All helping hands are welcome at the JFS Food Pantry

Written by SUZANNE MARINO Friday, April 20, 2012 10:27 am

MARGATE – You are never too young or too old to do something nice for someone else. Just ask some of the recent volunteers at the food pantry at Jewish Family Services.

The youngest group of volunteers to the Jewish Family Service to help stock the shelves of the food pantry are, in front: Matthew Pattillo of Northfield and Maren Wrieden of Linwood. In the middle row are Sam Goldstein and Nathan Wrieden, both of Linwood. Standing in the back are Josh Bronner of Northfield and Jacob Wood of Egg Harbor Township.

A group of children and their moms from the Shore Mothers Club visited with volunteer coordinator Leigh Turner of the JFS Wednesday, April 11, and learned some important lessons about caring about others.

The Shore Mothers Club wanted to get their children involved with some kind of volunteer project, but when the kids range in age from 4 to 9 years old, the options are rather limited for what they can do.

According to SMC member Jessica Goldstein of Linwood, what the children could do is collect food for the pantry and help put it on the shelves.

Turner said she sat down on the floor with the boys and girls and talked about the food pantry and who uses it.

“I asked if they go food shopping with Mommy and Daddy and they told me that after they pick the food, they pay the person at the cash register. But I asked, ‘what would happen if Mommy and Daddy did not have the money to pay for the food they needed for their family,’” said Turner.

“We talked about what kind of food they want if they are really hungry. Do they want mac and cheese or do they want a bottle of ketchup?” said Turner.

“It is an education for the parents as well as the children who have come to help. They really understand what kind of food people need to help them when they are hungry and have nowhere to get food.”

Turner said the young volunteers looked at the expiration dates before helping to place the food on the shelves. They also talked about how good it feels to do something that helps someone else, and that is the feeling that Goldstein and the other mothers hoped would click for all of the young volunteers.

Some asked if they could come back and volunteer another time, to which Turner said, “Absolutely.”

The Jewish Family Service Food Pantry is located in Margate, 607 N. Jerome Ave. Non-perishable food may be dropped off during regular business hours for the agency Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For additional information call (609) 822-1108.

The Wrieden twins of Linwood, Maren and Nathan, stock one of their favorite meals, macaroni and cheese on the shelves at the JFS Food Pantry on Wednesday, April 11. Matthew Pattillo of Northfield checks the date on applesauce before adding it to the shelves of the JFS Food Pantry on Wednesday, April 11. Sam Goldstein of Linwood and Jacob Wood of Egg Harbor Township are loaded down with donated items to go on the shelves of the JFS Food Pantry to help families in need.