Collection Drive At Newtown Synagogue Nets 15,000 Pounds Of Food

NEWTOWN, PA — A month-long food drive organized by Congregation Shir Ami during October collected more than 15,000 pounds of food and personal care items for eight local hunger relief agencies.

As more people throughout the region experience food insecurity due to rising prices and other factors, the food collection will help the agencies meet the growing need.

The synagogue collected non-perishable food items, personal care products and monetary donations. In addition, Shir Ami partnered with Newtown Middle School for their food collection “CANpout,” where students and parents gathered over 3,000 pounds of food to be donated to Shir Ami’s Food Bank.

“I am incredibly proud of our members, religious school families and our local community," said Marc Luber, Shir Ami board member and food insecurity chairperson, expressing his gratitude to the congregation and the community. “Two hundred volunteers ranging in age from 6 to 86 years of age worked hard to shop, sort, label and transport over 15,000 pounds of donated food. That is a 50 percent increase over last year’s donations, at a time when those who are experiencing food insecurity need it the most.”

The Warminster Food Bank picked up a portion of the 15,000 pounds of groceries on Monday, October 31.

“We are so grateful to the Shir Ami community for their regular and generous support,” said
Mike Cerino, Director, Warminster Food Bank. “They supported us when few others could during the pandemic, and now they have helped us again with critical supplies during a period of increasing demand due to rising food costs.”

October’s food collection is just one of Shir Ami’s many volunteer projects.

The synagogue also collects food for the Jewish Relief Agency, a Philadelphia non-profit organization that serves over 6000 low-income individuals. It also has a monthly meal making project for Caring for Friends, another Philadelphia non-profit organization that provides meals to the homebound and homeless and serves as a food bank.

Reform synagogue Shir Ami located in Newtown traces its history to 1976 when several Jewish families in Richboro gathered to discuss the formation of a new congregation. Shir Ami endeavors continue Reform traditions in Bucks County, as well as make new ones.

To learn more, visit www.shirami.org. Follow them on Facebook at: @shiramibuckscounty or on Instagram at @shir_ami_pa.