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Mission accomplished Mary Gay AbbottYoung reflects on her long career at the Rescue Mission of Trenton
By KrisTen HUnT
Over a century ago, the Trenton community was faced with the crucial need to help residents struggling with homelessness and hunger in the area. It started with a shelter that opened its doors, day and night, to those seeking refuge.
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There were no criteria, just two simple questions: “What’s your name?” and “Are you hungry?” The Shelter was more than just a safe haven—it was a symbol of hope. Today, the Rescue Mission of Trenton is dedicated to serving the same cause for all individuals in need across Mercer County. More than just hope, the mission helps find potential and opportunity. Over the years, individuals have not just provided food and shelter, but also shown the path towards a better future. In just the last year, the non-profit has served 4,636 individuals, 193,290 meals, and
provided 106 forms of housing. For more than half of its existence, the Rescue Mission had been led by CEO and president Mary Gay Abbott-Young. With her contribution, alongside the help of volunteers, staff, board and donors, the Rescue Mission has become an anchor for the community. Over the years, it has addressed the needs of clients and expanded resources in eight key sectors, from the Behavioral Health Center to Vocational Development to the latest endeavor, the New Direction program. Abbott-Young, who embodied See ABBOTT-YOUNG, Page 6
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Three RHS students named COMMUNIT National Merit Scholars EDiTeD By BiLL SanserVinO
Recent Robbinsville High School grad Luke Billings shows his effort on the mound during a recent game. Billings had a 0.56 ERA and 59 strikeouts in more than 37 innings. For more on Billings, see page 15.
The Robbinsville High School Class of 2024 will be known for having three National Merit Scholars—Nora Gray, Alexander Ivanov and Asrith Katragadda. They are among more than 2,900 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities. An additional group of scholars were to be announced in July, bringing the total number of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship recipients in the 2024 com-
petition to more than 3,600. Gray, 17, will be attending the Honors College at Rutgers University to study mathematics, cognitive science, sociology and psychology. “This National Merit Scholarship feels like a culmination of many years of hard work and dedication to academics,” Gray said. “Knowing that I won this scholarship gives me confidence in myself and my academic abilities as I challenge myself in college.” In recent years, she was an
activity leader at Trenton CYO Camp. She also tutored math and Italian at RHS and was a Teen PEP peer educator. Gray is a dancer, performing competitively with The Dance Network for nine years and serving as an assistant teacher in two dance classes for younger children. She said looks forward to joining the Rutgers Performing Dance Company. Ivanov, 18, will use his scholarship to help pay tuition at Cornell University, where he will major See SCHOLARS, Page 4
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