Our efforts for the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges continue. Our congregation is responsible for staffing the distribution (which includes bagging bread and groceries), and with supporting the provision of food for distribution, on the fourth ednesday of every month. We are faced with an increasing number of families who come because they need supplemental food assistance. We are so concerned with being able to meet the demand for groceries, as the economic situation of our neighbors has not improved.
As many of us experienced during the recent hurricanes, the concern about where one’s next meal is coming from can be terrifying, and imagine if it was a continuous concern for you or your family. Take those extra food items you purchased and did not use for your own family and donate them to others for whom hunger is an everyday concern.
Here’s how you can help:
Bring One, or More - every time you come to TSTI. For your convenience, there are collection containers in the coat room for when you access the main Sanctuary doors, and near the Religious School office for when you or your children come in the far doors. When you go shopping, throw an extra can or two into your order, and keep it in your car so it will always be accessible when you come to temple. A full list of what we need every month can be found here: http://www.tsti.org/page4/page4.html. Please, no glass.
We always seem to be short of canned vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, and canned fruit. It takes a lot of cans to have enough for 60+ families every time. If every congregant brought just 2 - 3 cans a month we could more easily fulfill our obligation.
Involve your kids: Get your kids in the habit of bringing a can when they come for Religious School or services. If they are in the supermarket with you, let them know that you are purchasing extra cans to help our neighbors. For less than a $1, you can teach them a great life lesson.
If you have teenagers in grades 9 - 12 who are interested in community service, urge them to join the IFP Teen Board. The Teen Board consists of engaging, creative, interested, and innovate kids from a mix of towns and schools and religious organization. They meet about 3 times a year, and focus on discussing major issues of the food pantry and trying to think of new and creative ways to solve these issues, such as new fundraisers, food drives, and changes to make in the actual handing out of the food. The Teen Board will also help plan for the major Holiday Food Pantry events each year and participate in and help plan for events such as the annual Hunger Walk in May, Action Against Hunger Food Drives, and MEND (meeting emergency needs with dignity) events. Please contact Carley Stein cstein13@newarka.edu and she will add your teen to the face book group. If you have special questions or concerns feel free to e-mail Carley or call at 973-715-2561.
Donate funds to help us purchase what we do not receive. Checks can be made out to Rabbi Miller’s DIscretionary Fund, with a notation for the Interfaith Food Pantry.
Help out at one of the scheduled Food Drives at our local supermarkets. Teens and adults are welcome for as little as an hour or as many as 4 hours. Drives are scheduled on Sept. 25 from 12 – 4 at Shop Rites in both Springfield and Essex Green, as well as at Kings in Livingston on October 2. Contact Janet Schwamm jschwamm@gmail.com
379-2533.
Volunteer with us at the Pantry on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 9:15 - 11:00. It takes a lot of people power to bag and distribute groceries to 60 families. Adult and children welcome. It’s a wonderful experience for children, and our parents sometimes even bring kids to school late to experience this mitzvah. Contact Janet Schwamm jschwamm@gmail.com 973 379-2533.
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