300 Volunteer to Help Feed the Needy

More than 300 people spent the morning of Veterans Day in community service, decorating packages and filling them with food to be distributed to the hungry through area food pantries.

The event, which took place in two locations, was part of UJA-Federation of New York's Westchester Families Feeding Families initiative, which brings together Westchester families, synagogues, teen groups, and other community organizations to participate in local food and supply drives throughout the year. Packing took place at the Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester in Scarsdale and the Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester in Pleasantville.

"It's hard to imagine someone not having enough to eat, but that, sadly, is sometimes the case," said Vivian Sklar of Scarsdale to the children at the JCC of Mid-Westchester. "Sometimes it's very hard for older or ill people to shop, especially during the winter months, and they need donated food to be delivered to their homes. You are doing a very good deed by making life a little easier for them and showing them you care."

During the event, volunteers decorated bags and created holiday cards to deliver warm wishes to the recipients. The bags were filled with a variety of canned and prepackaged food, as well as items such as paper towels and tissues that cannot be purchased via the government food stamp program.

"UJA-Federation supports nearly 100 health, human-service, educational, and community agencies that improve people's lives. One hundred agencies! Can you imagine how many people they help?" Tara Steinberg of Irvington asked the young volunteers at the Rosenthal JCC. "If you're imagining 4.5 million people each year, you're right. Our agencies feed the hungry, house the homeless, and provide services to people with special needs and Holocaust survivors and the elderly, and so many more."