High Holy Day Food Drive

FOOD DRIVE

HIGH HOLY DAY FOOD DRIVE 2024

For most of us, our fast at Yom Kippur concludes after 24 hours. We tolerate rumbling stomachs and mild headaches with the anticipation of our break-the-fast meal. Others in our community experience hunger on a chronic basis, not knowing when or what their next meal might be. Children may be irritable and find it difficult to learn in school; their parents may have to choose between securing food and paying for utilities, housing or medications.

How can we help?

The Social Justice Initiative will be collecting the following items for the the High Holy Day Food Drive.

• Boxed or canned soups, stews, and chilis
• Breakfast cereals
• Boxed or bagged rice (jasmine, yellow, basmati, white, brown)
• Boxed, bagged or canned pasta and macaroni and cheese
• Canned fish and meat
• Canned fruit
• Canned vegetables
• Tomato products (diced, crushed, sauce, paste)
• Canned or dry beans and lentils
• Nuts or seed butters
• Sauces, spices and condiments

Specific Needs for School-Age Children:

Single-serve items: oatmeal packets, single serve boxed cereal, granola bars, cheese or peanut butter crackers, healthy snack packets, apple sauce or fruit cocktail cups, small raisin boxes, canned or packaged chicken/tuna, pop tarts

Specific Needs for Kosher Food Pantry:

Kasha, gefilte fish, canned albacore tuna, salmon or sardines, jam/jelly (regular or sugar-free), diabetic shakes, raisin bran, boxed instant oatmeal, soups, tea, coffee, shelf stable almond milk

ALL Kosher Items will be accepted.

Cash donations are also appreciated. They enable our community partner to provide for urgent needs of their clients. Please donate online by scanning the QR code or send a check to Temple Beth-El with the notation “Food Drive” in the memo line.

*Volunteers are essential to Temple Beth-El’s Social Justice Initiative (SJI). For more information on how you can engage in mitzvot like this — and translate Jewish values into meaningful action — please contact SJI co-chairs Lisa Schubert and Celia Harms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q What will NOT be collected for this food drive?

A Infant/toddler diapers, wipes or personal hygiene items of any kind. This is a food drive only, but stay tuned! The Hannukah Menorah Project will begin collecting specific toiletry items, infant through adulthood, beginning in early December.

Q What do I need to know about perishable food expiration dates?

A Kindly check the expiration of best used by date on all items you contribute. Absolutely no items can be offered if dated before February 1, 2025. Please and thank you!

Q Can I contribute a cash donation?

A Cash donations are also appreciated. They enable our community partner to provide for urgent needs of their clients. Please donate online or send a check to Temple Beth-El with the notation “Food Drive” in the memo line.

Q Does it matter how food donations are packaged?

A YES. Please do not offer anything in glass containers. If it’s a bagged item, i.e. all-purpose flour, please put it in a zip lock bag.

Q How can my younger school-age child participate in this food drive?

A Let this flyer serve as a shopping list for you and your child(ren) when choosing appropriate options in each category. Guide them in locating the expiration date, and use this as a teaching moment to share the meaning of tikkun olam and the relevance of sharing food during these High Holy Days.

Q How can my older school-age child participate in this food drive?

A Stay tuned! The food sorting event is scheduled for Sunday, October 20. The help of older religious school students, as well as parent volunteers will be gratefully accepted!