Jewish Family Services (JFS) Food Pantry is celebrating its 13th birthday with a b’nai mitzvah party.
Over its 13 years, the two locations of the Jewish Family Services (JFS) Food Pantry have provided more than 3.5 million pounds (1,500 tons) of food, household goods and personal care items to help those who need it most.
To mark the Food Pantry’s 13th birthday, JFS is celebrating with a b’nai mitzvah party for the Pantry Annual Fund Drive. Longtime JFS supporters and community leaders Donna Gould-Cohen and Ann Stern are the honorary co-chairs and presenting sponsors of the B’nai Mitzvah $300,000 Campaign.
“What has inspired me to support JFS for decades is that they help everybody — people of all backgrounds. That is very important to me. It echoes my beliefs,” Stern said.
“I found my time on JFS’ board to have been very meaningful," Gould-Cohen said. “My family and I appreciate the great work JFS does, providing necessary mental health counseling, helping older adults live safely in their homes and distributing food so people don’t go hungry. JFS even provides Jewish programming at Village Shalom, where I live.”
The two women are working with a committee of community volunteers on the b’nai mitzvah effort, including Phyllis and Bob Bernstein; Cathy Boyer-Shesol and Ron Shesol; Pati Chasnoff; Janee Hanzlick; Trina and Tom Henke; Gary and Harry Himmelstein; Jenny Isenberg; Ro and Howard Jacobson; Regina Kort; Rachel Krantz and Edward Goldstein; Susan Lebovitz; Danielle and Sam Levine; Linda Lyon; Katie and John McGurk; Lena Price and Tom Cohen; Irv Robinson; Madelyn Rubinow; Jennifer and John Stolte; Jo Taylor; and Sue Vile.
The community is encouraged to host food drives and drop off items on Sunday, June 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the circle drive of the Jewish Community Campus, where the party will be held. “Party for the Pantry” sponsors will be invited to come inside the lobby for an immersive tour experience.
To date, 52% has been contributed toward the $300,000 goal. It costs about $300,000 to fund JFS’ two pantry locations (at the Jewish Community Campus and Brookside) and its service programs for six months. The B’nai Mitzvah Campaign is JFS’ main fundraiser for 2025. There will be no in-person fundraiser this year.
The Barton P. and Mary D. Cohen Charitable Trust has provided a $75,000 matching gift.
Gifts of all sizes are appreciated, with special recognition opportunities for campaign sponsors. More information about sponsorships, making a gift or hosting a food or toiletry drive is available by calling (913) 730-1429 or email . Gifts may be made securely online at jfskc.org/donatepantrybnaimitzvah.