org. Arm In Arm, formerly known as The Crisis Ministry, was founded in 1980 by leaders of Nassau Presbyterian Church and Trinity Church in Princeton to assist community members facing financial hardship. In 2016, the nonprofit adopted its new name to better reflect its community partnerships and mission of collaborative support for neighbors in need. The Hamilton-based organization See ARM IN ARM, Page 8
served until 2023, when he was succeeded by current County Executive Dan Benson. “Brian was a devoted public servant and a truly decent man,” said Benson in a news release. “His 20 years as county executive showed his passion for our county, from our parks, to our airport, to our services for our most vulnerable populations.” Benson said that during his years as as a Mercer County Commissioner, See HuGHES, Page 4
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