Harvest House was established as the Vernon Township Hunger Project in September, 1997 by 13 students under the direction of Fran Spielhagen at Vernon Township High School in Vernon, New Jersey.
On October 24, 1998, students hosted the first Vernon Township Hunger Project, Harvest Festival, setting their sights toward establishing a center where lunch could be served to individuals and families in need.
In 1999, the V.T.H.S. Hunger Project won the National Make a Difference Day Award. They received a $10,000 donation from Newman's Own corporation. With this start-up money and a vote by the trustees and congregation of the First Baptist Church in Sussex, HARVEST HOUSE was born. With approval for use of their facility, renovation of the building began.
Community Lunch Program
• On February 14, 2000, at the First Baptist Church in Sussex, the first lunches were distributed.
• On October 30, 2000, hot meals began to be served on a daily basis.
• Beginning on February 3, 2020, hot meals are now being served from our new location in the rear of 37 Main St., Sussex, NJ.
Since 2000,we have grown considerably.
Today HARVEST HOUSE has one kitchen manager who plans and prepares the meals, along with numerous dedicated volunteers who help to prepare the meals, pick up food donations from local stores and organizations, manage the pantry, and now, with their help, we serve between 40 to 60 hot meals, daily.