Through community partnerships and direct services, we assist local families and individuals in recovering from setbacks and achieving their full potential.

The RISE Story

In 1967, a small group of community stakeholders founded our organization as Community Action Service Center, Inc. (CASC). We were established to fight the war on poverty, as one of four neighborhood centers strategically located throughout Mercer County, under the county’s Community Action Partnership. Yet despite the proximity and availability of social services in Trenton, transportation logistics continue to pose a challenge to many of our clients, thereby establishing Rise as a life-line to services in our immediate area.

In 1982 we became a private, non-profit agency, and in 2008, after 40 years of service, changed our name from CASC to Rise | A Community Service Partnership. This change better reflects our role as a vital service hub in our local community, as well as conveys the hope and optimism that we see reflected in our clients.

For fifty years, we have worked with our local community to better serve our neighbors in need. Although the demographics of our clientele have evolved over time — from migrant agricultural workers and African Americans, to the 1970’s South East Asian refugees and the present day Latino Community — what has remained constant is our indelible commitment to enabling our neighbors to better achieve their personal and professional success, health and happiness.

A relentless series of fund-raising garage sales led to the opening of the Greater Goods Thrift Store in 2006 as a social enterprise that would both serve our community and increase our financial independence. In 2015, we successfully launched the Greater Goods Resale Furniture Outlet, which offers our clients affordable housewares — and provides Rise with a revenue stream to further support our comprehensive array of programs.  The Rise Food Pantry came to life in 2010 to provide primarily non-perishable groceries to 200 qualified families per month. By economic necessity, the Food Pantry has grown to serve over 481 families a month in 2017.