This month, Jewish Family Services (JFS) is honoring Arnold and Carol Caviar as its donors of the month and honorary chairs for the 2024 Summer Splash open house.
The Caviars owned and operated Liberty Fruit Company, a successful produce business that Arnold Caviar’s father started in 1965. For 20 years, the couple worked together running the company and bringing in the third generation of the family with their children. Though the Caviars have sold the business, their son Allen remains its president.
With the success of the company, the Caviars never forgot where they came from and have shared their prosperity by taking care of others. In addition to Arnold Caviar being a past JFS board member, the Caviars donated fresh produce to JFS for several years, supporting pantry clients year-round and during Jewish holidays. In 2015, the Caviars made an endowment gift to support the JFS food pantry.
“It is a wonderful thing,” Carol Caviar said about the food pantry. “We do a lot for a number of charities, but we choose JFS because it does something for everybody. We've been fortunate to share and hope to always do that.”
Both Caviars said they grew up in families of modest means and their parents inspired them to work hard. At one time, Arnold Caviar worked as a teacher and coach in a local public school. Being in a public setting helped him appreciate how others face challenges in their daily lives.
“There are givers and there are takers, and I’m a giver,” he said. “I think the world should be made up of more givers and not takers, not only in all faiths but all walks of life.”
“We appreciate Carol and Arnie’s 15+ years of commitment to JFS’ [food] pantry,” said Jo Hickey, JFS director of pantry partnerships. “Additionally, through the Caviars' former company, Liberty Fruit, Jewish families — many of whom are older adults, Holocaust survivors or refugees — enjoy fresh produce for Passover and Rosh Hashanah. JFS really could not do the work we do without the kindness and support of Arnie and Carol.”
In addition to JFS, the Caviars have been supporters of their congregation, Kehilath Israel Synagogue (Arnold is a past president), other Jewish agencies, Little Sisters of the Poor and Children’s Mercy Hospital.
These days, the Caviars enjoy spending time with each other, their children and grandchildren, playing cards and visiting with friends. They continue their charitable support.
“It feels really good to help other people," Carol Caviar said. “It warms your heart that you made somebody else smile.”
The event they are chairing, the Summer Splash, will be held on Thursday, May 30, at the JFS Brookside Office (425 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, MO 64110) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Treats, music, fun and games for kids and adults, tours of JFS Brookside operation and pop-up volunteer activities for those served by JFS will be available. Community partners will be on hand to provide various resources.
Those wishing to support JFS and its programs and services can contact the JFS development team at (913) 730-1429 or .
