High Holy Day Food Drive 2020

LET US STAND TOGETHER!

(BUT 6 FEET APART)

Did you know that Beth Israel has a special way of handling and conquering certain problems - - - a kind of secret formula? BI’s formula, to sometimes accomplish remarkable things, is to use sweat equity and get our hands dirty, to do it economically, to attract lots of supporters and helpers, to garner quality contributions, and to shine a light where it should be focused. In doing this, we help many of our friends and neighbors, who are struggling.

Your support is needed more than ever for BI’s High Holidays Food Drive. It is being held in conjunction with the pickup of items for our High Holidays observance, and the Philadelphia Jewish Federation’s Food Drive.

Food insecurity, as defined by the government, includes not only people who lack food, but also those whose diets suffer from poor quality or whose access to food is so uncertain that it causes them to worry. Poverty is measured over the course of a year, while hunger is measured daily. People need to eat every day and this pandemic has pushed food prices to the highest level in 50 years.

Hardship appears to be rising especially fast among immigrants. One major reason is that undocumented immigrants are barred from receiving most governmental aid. They are not eligible for cash assistance, and receive no Unemployment Compensation, no SNAP or food stamps, and no Medicare or Medicaid benefits. The expansion of the safety net does them little good.

We assist the Media Food Bank, which currently operates outdoors, serving more and more families. The “Hit Parade” of requested items is led by canned soup with pop top lids. (Pop tops are preferred on all canned items.) Coffee, tea, microwaveable rice, beans, olives, canned fish, condiments, cooking oil, flour, sugar, kid snacks, pet food, diapers and wipes all are highly coveted.

This year, bring your donations when you come to BI to pick up your High Holidays items. We’ll take them from your trunk. The scheduled times are:

Sunday, August 23rd from 10 – 1, Sunday, August 30th from 1 – 4, Tuesday, September 8th from 6:30 to 8:30PM.

If you cannot make these times, your food donations, preferably tied tightly in plastic bags, can be placed in marked boxes outside the front door at BI.

This is not your typical “please give, please give, pretty please give” letter. These are special times, and the members of BI are special people. We will stand together.

Thank you.

Your Social Action Committee