Imagine walking into your kitchen pantry and seeing bare cupboards. What would you do? Having to choose between paying a bill and feeding your family is difficult, but for many, this is a reality. Fortunately, Jewish Family Service helps with its Food Closets.
Over the last several years, visits to the JFS Food Closets have increased by an alarming 200%. Each month, JFS helps provide food for more than 550 individuals whose limited income prohibits them from keeping their families fed. JFS has been able to do this because of the community’s outstanding support.
In September during Hunger Action Month, JFS distributed more than 1,500 paper bags to area synagogues, asking for non-perishable foods. JFS asked, and the community responded…in a BIG, BIG way! How big? Two rooms full, that’s how big! JFS received more than 700 bags of food to distribute to its Food Closet clients. “We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our community,” says Jody Laibstain, JFS volunteer coordinator. “It brought me to tears to see how this community responded to our call for help.”
While 700 bags of food may sound like a lot, the sad reality is that the food JFS received will all be distributed soon. JFS accepts yearround donations of non-perishable food items for its Food Closets. For more information, call Jody Laibstain at 757-321-2222 or Maryann Kettyle at 459‑4640.
JFS thanks the congregants of area synagogues for their response to its Annual High Holiday Food Drive.
Jewish Family Service is a constituent agency of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.