With the COVID-19 pandemic heating up again, Jewish Family Services continues to provide approximately 800 families with food, household and personal care items - even pet food.
JFS needs donations from the community to help keep its shelves stocked in its two pantry locations at Brookside East in Kansas City and at the Jewish Community Campus in Overland Park. About 50 percent of the items in the pantry come from donated products many received during food drives.
During September, JFS is asking the public to donate tomato products, such as canned tomatoes and tomato sauce, canned fruit, toothpaste, and paper towels. Packages of toilet paper can also be donated as part of JFS’ “WipeOut” effort. The pantry distributes 2,700 rolls each month and the demand continues to increase.
The first food drive will be from 5 to 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 13 at the JFS food pantry in Brookside, 425 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City. Donors are asked to pull into a designated parking space on the west side of the building and call the number listed; a volunteer will pick up items directly from cars.
The second food drive will be 10 a.m. to noon, Sunday, Sept. 19 at the Jewish Community Campus, 5801 W 115th Street, Overland Park. Drop off will be in the front circle drive where JFS volunteers and staff will take items directly from cars.
Can’t make these two dates work for you? Donations can be dropped off in the JFS barrel in the lobby of the Campus during business hours or at the Brookside office with appointment by calling (816) 333-1172. Donors may also purchase through the JFS Pantry Wish List on Amazon or make a financial contribution to the pantry at www.jfskc.org.
Often the pantry is the entry point for individuals to benefit from one or more additional services JFS provides such as social services, mental health counseling and older adult services.
If your organization or company would like to host its own food drive, JFS can provide all the tools needed. For more information, email .