Provided/Jewish Family Service Volunteer Services Supervisor Vanessa Smith gets ready to unload food donated by Congregation Beth Israel. The non-perishable food will be sorted and stocked in the pantry to assist individuals and families in need in the community.
MARGATE – As the elevated need for food continues in the region, members of Beth El Synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel, Shirat Hayam, and Temple Beth Shalom as well as community individuals, hosted a High Holiday collection to support Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties. The agency received more than 220 bags of food which will stock the pantry’s shelves to assist individuals and families in the community.
“The on-going support from congregations and residents provides the JFS Pantry with the much-needed food for individuals and families in the region,” JFS Volunteer Services Supervisor Vanessa Smith said in a release. “There should never be a child or family going hungry in the community.”
The participating synagogues and community members donated top necessities including peanut butter, jelly, hearty soups, canned tuna, cereal, rice, pasta, vegetables, and macaroni and cheese, as well as can openers.
“With the generosity of congregation members, especially during the High Holy Days, as well as residents in the community, our pantry can continue to serve thousands of families each year,” JFS Chief Executive Officer Andrea Steinberg said. “JFS continues to be a lifeline to provide hearty and nutritious foods, especially for individuals who are unable leave their home.”
There is an increase in requests for Thanksgiving meals. JFS continues to collect monetary donations as well as bags of essential holiday food items to provide to local families. A $45 donation to JFS allows the agency to purchase a turkey and trimmings for a family’s holiday dinner. Bags can also be donated with non-perishable items including macaroni and cheese, yams, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, string beans and corn.
Turkey Drive donations can be mailed to: JFS, 607 N. Jerome Ave., Margate, NJ 08402 or made online at www.jfsatlantic.org. Non-perishable food donations can be delivered to JFS.
For more information about the JFS Food Pantry, contact Vanessa Smith at vsmith@jfsatlantic.org or Mary DeMarco at mdemarco@jfsatlantic.org.
