In the News
JFS Hosts Summer Food Drive to Feed Children In Need
Posted on May 18, 2011
Jewish Family Service is kicking off a summer-long food drive to help provide nutritional aid to children throughout Atlantic County. While many individuals think of giving food during the holidays and winter, there is a lack of donations during the summer when the need sees a sharp increase. In 2009, 16,192 Atlantic County students in need received two free or reduced cost meals per day at school. During the summer children do not receive this supplement, causing many to go hungry.
“In celebration of the JFS Women’s Golf Tournament’s 13th year (age of B’nai Mitzvah) our committee chose to initiate the mitzvah project to feed children in our community,” explained Executive Director Andrea Steinberg. “A mitzvah is a “good deed” or an act of human kindness. The Mitzvah Fund hopes raise $18,000 in order to provide 3,600 meals for children throughout the summer.”
The food drive donations make a difference in the lives of our recipients. A donation of $18 provides a child lunch for one week while $36 will provide a child breakfast and lunch (2 meals) for one week. A financial contribution of $54 will enable JFS to provide a child breakfast for one month.
Running from May through September, the JFS Summer Food Drive looks to collect essential non-perishable items to stock the agency’s on-site community food pantry. The agency is in need of jars of peanut butter, cereal, tuna, bags of pasta and cans of hearty soup. All donations should be unopened and properly sealed. Food must meet the expiration and “use by” dates in order to be distributed to the community.
Financial donations can be mailed to JFS at 607 N. Jerome Ave., Margate, NJ 08402 or Securely Online Click Here. Please indicate “Mitzvah Fund.” Non-perishable food donations can be dropped at our Margate office Monday through Friday from 8 am – 4 pm.
If you have a question regarding the Jewish Family Service Summer Food Drive or how you can assist, please contact our Community Initiatives Coordinator, Leigh Turner at 609-822-1108 or email. Jewish Family Service also encourages community members to host their own drives. Visit the JFS Community Exchange website for ways to give throughout the year.
