March 29, 2024
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March 29, 2024
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Linking Northern and Central NJ, Bronx, Manhattan, Westchester and CT

JFCS Food Pantries Feed Needy NJ Families

(Courtesy of JFCS) “I really don’t have anywhere else to turn to right now.”

Michael starts to put a couple of cans of beans into his grocery bag. He is at the Teaneck food pantry, run by Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey. Michael, a young father of three, has taken a leave of absence from his job after his wife developed post-partum depression and became unable to care for their young children. With no source of income, Michael needed help putting food on his family’s table.

“We don’t have any relatives in this area…” he started, “so we don’t have anyone to rely on for assistance during this time.”

Hunger does not discriminate, and its effects are very prevalent in Northern New Jersey. One in four New Jersey residents struggles between buying food and paying for other necessities. Economic hardships compel families to seek help, many times in the case of a crisis or emergency, but also because of chronic poverty.

While programs exist to support families in times of crisis, the need for hunger relief services keeps growing. The number of visitors to the JFCS food pantries in Teaneck and Fair Lawn has grown substantially, with over 600 visits being made each year. To support families like Michael’s, JFCS relies on dedicated staff, volunteers and community engagement through events and fundraisers.

In fact, one of the JFCS fundraisers is coming soon on June 23—the JFCS Wheels-for-Meals Ride to Fight Hunger. Now in its ninth year, the ride raises funds to provide families with grocery items in an accessible, confidential and compassionate environment. Founded in 2011, the ride supports food assistance programs at JFCS and helps people facing food scarcity in the northern New Jersey community. This year, JFCS hopes to make it its biggest ride yet, to support the hundreds of families in our area who rely on JFCS for relief.

To Michael, the JFCS food pantry is a blessing. “The relief has helped so much…I’m able to breathe easier now that I know that my children and my wife won’t go hungry.”

Join JFCS and help hundreds of families in our area by coming out to ride on June 23. For more information about registration and how to get involved, please visit www.RidetoFightHunger.com� or call JFCS at 201-837-9090.

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