FALL FOOD DRIVE — When I was a child attending religious school, Sukkot meant bringing food to the synagogue.
That practice continues today, where many synagogues hand out empty grocery bags following Rosh Hashanah services and ask that they be returned full before the end of this month. Most congregations are collecting food and non-food items for the Jewish Family Services Food Pantry. Donation barrels are located at these congregations and at the Jewish Community Campus. All donations directly benefit families in our greater community.
The JFS Food Pantries in Kansas and Missouri distribute more than 12,500 pounds of food to more than 230 families each month. The following list is what the pantry needs most at this time (kosher and non-kosher):
Food: fresh produce from your garden; cereal; beans, dried or canned; canned fruit; tomato products; crackers; canned fish and chicken; canned vegetable soup; peanut butter; pasta sauce; cake and dessert mixes; crackers and spices.
Non-food items: paper towels; napkins; multi-purpose cleaner or wipes; shampoo; tea/coffee; lotion; hand soap and adult incontinence products.
GLOBAL DAY OF JEWISH LEARNING — The Kansas City Jewish community will be part of the Global Day of Jewish Learning, which brings the Jewish people together once a year to celebrate our shared Jewish text through community-based learning. The event takes place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Jewish Community Campus. Visit kcrabbis.org for more information and details. This learning program is sponsored by the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City and the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. There is no charge to attend.
REGISTER TO VOTE — While The Chronicle does not endorse political candidates, we highly encourage our readers to vote for the candidates that best match their values in the Nov. 8 election. To do so, you must be registered to vote. If you live in Missouri, voter registration has already closed. But Kansans may still register for another few days — the deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 18.
The Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee reports that voter registration forms are available online at jocoelection.org, at the local libraries, at the JCRB|AJC office (located inside the Jewish Federation office at the Jewish Community Campus) and at many synagogues.
Advance voting in Kansas begins Oct. 19 and ends Nov. 8. Applications for voting by mail are also available at jocoelection.org. Advance voting in person begins Oct. 24 and ends Nov. 7.
In Missouri, voters are required to request a form for an absentee ballot. Forms are available online at jcbemo.org, the JCRB|AJC office or local election offices. There is no advance voting in person in Missouri.
Don’t miss your opportunity to vote in this all-important election!
HELP JVS REPLACE STOLEN TOOLS — KCTV-5 reported last month that about $1,000 worth of gardening tools were stolen from the Global Gardens Project, a new project of Jewish Vocational Services that is funded by charitable grants. It consists of three gardens where refugees can grow plants from their home countries to feed their families and build a community. The opening of a fourth garden was put on hold due to the theft.
The three gardens are on city land bank properties that were considered blighted. Most of the farmers are women and elderly family members.
“When they come to America, they can feel isolated and so this brings a sense of community,” said Molly Fusselman, Global Gardens coordinator.
JVS needs donations of old tools, jugs or cash to replace what was stolen. For more information, contact Fusselman at .or go to jvskc.org.