Wells Fargo presented a $1,000 grant to Rise: A Community Service Partnership, the corporation announced in a press release this week.

The donation was among 130 made to organizations throughout central and southern New Jersey through the Wells Fargo Community Partners Program. Local Wells Fargo branch managers explore the needs of their local communities and make a $1,000 contribution on behalf of the company to the nonprofit of their choice.

"Wells Fargo is focused on supporting long-term economic growth and an improved quality of life for everyone," Wells Fargo’s Southern New Jersey regional President Brenda Ross-Dulan said in the press release. "These nonprofit organizations’ commitment to their neighbors and communities is inspiring, and each grant is well-deserved."

According to the company's website, Wells Fargo's priority is to support programs and organizations whose chief purpose is to benefit low- and moderate-income individuals and families and keep the community strong, diverse, and vibrant.

Rise, formerly the Community Action Service Center, is a major nonprofit located in Hightstown serving the eastern part of Mercer County. The group provides referral and support services to families and individuals in need and offers a wide range of programs.

Founded in 1967, the group operates the Greater Goods Thrift Shop and co-runs a food pantry with St. Anthony of Padua Church.

The Rise Food Pantry provides food to over 400 local families each month.

On Nov. 2 and 3, the food pantry will collect food donations and sell 50/50 tickets at Shop-Rite of East Windsor from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Food donations will be collected to create Thanksgiving baskets for struggling local families. Suggested donations include turkey, stuffing, instant mashed potatoes, vegetables, gravy, and other food, gift cards, or monetary donations.

The group collaborates with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen to offer a Hightstown Meal Service on Monday and Thursday nights at the First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown and the First United Methodist Church of Hightstown.

Rise also offers emergency food and shelter needs, as well as counseling and resources for teens and domestic violence victims.

Fourteen Mercer County nonprofit organizations that received donations include:

• Hamilton  -  Ryan's  Quest 
• Hightstown - Rise: Community Action Services 
• Lawrenceville - HomeFront 
• Lawrenceville - Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness 
• Lawrenceville - PEI Kids Ewing - Living with Faith Outreach Ministries
• Lawrenceville - Special Olympics New Jersey 
• Princeton - Junior Achievement of New Jersey 
• Princeton - Latin American Legal Defense & Education Fund              
• Trenton - Boys and Girls Club   
• Trenton - Isles, Inc. 
• Trenton - Law enforcement officers Against Prostate Cancer 
• Trenton - Mill Hill Child & Family Development Corp  
• Trenton - Trenton Area Soup Kitchen                                  
• Trenton - YWCA