March is National Nutrition Month and the JFS Food Pantry is collecting foods that are of nutritional value to one’s health. Sometimes the foods that are considered the most nutritious (either by their ingredients, vitamin and mineral content, or how they are grown) are also the foods which are typically not donated to a food pantry.  

To help promote nutrition the Pantry will be collecting newly purchased shelf stable milk alternatives such as cartons of almond, rice, oat, or other nut based milks; boxed pasta made from chick peas, rice, or other vegetables; organic canned vegetables, organic beans or organic soups and broths.  Of course, the Pantry is always in need of other nutritious foods, especially whole grain cereals and small tubs of oatmeal (steel cut, regular and instant).   Donations can be dropped off at the JFS Food Pantry, 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. or you can call (203) 397-0796 to schedule an alternative time. Questions can be directed to shagan@jfsnh.org

We are so excited to share that the JFS Food Pantry has been selected to benefit from Stop & Shop’s Bloomin’ 4 Good Program, created to fight hunger across the communities they serve.

For the month of March, the JFS Food Pantry will receive $1 for each $10.99 bouquet in the sleeve marked “Bloomin’ 4 Good” from the Stop & Shop Amity (112 Amity Road New Haven). These colorful bouquets will brighten a home or make someone’s day while also supporting the JFS Food Pantry. It’s a win, win situation!

The Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquets are located in the floral section of the store or you may ask the Amity Stop & Shop Florist for assistance.

February is American Heart Month and Children’s Dental Health Month and the JFS Food Pantry will be collecting items in honor of these designations

What better a way to recognize American Heart Month than collecting heart healthy foods!  Currently the Pantry is seeking whole grain cereals such as Cheerios or anything with whole grains; Canned Salmon or Oatmeal tubs (Steel cut; Instant or Regular). 

In addition, to honor Children’s Dental Health Month, the Pantry is seeking children’s toothpaste and children’s toothbrushes. 

Donations can be dropped off at the JFS Food Pantry, 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. or you can call (203) 397-0796 to schedule an alternative time. Questions can be directed to shagan@jfsnh.org

The JFS Food Pantry is in need of canned soups to stock its shelves and what better time to donate than during National Soup Month! We are seeking donations of all things “Soup.” This includes hearty meat based soups, kids soups, dry soup mixes, broths (cans or cartons), and microwaveable soups.

Our team is ready to receive your canned soup donations! Small Donations can be dropped off at the JFS Food Pantry, 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven on the following dates between 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 18th or 25th or Thursday, January 19th or 26th. If you will be dropping off a large quantity of items, or would like to drop off on a different day, please call ahead so we can schedule your donation drop off.

If you have any questions, please contact the Pantry at (203) 397-0796 email shagan@jfsnh.org.

You can make a difference! Your support will help JFS continue to provide much needed services to those in our community. Donate Now

Many thanks to our wonderful local synagogues: Or Shalom, Congregation Mishkan Israel, Temple Emanuel, Temple Beth Shalom, and B’nai Jacob for their High Holiday food collections. Combined, these five synagogues collected nearly 3,000 lbs. of non-perishable food items – which helped stock our shelves with a great selection of items.

This year, the High holidays came during a time when food prices and food procurement are affecting suppliers, stores and shoppers. Donations of non-perishable food and monetary donations help the Pantry be able to serve those who are hunger/food insecure.

The JFS Food pantry staff and volunteers have received many positive comments from pantry visitors regarding the variety of foods available to them. The Food Pantry distributes on average 6,000 lbs. of food monthly to those who are food insecure in our local community.

For more information about food donations, follow this link.

With the High Holiday upon us, we would like to remind donors about our non-perishable foods donation guidelines. All food should be newly purchased.  Please avoid oversized containers and packaging.  All items should be checked to verify they are not past their use by/best buy or expiration date.   Please avoid all glass containers which can break in transport or during processing.  Here are the most requested foods: 

• Boxed or small tub oatmeal, Steel cut oatmeal, farina, cream of wheat or cream of rice.
• Cereal  – all types
• Canned Fruits or fruit cups  (especially those in water or light syrup/no sugar added) such as applesauce, mandarin oranges, pineapple (all types), pears, peaches, fruit cups.
• Boxed Pasta (angel hair, fettuccini, elbows, shells, bowties, rigatoni, orzo, pastina, ditalini, penne, ziti, bagged egg noodles, linguine)
• Granola, fruit or protein bars
• Kid juice boxes 
• Soups and broths (cans and boxed)

Also, for health reasons we cannot accept any open/partial containers or boxes, repackaged items; or homemade items – this includes items without a label. If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Hagan at shagan@jfsnh.org or 203-397-0796.

JFS of Greater New Haven is thrilled to welcome Daisy Abbott, LCSW as the new Mental Health Clinical Director. Daisy comes with over twenty years’ experience providing therapy to  a wide variety of people from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.

In her new position, Daisy looks forward to leading JFS in community-based solutions that make real change in a diverse and ever fluid environment. The idea is not only to provide counseling, but also advocacy, solution-focused and crisis intervention, case management, and discharge planning. Community, the value of tradition, culture and diversity are crucial in both Daisy’s clinical and personal practice. 

Daisy’s therapeutic approach stems from a strength based and humanistic position based on the understanding that people are doing the best that they can, want to improve, and are capable of change. She incorporates a variety of interventions that include cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, trauma-informed approaches, parent management training, and solution-focused therapies. Daisy works with individuals, families and couples. Her career highlights include Director Community Based Services at Community Health Center Inc.  Before joining JFS of Greater New Haven, Daisy worked in private practice providing telehealth therapy pre and post pandemic.

A Connecticut native with her Bachelors of Science from Southern CT State University and her Masters in Social Work from Fordham University, Daisy’s history demonstrates her dedication in service. She volunteered at the Coordinating Council for Children as a Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Counselor and has received certifications in Forensic Interviewing of Children and Clinical Issues in Adoption.  Her expertise in electronic health records, program structure and implementation will assist the team as they move forward to launch Care Logic (an electronic health care record system). Daisy lives in Greater New Haven with her son. When she’s not working she enjoys yoga, gardening, and hiking. Please feel free to welcome Daisy personally at: dabbott@jfsnh.org.

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven Food Assistance Program is collecting newly purchased school supplies for children and teens (between the ages of 4-18) whose families use the Food Pantry.  Items currently needed include:   Spiral one-subject, wide ruled notebooks; Spiral multi-subject notebooks (both wide rule and college rule):  two-pocket folders; pens blue or black; No. 2 pencils; child safe scissors; colored pencils; child safe pencil sharpeners; thick and thin water based markers, white glue sticks, large erasers; loose-leaf notebook paper; 2 inch binders, construction paper; drawing pads, Post-It notes; highlighters, etc.

Donations may be dropped off at the JFS Food Pantry, 1440 Whalley Avenue on Wednesday and Thursdays between 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Additional drop off times are available by appointment by calling 203-397-0796.  If you order through Amazon Smile, you can also designate JFS of Greater New Haven as a recipient agency for cash back. Online orders can be shipped directly to the JFS Food Pantry, 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, CT 06515. If you are an organization, business or school and you would like to conduct a collection to assist us, please contact shagan@jfsnh.org or call the Pantry at 203-397-0796.  Thanks in advance for helping our kids to get ready for a great school year ahead!