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This is Our Sacred Responsibility
Ours is the wealthiest nation in the world, however, one in eight of us – almost 40 million Americans, including 17 million children – are food insecure.  The root causes of hunger are complicated and include: wage stagnation, unemployment, lack of access to high quality or affordable food in poor neighborhoods, and erosion of government funding for food assistance programs. 
 
Jewish tradition is clear about our responsibility to aid the neediest in our communities. We respond in different ways to alleviate hunger in Bucks County, among the most common being food drives and serving meals to the hungry. The Social Justice/Tikkun Olam committee at Shir Ami continues to raise awareness for the food insecurity that is right in our own backyard. 
 
Please participate in anyway you can to our various Food Drive projects – help us stock our Food Bank, participate in JRA events, and make meals at home to support Caring for Friends.  With your help, may we continue to fulfill our commandments as a community.

(excerpted from Rabbi Briskin's Shiron article, January 2019)


 

“Tzedakah exalts a nation”
(PROVERBS 14:34)

THE SHIR AMI FOOD BANK is supported throughout the year by donations from our Early Learning Center, Religious School and our Congregational community. In addition to these generous donations, our three annual Food Drives insures a nutritious and well balanced nonperishable food inventory.  Details for collection points and times are posted throughout the year.

The Shir Ami food bank was founded by Elaine and Ed Shapiro in 2008 and is open on the first Monday of each month (unless that date is either a national holiday or a Jewish holiday). In the latter case, the food bank will open on the second Monday of the month. Food bank volunteer hours are 3-4:30pm on those days.   
 
  • Food donations are accepted in the outside receptacles at all entrances, Mondays-Fridays, 9am-3pm, or whenever the synagogue or religious school is open.      
  • The majority of the food bank clients are local food pantries and social service agencies in the area. 
  • Agencies that receive monthly donations from Shir Ami include A Woman's Place, Bristol Borough Food pantry, Emergency Relief Association, and many more.
If individual members of Shir Ami find themselves in need of the food bank they can contact the synagogue office at 215-968-3400 to set up an appointment. All visits to the food bank are confidential. 
 
The food bank stocks only non-perishable, non-expired food items, paper goods, and limited personal care items such as toothpaste and deodorants. We rely on donations in the form of food items, supermarket gift cards, or direct financial contributions. [CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION]
 
In general, the food bank is always in need of the following: cereals, canned or jarred fruits, condiments (salad dressings, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard), baby foods, snacks, (such as breakfast and granola bars), peanut butter and jelly, pasta sauce, mac and cheese, canned pasta meals, paper goods (especially toilet paper, paper towels, tissues).  
 
We are truly thankful for the support of Shir Ami congregation and the religious school and ELC families. Without your generosity, we would not be able to function. We look forward to your continuing support to help us to address food insecurity in the Bucks County area.

HIGH HOLY DAYS FOOD DRIVE
ShirAmi begins this food drive on Rosh Hashannah. On Yom Kippur, the collection process begins and continues throughout Sukkot and Simchat Torah. It culminates with a two day event beginning with a Sunday morning sort and ending with a Monday morning shopping experience for local food agencies in Bucks County.


WINTER & SPRING FOOD DRIVES
During the holiday season, there is a heightened awareness of food insecurity. Folks are encouraged to make donations but other times during the year, donations decrease. As a result, we find our pantry struggling to maintain its inventory thereby necessitating the Winter and Spring Food Drives. These drives provide additional opportunities for our pantry volunteers to raise food insecurity awareness amongst our school students and the entire ShirAmi community. Both drives culminate with a sorting and stocking event on a Sunday morning in the Winter and another in the Spring.


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteers are encouraged and more importantly welcomed. We need folks to assist with the planning and work during the drives. The Food Drive volunteer experience offers opportunities to learn about food insecurity issues in Bucks County, to work with a terrific group of people and to perform a mitzvah.

 

 

 JRA FOOD DRIVE VOLUNTEERS

 JRA is a local non-profit organization that serves over 6,000 diverse, low-income  individuals across Greater Philadelphia by relieving hunger, improving lives, and   strengthening our community. One Sunday each   month, volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities meet at JRA's Northeast Philly warehouse to pack and deliver more   than 3,200 boxes of nutritious kosher food, fresh produce and toiletries to low-income   individuals and families.  You help volunteering for this cause would be greatly   appreciated.
 
  For information, please contact: Columbo Sosky at columbo130@aol.com 
Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784