Cars started lining up down Corporate Woods Drive at 8 am on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, eagerly waiting for the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry to begin its Thanksgiving food distribution.
Busy volunteers and staff were loading carts carrying bags of Thanksgiving turkeys and fixings, bagging onions, potatoes, and yams – preparing for one of the largest Thanksgiving food giveaways ever.
More than 120 people registered for food bags, each of which is meant to feed about four people. With more than 400 hungry Thanksgiving mouths to feed, JFS took on the challenge, thanks to help from the Tidewater Jewish community and other supporters. Funding for these programs comes from a variety of sources, including the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, and private donors who make cash donations. Contributions of canned and boxed goods, turkeys, pies, and other food items were plentiful. In fact, two area congregations rented U-Haul trucks to carry the amount of food donated! Each of Strelitz International Academy’s classes selected a theme for which item they would collect, and many, many people held canned food drives at their places of worship or employment, or in their neighborhoods. “The generosity of our community is overwhelming,” says Emily Krouse, JFS special projects coordinator.
As cars streamed through the parking lot, volunteers and staff loaded their trunks with bags of food and a fresh turkey. “We love you all!” shouted one older woman, who is a regular to the pantry. “We wouldn’t make it without you!” “We love you back!” we replied.
“It is days like these that make this work so meaningful,” says Brooke Rush, JFS director of marketing. “Knowing that we are helping people come together with their families is so touching.”
As the flow of cars ebbed away, the rain began to slowly warn that it was time to pack up. Just as the last cart of food was brought in and one of the volunteers returned with the food pantry signs, a young man sheepishly approached. “Is it over?” he asked, looking around at the now empty tables. “I saw your signs earlier when I was waiting with my kids at the bus.” As he spoke, a shy looking woman appeared by his side. The couple lives with their children in the trailer park adjacent to the Sandler Family Campus. “We never been to a food pantry before,” she said. “How does it work?” Without skipping a beat, the family was provided with enough food for Thanksgiving and some special treats for the kids to tide them over until school on Monday where they usually eat breakfast and lunch.
“People think of the meals for the holidays, which are so important for creating traditions and celebrations,” says Rush. “But we also provide food throughout the year. Without the constant support of volunteers and donors, we couldn’t do this work.”
The food pantry is open on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings, and by appointment. Individuals in need of food assistance can make a confidential call to 757-321-2227. In addition to food items, families are also in need of laundry detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, shampoo, soap, and toothpaste.
Kelly Burroughs is the CEO for Jewish Family Service.