I have come full circle and finished my mitzvot! My second mitzvah was shopping for Thanksgiving Dinner for my CASA family. This year, I decided to create a Thanksgiving Food Drive for other families who are in need this holiday season as my last mitzvah. My generous friends donated $60 for each family, and we were able to fill a huge shopping bag with non perishable food and a gift card for a turkey for 25 families. Nine CASA families, 4 CYS (Children and Youth Services) families, and 12 families from Chester Community Charter School will benefit from Mitzvah #50 – Yeah!!

One of the best parts of this mitzvah was the shopping.  I love to inspire others.  Eight of us met in Giant to go shopping.  A man noticed that I was giving out lists and money and asked what we were doing.  I explained our mission and he said that he wanted to help.  so my new friend Clayton (first picture) shopped for one of the baskets.  It was nice to have the extra hand, and to include others in our community in this mitzvah.

Today we worked at the Share Warehouse.  Every year during the High Holidays, congregants donate cans of food for the various Mitzvah Pantries in Philadelphia.  This year, there was 25% more donated than last year!  Women’s Philanthropy gets a group together to help sort all of the donations and this year we sorted over 40,000 pounds of food which will supplement the pantries for about 4 months.  We make sure that nothing is expired and that everything is kosher.  Then, we categorize the food by type, count it and box it up for delivery to the pantries.

Here are a few quick facts about Jewish Federation’s role in combatting hunger:
– Over 1,000,000 meals are provided to individuals suffering from hunger each year through the Jewish Federation
– Approximately 11,300 Jewish individuals in Greater Philadelphia face hunger
– 14,500 local low income individuals received food assistance through the Jewish Federation