Temple Emanu-El Donates to Local Food Pantries

On Friday, June 29, Marci Fisher and Susan Klein, members of ’s Second Connect organization, donated Shop Rite Gift cards to Tom Beck, Executive Director of Jewish Family Service of Central NJ, for its Food Pantry and to the Westfield Food Pantry along with over 150 food items given at the Temple’s Munch ‘N Mitzvah (to do good deeds) Shabbat Dinner sponsored by Second Connect and chaired by Marci and Susan.

Second Connect is an organization that was started three years ago at Temple Emanu-El to reach out to congregants in their mid-40's to mid-60's to promote new friendships and connections with other "baby boomers.”  The Munch N’Mitzvah Shabbat Dinner is an excellent example of the innovative and exciting social, cultural, and educational events that this organization develops. More than 40 people attended the dinner before services and shared stories, food, and fun as well as their donations to the Food Pantry. Also, the events generated money that could be used to support local organizations that serve the needy who live in the community, according to Marci Fisher, co-chair of the Munch Event. The committee was chaired by Susan Dickstein and the new chair for fiscal 2012-2013 will be Nan Statton.

The Westfield Food Pantry, which was established thirty years ago, provides food to approximately 125 families a month, all of whom are referred to the Pantry by social service agencies throughout Union County. The Westfield Pantry is located in the Holy Trinity Inter-parochial School at 336 First Street.    

Tom Beck, Executive Director of Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey, explained that JFS, a non-profit, non-sectarian, social services agency, provides two food programs to support those in need. The first gives food to over 200 people each month both delivered to their homes and distributed at the Food Pantry in their Elizabeth building. The program also provides food for people who are facing emergencies, and through the good will of volunteers they deliver to the elderly and frail.  The second program that JFS provides is Kosher Meals on Wheels. Each day, 100 people receive two meals, one hot and one cold.

While the Second Connect group finds it important to support the needs of those in the community who need assistance, the major aim of the group of Baby Boomers is to enjoy adult social gatherings and to be young at heart. Marci Fisher puts it simply, when she said, “Being part of Second Connect has allowed me to connect with people I would never had connected with before.”

Temple Emanu-El is located at 756 East Broad Street in Westfield.  For more information, please contact Carolyn Shane, Executive Director, at 908-232-6770, ext. 114, cshane@tewnj.org, or visit our website at www.tewnj.org.