South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
South Florida synagogues host food drives to stock kosher pantries
South Florida synagogues have helped people in the Jewish community impacted by the COVID19 pandemic by organizing drives for local kosher food pantries.
Temple Sinai of Palm Beach County hosted a “Stuff the Bus” food drive that benefited Ruth & Norman Rales’ Jacobson Family Food Pantry in Delray Beach.
The synagogue, which is located in Delray Beach, also hosted a blood drive as part of the food collection event sponsored by Symphony Assisted Living. Blood donors received a $20 gift card, wellness and COVID-19 antibody test.
Betti Adams, the synagogue’s co-president, thought the event had a really nice turnout, and that people who donated food literally stuffed a bus with items.
“Even more exciting was that we had a member couple who felt that although it was really nice that people can bring food, they thought that number one, not everyone is able to do that because they can’t come out or they don’t want to go into stores, and number two, money is usually really helpful to the food banks, so they had a matching donation, and they said they would match up to $500 of cash donations,” Adams continued.
Adams said she is not surprised with the community’s generosity with the donations.
“I am so impressed with our people at the temple because social action is so dear to their hearts,” she noted. “They’ve been doing good things during the pandemic.”
Adams mentioned that during the High Holidays, another one of the synagogue’s members donated $5,000 worth of food to the Jacobson Family Food
Pantry.
Danielle Hartman, president and chief executive officer of the Boca Raton-based Rales JFS, said, “We are so grateful to the community and members of Temple Sinai for organizing this food drive to ‘stuff the bus’ full of food which will benefit the clients of the Jacobson Family Food Pantry.”
“Since the pandemic, JFS has seen an increase in the number of food insecure younger families needing help and we do not see that need decreasing in 2021,” Hartman continued. “As a result, we will need to increase organized food drives such as this, in order to continue to meet the need as it arises.”
Visit ralesjfs.org for more information on the food pantry or templesinaipbc. org for the synagogue.
Over the past few months, several local synagogues have hosted food drives to help the Dorit & Ben J. Genet Cupboard in Davie, Goodman Jewish Family Services of Broward County’s kosher food pantry.
Lourdes Fiegler, the Cupboard’s director said, “The impact of COVID-19 has been very harsh on our community.”
“The Cupboard now serves 695 families, a 35 percent increase since March 2020,” Fiegler continued.
Fiegler praised Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El in Plantation as one of the pantry’s strongest partners for encouraging its youth to participate and lead volunteer efforts. The synagogue hosted its annual Hanukkah scavenger hunt to benefit the pantry’s families as children of all ages brought food and toys, stocked the shelves with items and wrapped presents.
Valeria Michanie, TKAE’s religious school director, said, “It’s very powerful to know that you can make an impact during these difficult times.”
“It’s been very rewarding for all in our community to once again help the Cupboard,” Michanie continued.
Fiegler also commended Young Israel of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale for supporting the pantry with a food drive where almost 2,000 lb. donations were collected at the synagogue or the Magic Bench, which is located in front of a house in front of the Emerald Hills community in Hollywood.
Lead organizers for the food drive were Karen “Chani” Dennis, Marcy Hoffman and Sandy Bloom. Dennis said the synagogue annually conducts food drives for Thanksgiving, Passover and whenever needed for the pantry.
“I think the need is alway there, but it has intensified during the pandemic, which is why it’s extremely important for us as a Jewish community to mobilize and make sure that the Cupboard is well stocked,” Dennis continued.
Fiegler also complimented Temple Sholom in Pompano Beach as its donors hired Diamond Kosher Caterers to provide Shabbat meals for many of the pantry’s homebound seniors, and Temple
for its Project Isiaiah which included a food drive.
Fiegler also was proud of PJ Library of the Jewish Federation of Broward County for participating in a county-wide food drive in which families collected items and its director, Marney Tokar, donated hundreds of books for the children served by the pantry.
Visit for more information on the food pantry.