Category: Food Assistance

Cereal Collection in March for National Nutrition Month

Posted on by Sandy Hagen

March is National Nutrition Month! This month the JFS Food Pantry is focusing on nutritious, healthy cereal donations. In order to provide every family with one box of cereal the Pantry would need at least 250 boxes monthly! Here are several tips to help you choose healthy cereals for your pantry donation.

Look for cereals containing whole grains. These are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Examples include oatmeal, whole wheat flakes, and brown rice cereal. Look for cereals with less than 5 grams of sugar and 1 gram of fat per serving. Many cereals are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron, folate, and B vitamins. Individually or combined, these ingredients can help provide valuable nutrition. Donations can be dropped off at the Pantry (1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven) Wednesday and Thursdays between 8:15 -1. If you need a different time or day, contact us at shagan@jfsnh.org. Photo by Nyana Stoica/unsplash

June Pantry Collection Focuses on Summer

Posted on by Sandy Hagen

Although Summer officially begins on June 21st, June offers many opportunities prior to summer to join in outside festivities.  What better time to collect traditional picnic items.  The JFS Food Pantry will be collecting items such as mustard (yellow and spicy); ketchup, BBQ sauce, relish; mayo, baked beans, canned sauerkraut, canned beets and salad dressing.  Help our Pantry visitors celebrate the warmer weather with these common condiments and picnic accompaniments.  Our non-food collection items for June are paper towels and napkins.

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

Ansonia Stop & Shop Floral Department will Donate to JFS during November

Posted on by Sandy Hagen

Starting November 1st, Stop and Shop, Ansonia (located at 100 Division Street), will donate $1 to the JFS Food Pantry for every $10.99 Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet (Identified with the red circle sticker) purchased. During this Thanksgiving month you can spread a little love and thanks while helping feed the hungry in our local community! The Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquets are located in the floral section of the store or you may ask the Ansonia Stop & Shop Florist for assistance.

SOS Program Helps the Vulnerable

Posted on by Sandy Hagen

Through the Social Work Outreach Services Program, JFSGNH offers a lifeline to individuals/families in crisis who find themselves struggling to provide for their own basic needs. JFS offers assistance to vulnerable and at-risk community members in the areas of food, housing, utility, transportation and medical needs, to name a few.

Through a combination of social services and financial assistance, JFSGNH provides short-term stability to families to stem their immediate crises, and then works with them to ensure long-term well-being and self-sustainability. Our goal is to help people in economic crisis to help themselves. We do so while respecting the dignity and confidentiality of clients.

Services Available

One-time Emergency Financial Assistance

Basic Needs Assistance (utility, transportation, and/or food)

Help individuals navigate community, state and federal resources

Referral to JFS Mental Health/Counseling Services

Resources and Referrals

Find out if the Social Work Outreach Services Program (SOS) is the solution you or someone you love might need.

CALL Jessica Maselli 203-916-1680 or jmaselli@jfsnh.org

Important Coronavirus Update

Posted on by Sandy Hagen

Important Coronavirus Update

According to the CDC and Health officials, social distancing is seen as the most effective means of slowing the spread and reducing the impact of COVID-19 among our employees, volunteers, clients and the general community.

Due to the volume of traffic into our office, Jewish Family Service is taking the following steps in response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) until further notice.

The JFS office is currently closed and the staff of JFS is currently working remotely. The best way to contact staff members is via email or voicemail.

JFS continues to diligently strategize how to best continue to help serve the needs of our clients and community at this time of need and yet keep all safe. We are so appreciative of your support and will keep you updated via email, Facebook and our website as we establish additional plans to serve our community. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Rashba at arashba@jfsnh.org

Free Summer Meals

Posted on by Zach Pelletier

If you have a school-aged student or know someone who does who will be in need of breakfast and lunch this summer, simply text “FOOD” to 877877 and receive a message back with a location closest to where they can get free summer meals. You can also log in to https://www.endhungerct.org/summer-meals/ and type in a zip code and it will list the locations in the immediate area. Even if you aren’t in need, someone else’s kids are. No child deserves to go hungry, ever.

Stay Home During the Food4Kids Non-Event Fundraiser

Posted on by Sandy Hagen

You can Stay Home in Support of Food4Kids New Haven this November!  Food4Kids is hosting a “Non-Event” fundraiser this month allowing you an evening to do whatever you like.  We hope this evening will include a donation to this vital kids feeding program.

Food4Kids New Haven provides weekend supplemental food to 354 children in the New Haven school system.  For as little as $211, you can sponsor one student for a full academic year.  To sponsor a child or to make a donation to this program, please click here.    Be sure to choose Food4Kids in the drop down menu on the donation page.

September is National Hunger Action Month – Help Us Help Others

Posted on by Sandy Hagen

Food Collections to Benefit JFS Food Pantry During National Hunger Action Month

September is National Hunger Action Month and Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven, Inc. is participating by collecting non-perishable food to help stock its pantry shelves. Hunger Action Month is your opportunity to be a part of this national movement by donating non-perishable items to help feed the many local families in need of food assistance.

Some of the items most requested include:
Boxed pasta, Dried beans; Canned meats (chicken, Spam, turkey); Canned Fish (albacore tuna, salmon, chunk white tuna); Hamburger Helper; Rice mixes (Rice-a-Roni, microwave rice pouches); Grains (couscous, quinoa); Canned vegetables all varieties (beets, mushrooms, potatoes – sliced, whole or diced, corn, French style green beans, peas, lima beans); Tea and Coffee (especially Decaf); Soups of all types; and baking mixes.

On Friday, September 14th (National Hunger Action Day) the JFS Food Pantry & Nutritional Health Center will be open from 8-12 accepting donations.  In addition, non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at the JFS Food Pantry (1440 Whalley Avenue) on Wednesdays or Thursdays between 8:30 – 11:45 a.m. or the JFS main office during non-pantry hours (please be aware that the Jewish High Holidays are in September so the offices will be closed on several days).

In addition, synagogues conducting food drives during the High Holidays are asked to please sort and remove any expired food before delivering.  To arrange a drop off day and time, contact Mara Ginsberg at mginsberg@jfsnh.org.   For additional information please contact Sandy Hagan at (203) 389-5599, ext. 121 or shagan@jfsnh.org.