As Thanksgiving approached, generosity poured in from across Atlantic and Cape May Counties. Thanks to the kindness of community members, local businesses, schools, and organizations, JFS was able to provide complete Thanksgiving meals to 725 families facing food insecurity and frozen SNAP benefits this holiday season.

Throughout October and November, donations large and small came together to ensure that families could gather around a table filled with traditional holiday favorites. From students hosting collections to businesses and longtime supporters stepping up, each contribution helped turn a season of need into one of comfort and connection. This year marked the highest number of Thanksgiving meal requests JFS has seen since the program began—yet every family who reached out received support.

“This year, we received more requests than ever before,” shared JFS Chief Executive Officer Andrea Steinberg. “Because of the incredible generosity of our community, we were able to say yes to every family who needed a Thanksgiving meal.” It is this collective compassion that continues to make moments of dignity, warmth, and hope possible for our neighbors—especially during the holidays.