Beron Jewish Older Adult Services (Beron-JOAS), part of the Rosin Senior Center in Atlantic City, has been serving seniors since 1977. Beron-JOAS is a CFBNJ community partner and a Network Investment grant recipient. To add to its existing food assistance services, which include a soup kitchen and a meal delivery program, the organization has created a healthy pantry using grant funds from the FoodBank. The pantry provides nutritious options, including dairy items and fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as nutrition education through cooking demonstrations, wellness classes, and one-on-one consultations.
“The new healthy pantry has been a very exciting service to offer during a challenging time in our community and in the world,” they told us.
With Network Investment grant funds, Beron-JOAS purchased a high-capacity freezer, a commercial refrigerator, a computer, and plenty of healthy food to make the pantry a reality. Atlantic City is a food desert, a place with limited access to nutritious and affordable food, and seniors are especially vulnerable to hunger and its health implications.
“This grant has allowed us to renovate an entire pantry from an empty room to one that will hold fresh fruits, farm-grown vegetables, and pantry staples for older adults in Atlantic City,” they said.