JFS staffer Leigh Turner (left) with Christine Colley, 91, waiting to make a donation. Local Food Banks report that nearly one million of the state's people are hungry. More than half of them are children and the elderly. Single parents and their children, the working poor, the disabled, and welfare or social security recipients, homeless who lack the ability to care or provide for themselves, victims of fire, unemployment, and medical emergencies are some of the local population who rely on Food Banks across our state.

Jewish Family Service Food Party is an annex for the local food bank and helps provide food for families and individuals on Absecon Island, along with clients in Atlantic and Cape May Counties.

Faced with a severe shortage of food, our current national issues and a tripled number of families and individuals relying on the Food Pantry, Andrea Steinberg, executive director of Jewish Family Service, called on the local community to lend a hand.

Although the JFS Food Pantry had always met the needs of individuals and families in our community in the past, this year was going to be exceptionally difficult to meet that need.

At the ShopRite in Somers Point during a food drive are (from left) JFS staffers Bob Shook and Porta Parto, JFS Executive Director Andrea Steinberg, Assistant Store Manager Steve Vanseeters and JFS staffer Leigh Turner. This plea was heard. Thanks to local synagogues, Shop Rite of Somers Point, ACUA, our local media partners, volunteers, the United Way, and the hundreds of individuals who made a donation to the JFS Food Drive, this story has a happy ending.

JFS was also able to distribute turkeys to families for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Steinberg reports that the recent success of our food drive produced enough non-perishable food to help carry clients at least through the Holidays. Steinberg also added:

"We know this would not have been possible without the community supporting our efforts and we would like to acknowledge our sincere thanks to everyone who helped."

In order to meet the ongoing food needs of the community, donations are still being accepted by JFS. Call 822- 1108.