Middle School Students Collect Canned Goods & Essentials for JFS
Posted on July 12, 2021
Sam, Bella, Aixell, Brigid, Kasey, Annie, Christina and Leah (not pictured, Tyler) of Belhaven Middle School worked together to collect more than 1,600 canned goods and $1,000 cash.
What started out as a quest to collect 2,021 canned goods to donate to Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties by a small group of eighth grade students at Belhaven Middle School in Linwood, morphed into a program that exceeded their expectations.
“What a wonderful idea for these caring students to join together and create a community initiative that helps those in need,” said Andrea Steinberg, JFS Chief Executive Officer.
The students scoured their kitchen cabinets, visited businesses and asked friends and neighbors to support their endeavor to help fill the shelves of the JFS Food Pantry. All total, they collected more than 1,600 canned goods and raised $1,000 cash during the eight-week program.
Brothers Luke and Sam Goldstein and their friend, Elaina, helped sort more than 1,600 canned goods.
JFS is now providing food for up to 100 community members per day. The agency anticipates providing more than 120,000 pounds of food to those in need this year.
Currently, JFS is in the process of expanding its Food Pantry to offer specialty items as well as fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, meats and frozen merchandise. While the official grand opening is set for mid-August, investment opportunities are currently available, starting at $500. For more information on naming opportunities, contact Beth Joseph at 609.822.7409 or bjoseph@jfsatlantic.org.
For more information on JFS programs and services, visit jfsatlantic.org. To pick-up goods or donate products to the JFS Food Pantry, contact Vanessa Smith at 609.822.1108 x249 or vsmith@jfsatlantic.org or Mary DeMarco at 609.822.1108 x512 or mdemarco@jfsatlantic.org.