25 Years of Nourishing Sussex County
Born from kindness, sustained by community.
The concept of Harvest House began back in 1997 when a group of 13 Vernon Township High School students, and their teacher, Fran Spielhagen, started a research project to learn about hunger in our nation. These students soon realized that hunger was not a problem only “out there”, but one that was right in the peaceful place where they lived. They saw a growing need among their neighbors, the elderly, single moms, working families, and those who had fallen on hard times. The students discovered that there were people in their own community facing hardship who had no reliable access to a hot, nourishing meal.
Some students had the opportunity to visit the Market Street Mission in Morristown, and Eva’s Kitchen in Paterson, but these soup kitchens were a 30 minute drive from their hometown. At the Manna House in Newton, the students felt like they were serving their neighbors, where the urban programs provided services to transient clients. After noticing a continued interest in the hunger project among her students, Speilhagen decided to pursue funding for a second year of research. And so began the students journey to make a difference in their community, by hosting what would become their first annual Harvest Festival.
The students dream became reality in 1999, when their project won the National Make a Difference Day Award and received a $10,000 donation from Newman’s Own, a food company that donates its profits to charity. 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. Harvest House first officially opened its doors at the First Baptist Church in Sussex.
What began as the Vernon Township Hunger Project has grown into a five-day-a-week operation serving over 250 meals weekly.
- 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.
- Since February 3, 2020, hot meals have been served from our new location in the rear of 37 Main St., Sussex, NJ.
Our mission has never changed: to provide a free, nutritious, hot midday meal to anyone who needs it in Sussex County.
We believe that hunger is not a character flaw, it is a circumstance. At Harvest House, no one is asked why they’ve come. They are simply welcomed, provided a meal, and treated with the dignity every person deserves.
A Quarter Century of Service
On Make A Difference Day, Hunger Project students organized the Sharing the Harvest Festival; a model soup kitchen and food pantry held in the Vernon Twp High School cafeteria. Students prepared and served harvest soup, made from vegetables donated by local farms. An estimated half-ton of food was collected throughout the school and at the local supermarkets. The goal was to fill the immediate needs of the attendees and to survey their need for a soup kitchen in the northern end of Sussex County.
- Vernon Twp High School students win the National Make A Difference Award Grant of $10,000.
- Vernon students hosted an Empty Bowls Luncheon and Convocation on Hunger. Students served soup donated from J & J Restaurant from ceramic bowls created by the high school art students. For a $5 donation, people were invited to support the students in their quest to open their first community soup kitchen.
- Harvest House Task Force was formed and continued Hunger Project research.
- First Baptist Church agreed to house the Harvest House.
Harvest House opened its doors in Sussex, NJ.
Serving free lunches came at a price. Harvest House struggled with funding and needed the community's help to keep the kitchen's doors open. Though often blessed with food donations, Harvest House still needed money to operate. That included the salaries of two part-time employees, the utilities, cleaning supplies and foods not donated. The cost of utilities and food continued to increase, as well as the number of clients utilizing the program.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Harvest House continued to struggle with funding. Kelly Immesberger, our talented kitchen manager, had joined the team. She continues to be the only paid, part-time employee of Harvest House. New guidelines were implemented for meal pickup, and Harvest House continued to serve the community.
Celebrated 25 years of uninterrupted service. Harvest House launched a campaign to increase visiblity in the community, assemble a diverse and sustainable board and volunteer base, increase donations to fund modernization and safety of our facility, and build a fund for our future.
Dignity. Community. Consistency.
We don't operate a charity, we operate a community. Our guests are neighbors. Our volunteers are neighbors. We are all Sussex County, sharing one harvest.
The under-served in our community deserve more than a meal, they deserve consistency, a familiar face, and a place they know will always be open. That is the promise of Harvest House.
