Jewish Family Service in Elizabeth is a long-time CFBNJ community partner that’s more than just a source of meals – it’s also a lifeline that honors tradition. The pantry serves about 2,000 families per month, providing essential support to a diverse community of Jewish, Latino, Haitian, and other neighbors in need.
“When people come from other countries, they don’t necessarily identify with the foods that we commonly have in the United States,” said Kathy Fernandez, JFS’s Food Pantry Coordinator, highlighting the importance of providing culturally familiar items.
“We have to make sure that everything we distribute within our food pantry is kosher,” Kathy added. “It’s very important that boundaries aren’t broken.” The pantry also has specific programs for Orthodox families, who follow stricter kosher diets, and for Holocaust survivors.
JFS’s holiday distributions provide special food for Jewish holidays, and its community garden grows over 1,000 pounds of produce and herbs each season – from eggplant to tomatoes and even pumpkins. Together with CFBNJ for nearly 15 years, JFS has ensured nourishing, culturally relevant food for New Jerseyans in need.