The Greater Donnelly Initiative, Inc.
Greater Donnelly means the neighborhoods in and around Donnelly Homes and Greater Donnelly means hope for a greater tomorrow
A Community in Transition Joining Partners for Change
Answering Your Questions
1. Why does your organization support Greater Donnelly? Where are these neighborhoods?
We are committed to the Greater Donnelly neighborhoods:
Because in 2005 Greater Donnelly was selected as a grant recipient site by the Department of Justice Weed and Seed grant program, a long-standing and successful anti-crime initiative that first concentrates resources to substantially reduce crime ("weeding") and then to initiate ("seed") human service programs designed to re-establish the community. The seeding program is co-funded by the City of Trenton and the Trenton Housing Authority is a substantial and important partner.
Because efficient concentration of resources in core anchor neighborhoods is one of the best ways to build community and individual strengths
And now there are three bustling community centers where previously there was none, and the residents are ready for more positive change.
Greater Donnelly is part of North Trenton and includes neighborhoods surrounding Donnelly and Page Homes.
2. What does your organization do in a concrete way to serve the community?
- the Initiative sponsors off-the-streets gang-resistance programs for teenagers in two locations,
- supports a food pantry with over 300 person-visits per month and delivers food to disabled and elderly residents
- sponsors mentoring and tutoring programs and the William McLaughlin Scholarship Fund, assisting students who wish to apply to selective high schools and college
- supports community outreach and community-building efforts initiated by Weed and Seed
3. Why is this community so significantly under-served? Aren't other organizations supplying services and support in Trenton?
Services in the community range from zero to few, except for those initiated by Weed and Seed, especially for children. This may be in part because of the pre-Weed and Seed level of crime, but is also substantially due to the prolonged closing of the community school from 2004-2010---which otherwise could have served children in after -school programs as well as adult and summer programs.
The Trenton Housing Authority stepped up and provided its administration building as a secure space for children to attend Weed and Seed sponsored after school programs--many of the children have nowhere else to go-- and where other members of the community can receive support---sometimes alongside THA employees working in the building
And the City of Trenton stepped up and made available its Community Center on 454 N. Clinton for Out-of-School Programs, including popular Weed and Seed programs for 13-16 year olds such as this summer's Explorers program.
4. Are solicited donations directed to supporting the community and human services programs? How do you determine each dollar is well spent?
No solicited funds are used for fund-raising expenses. Over 98% of solicited donations, equipment and supplies are directly used for human services programs in Greater Donnelly managed by Weed and Seed and are used for continuing the successful and successor programs. Our organization supports the programs directly through funding and in-kind resources.
A little bit of money goes a long way--but the substantial reduction in grant funds means that your donations are necessary to help Greater Donnelly sustain the progress it has made
Because of the resources supplied by Weed and Seed, the City of Trenton and the Trenton Housing Authority, the human services programs are tried and tested and embraced by the residents. This means your donation is leveraged so that every dollar is maximized to provide direct community support. With just $40 thousand in direct program funding July 2007-2011, youth and adult programs were established that benefited over 300 children and adults, primarily through intense daily (in some cases weekly) mentoring and support programs. During 2008-2011 the programs were expanded and have now served over 600 people, mostly children and teenagers. These programs can only survive with the generosity of private donors and volunteer support from inside and outside the community.
5. Why doesn't the federal Weed and Seed grant continue to fund the revival it started?
For the 2008-09 budget, the White House did not provide any separate funding for the Weed and Seed grant program, which had been covering selected sites around the country since 1991.
By design, the grant is only five years and the program assumes that private sector organizations, the community and local agencies will support the human service and community-building initiatives "seeded" by the grant.
Because of the success of the program, the City of Trenton is now continuing the Weed and Seed effort in Greater Donnelly and other areas of Trenton, using community centers, some of which were previously shuttered. This effort requires the support of professional volunteers and community residents. The Initiative is an important component of this effort.
6. What is your mission?
To ensure that a cross-community initiative will remain supporting the Greater Donnelly community with resources from inside and outside the community.
These resources include the efforts of our volunteers to direct attention to the community's achievements, to form partnerships with charitable organizations which provide specialized human need services, and business and private donors who value the progress the community and its children have made.
The Greater Donnelly Neighborhood Initiative, Inc. is independent, organized by volunteers, and is not part of Trenton Weed & Seed or any other government organization. We support Weed and Seed and community programs by securing and coordinating volunteers and funding, providing professional expertise, and requiring fiscal accountability of those programs we determine should be supported.
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