By EmmaLee Italia | Correspondent

Serving the impoverished of Mercer County is a task that goes on every day of the year for the Mount Carmel Guild, an inner-city Trenton diocesan agency that serves those in need.  But thanks to a newly-renovated additional building on its North Clinton Avenue property, their work of mercy has become much easier.

“Before we had just a small space,” said Dominican Sister Loretta Maggio, Mount Carmel Guild Emergency Assistance Program director. “In September of last year we made the move across the parking lot to a really large, cheerful space. Now we are able to have enough room for people to come in and sit. The people have responded beautifully – the building is so light.”

Dedication of the new facility will be held April 18 at 1 p.m. The building will be dedicated to the memory of Father James McConnell, former pastor of St. James Parish, Pennington, who at one time was a board member of the Guild and heavily involved in its charity to the poor of the area.

“Father Jim was an ardent supporter of our guild,” said Marie A. Gladney, Mount Carmel Guild executive director. Because of his involvement, Gladney explained, many St. James parishioners became contributors and guild board members. “He really believed that a social service agency should serve the poor.”

Sister Maggio echoed Gladney’s remarks on Father McConnell’s involvement. “Every month (his parish) would make some financial contribution. But it was more than that – it was his heart, really. His heart was really with the mission of the Guild and helping those in need … in a dignified, respectful way.”

Indeed, the mission of the Mount Carmel Guild is to “enhance the life of those in need: body, mind and spirit.” Having the proper facilities to complete that mission is essential, giving guests a space to feel welcomed as they are served and assisted.

The Mount Carmel Guild is a Catholic service organization that receives funding from the Diocese of Trenton, local parishes and businesses as well as individuals. In its 95th year, the Guild was formed by Msgr. Thomas J. Walsh in 1920, who led the Diocese to purchase an Italianate structure to serve as headquarters, with the goal of curing poverty in “head, heart and spirit.” Its services include an Emergency Food Assistance program, a Home Health Nursing Program for the elderly and homebound, and prescription and utilities assistance – as well as supplementary gifts of food and toys for families during Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. An additional 775 to 975 families are helped by the baskets of Thanksgiving food; the children’s toys are in equally high demand.

“This year was the first year we almost ran out of toys,” said Gladney.

Prior to the renovation of the “Father Jim House,” as Sister Maggio affectionately called it, the historic Guild house functioned as its administrative building, while the smaller carriage house behind was used as its food assistance pantry and service – much too small to accommodate the influx of need. In 2014 the organization served more than 19,000 families on a regular basis with food donations and other services; the necessity for greater facilities was immense. Meanwhile the building next to the Guild house had been used as a preschool for many years – but when more such school locations became available in the area, the house became unused.

“The people are very grateful for what we are able to provide,” Gladney said. Many in the Trenton area are living 200 percent below the federal poverty level. “A lot of them work two or three part-time jobs with no time off. They have to worry about things we take for granted: prescriptions, doctors’ appointments, utilities.”

The Mount Carmel Guild is located at 73 N. Clinton Ave., Trenton.

To  RSVP for the building dedication, or for more information about the guild and its emergency assistance or home health nursing, call 609-392-5159, or visit mtcarmelguild.org.