UJA-Federation of New York brings together Westchester families to help feed the hungry

More than 300 people spent the morning of Veterans Day — Tuesday, November 11th — in community service, decorating packages and filling them with food to be distributed to the hungry through area food pantries.

The event, which took place in two locations, was part of UJA-Federation of New York’s Westchester Families Feeding Families initiative, which brings together Westchester families, synagogues, teen groups, and other community organizations to participate in local food and supply drives throughout the year. Packing took place at the Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester in Scarsdale and the Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester in Pleasantville.

“It’s hard to imagine someone not having enough to eat, but that, sadly, is sometimes the case,” said Vivian Sklar of Scarsdale to the children at the JCC of Mid-Westchester. “Sometimes it’s very hard for older or ill people to shop, especially during the winter months, and they need donated food to be delivered to their homes. You are doing a very good deed by making life a little easier for them and showing them you care.”

During the event, volunteers decorated bags and created holiday cards to deliver warm wishes to the recipients. The bags were filled with a variety of canned and prepackaged food, as well as items such as paper towels and tissues that cannot be purchased via the government food stamp program.

“UJA-Federation supports nearly 100 health, human-service, educational, and community agencies that improve people’s lives. One hundred agencies! Can you imagine how many people they help?” Tara Steinberg of Irvington asked the young volunteers at the Rosenthal JCC. “If you’re imagining 4.5 million people each year, you’re right. Our agencies feed the hungry, house the homeless, and provide services to people with special needs and Holocaust survivors and the elderly, and so many more.”

Photo: Sydney Anmuth, 10, and Chloe Anmuth, 8, of Rye Brook fill bags with paper towels and tissues, items that cannot be purchased through the food stamp program.

About UJA-Federation of New York


For more than 95 years, UJA-Federation has been a central force for communal planning and philanthropy in the New York Jewish community. Through UJA-Federation, more than 55,000 donors pool their resources to help people in need, inspire a passion for Jewish life and learning, and strengthen Jewish communities around the world to address the issues that matter to us most as Jews and as New Yorkers. Working with nearly 100 network beneficiary agencies, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations, our reach spans from New York to Israel to more than 70 other countries around the world, touching 4.5 million people each year. Because we do the most good when we do it together. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website at www.ujafedny.org.