Trenton, N.J. – Sometimes, Mercer County Community College (MCCC) student Tione Campbell Jr. is wearing a Santa suit, much of his face covered by a stringy white beard and his eyes gleaming with excitement. Other times, his sleeves are rolled up and he has a broom in hand, after a hard day of cleaning up his neighborhood. Still other times Campbell is dressed to the nines, donning a suit as he heads into church service.

Regardless of when you catch Campbell, or what you see him wearing, he’s almost assuredly helping out his community. Born and raised in Trenton, the MCCC freshman has been a fixture in the city’s various non-profit and social wellness organizations for the last few years. Recently, he's been working with Fathers & Men United for a Better Trenton and HelpSelf Inc.

“When I was 14 I started helping and giving back to my community and since then I haven’t ever stopped,” Campbell said. “And honestly I don’t think I ever will.”

Campbell attributes his social consciousness to his grandmother, Beverly Higgins. Before he started volunteering on his own, she would take Campbell to the “soup kitchen, stores, and the shelter to show [him] the importance of giving back to the community.”

“I have had my fair share of living in rough neighborhoods,” Campbell said. “I never wanted to disappoint my family so everything I do is to make them proud to show that they have been a great influence in my life.”

Her introduction helped Campbell grow into a jack of all trades when it comes to community service.

Last November, Campbell helped distribute Thanksgiving dinners to city residents and visited SafeHaven Church to mentor its youth.

In December, he portrayed Santa Clause, taking pictures with Trenton residents and giving out presents at area elementary schools. Later that month, he donned a mask and gloves to serve Christmas meals at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.

Now, Campbell is still wearing a mask and gloves, albeit to help out during the COVID-19 pandemic. As people around the country face job losses and food shortages, Campbell is once again giving back, providing food donations through the Chosen Generation Praise and Worship Center.

Campbell is motivated to help those less fortunate in his community with immediate assistance. Staying local by studying at Mercer has been instrumental in keeping him entrenched in his community.  

“I decided I wanted to attend Mercer as a junior in college,” said Campbell, who studies Liberal Arts. “I wanted to not only be the first person in my family to go to college, but also to show the young men who live where I have that there is a way out of poverty.”

Though he spends most of his time at home now due to the widespread coronavirus quarantines, Campbell said that staying active in Trenton has helped keep him positive.

“[Staying busy], that’s the only way to keep sane,” Campbell said.

“Let’s change the world one smile at a time.”

---

Are you ready to help us keep our students on track to finish classes and graduate? Then share and support our MCCC Student Emergency Fund. Donating at www.mccc.edu/mercermatters, or by texting MercerMatters to 41444, will help keep students enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every dollar matters!

 

Donate to the MCCC Student Emergency Fund

Return to Current News

MCCC Home Page

MCCC freshman Tione Campbell Jr. (left) has been regularly volunteering in his hometown Trenton since he was 14.

Campbell Jr., who earned the MCCC Trenton Alumnae Scholarship, was honored at the college's 2019 Honors Luncheon. 

Last December, Campbell Jr. played Santa Claus at a variety of events around Trenton.