Winter brings shorter days, colder nights and, for many in our community, greater need. While families are gathering indoors and celebrating the season, thousands of our neighbors are struggling with food insecurity, isolation and disrupted services due to the recent government shutdown. Your helping hands can make an even bigger difference right now.
“In times like these, it is our community coming together that is a testament to our region’s strengths,” said Senior Chief of External Affairs Jeffrey Lasday of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. “With increased need across our community, every act of service — big or small — helps bring warmth and stability to someone’s winter.”
Check out some of the organizations supported by the Jewish Federation that need your help this winter to provide vital resources to individuals and families across the region.
Jewish Relief Agency (JRA)
JRA nourishes more than 6,000 low-income individuals across Greater Philadelphia. Winter weather makes deliveries even more critical—and more challenging. Volunteers of all ages are needed to pack kosher food boxes and deliver them to clients. Delivery drivers are especially needed. To learn more and volunteer, click here.
KleinLife
KleinLife's Home Delivered Meals program fills an essential need for 700 homebound seniors. Volunteers coordinate a weekly time to deliver pre-cooked meals. In addition to home delivery, KleinLife continues to serve over 250 hot lunches daily to seniors through the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, along with 60–70 free meals for children in its after-school program—many of whom are Ukrainian refugees. To learn more and volunteer, click here.
Mitzvah Food Program
Serving 8,000 individuals annually, the Mitzvah Food Program offers nutritious, choice-based food to anyone in need. With weekly emergency distributions now underway, volunteers are needed to pack, deliver and support operations at the program’s four pantry sites.Donate, pack or help deliver food packages from one of four pantry sites in Greater Philadelphia. To learn more and volunteer, click here.
Mitzvah Circle
Mitzvah Circle has helped over 300,000 families over the last five years, providing them with items that are not covered by government assistance. Clothing, toothpaste, diapers and deodorant are some of the many items that people need each day, but not all can afford to buy. Volunteers are needed to donate items or sort through donations. To learn more, click here.
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The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia funds organizations and operates its own Mitzvah Food Program to address basic needs, including making sure individuals and families have culturally sensitive and nutritious food at their table.
The Jewish Federation works with and provides funding to various organizations that focus on feeding families, such as: the Jewish Relief Agency, KleinLife, KAVOD SHEF (Survivors of the Holocaust Emergency Fund) – a national matching initiative led by Seed the Dream Foundation – Mitzvah Food Program, Latet-Israeli Humanitarian Aid, and Leket. We also partner with a growing list of organizations to combat hunger, including Philabundance, SHARE Food Program, Drexel Food lab, Sharing Excess, JFCS, Montgomery County Anti-Hunger Network, Rodeph Shalom's Breaking Bread on Broad program, and many more.
Find out more ways to volunteer within Greater Philadelphia by visiting jewishphilly.org/volunteer.