With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day coming up as well as many graduations and Jewish celebrations, consider a gift that keeps on giving to many people through the Jewish Family Services (JFS) B’nai Mitzvah* campaign supporting the Food Pantry’s is 13th birthday with a B’nai Mitzvah*! JFS is celebrating its food pantry’s 13th birthday with a B’nai Mitzvah – Party for the Pantry Annual Fund Drive. The goal is to raise $300,000 to support the pantry for six months so it can continue to provide sustenance for those who need it most.
On the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah, Wyatt Copakken chose to have friends and family honor him with food and financial donations to the Jewish Family Services Food Pantry.
JFS supporters and community leaders Donna Gould-Cohen and Ann Stern are the Honorary Co-Chairs and Presenting Sponsor of the B’nai Mitzvah campaign.
Rabbi Mark Levin, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth Torah, chose to celebrate a big birthday by having family, friends and students honor the occasion with a financial donation to the JFS Food Pantry.
“It gave me an opportunity to magnify the impact on other people,” the rabbi said. “The amount of gratitude I felt and joy to touch people’s lives who I don’t know but I know if they are going to the food pantry, they are hungry. To be able to do for someone else added so much joy to my celebration,” he said.
Each month, the two locations of the JFS Food Pantry provide more than 500 families with food as well as personal care and household supplies, which are not covered by government assistance. JFS Food Pantry operates a choice pantry with clients coming in to select the items they need. Twenty-five percent of the people that JFS serves through the pantry are children. The pantry also provides both VAAD-supervised kosher and non-kosher food.
Over its 13 years, the two locations of the JFS Food Pantry have provided more than 3.5 million pounds of food (that is 1,500 tons), household goods and personal care items to help those who need it most. And that is certainly something to celebrate!
To date, JFS has raised $170,000 (57 percent of the goal) for the pantry B’nai Mitzvah effort. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated. (Please note that JFS is not holding an in-person fundraiser this year, so philanthropic giving to B’nai Mitzvah and/or other giving opportunities is invaluable to helping JFS provide critical human services to people facing challenges.)
It’s easy to make a gift to honor (or in memory of) someone. Gifts can be made securely at jfskc.org/donatepantrybnaimitzvah. Sponsorship opportunities are also available; for more information about sponsorships, making a gift or how to host a food or toiletry drive, call 913.730.1429 or email development@jfskc.org.
Beyond making a financial gift, families, organizations, and businesses are encouraged to host food drives and drop off items while enjoying delicious B’nai Mitzvah treats and party favors on Sunday, June 8, 1-3 p.m. in the circle drive of the Jewish Community Campus. Party for the Pantry sponsors will be invited to come inside the lobby for an immersive tour experience.
