Susan Rahn & Larry Blair, Woodfield Feeds the Hungry Co-chairs

Called to action by the economic challenges facing local families and individuals, residents of Woodfield Country Club and Woodfield Hunt Club in Boca Raton came together in a powerful response. Led by Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County volunteers, “Woodfield Feeds the Hungry” raised nearly $9,000 in food and monetary contributions throughout the month of May – enough to feed 350 people for a full month.

“As unbelievable as it may sound, there are many people in our Boca-Delray Jewish community who are going hungry,” said the project’s co-chair Susan Rahn. “The donations went to the Forster Family Kosher Food Pantry, a program of Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service that is helping more families than ever before.” 

“With so many individuals and families impacted by job loss and other financial challenges, our community’s needs have never been more critical,” said William S. Bernstein, Federation President and CEO.  “The Federation is committed to responding, and has provided emergency grants to the Kosher Food Pantry twice this year to meet their rising caseload. With this unprecedented situation, everyone who can help needs to step up – as Woodfield has done. ”

“Our Feed the Hungry campaign gave Woodfield residents an unprecedented opportunity to unite on behalf of our neighbors in need,” noted Larry Blair, the project’s co-chair, who also chairs the Ruth Rales Board of Directors. “It was especially gratifying to see so many volunteers of all ages joining in to make the drive a resounding success, filling the Food Pantry shelves at least temporarily.”

“This food drive also helped make Woodfield residents aware of the growing community needs met by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County and the service agencies it helps support,” continued Blair. “We’ve been able to identify a Next Generation of Leadership in Woodfield – younger adults who understand and care, and are ready to inspire others to take action to help our Jewish community.”

	L-R: Shelby Hotz, Emily Marton, Morgan Blair, Neil Meisel

Much younger Woodfield residents were also inspired to help. High school students Dean Meisel and Jared Schwartzman set up and maintained the project’s Facebook page. “Our families were very committed to doing this with our friends and neighbors, and Facebook was a way we knew we could make an important contribution,” said Meisel. Other teens canvassed their neighborhoods to ask for food or monetary donations, and made deliveries to the Food Pantry.

Elementary and middle school students got into the spirit with their own  initiatives. After thinking about how they could help, six year olds Morgan Blair, Shelby Hotz and Emily Marton raised $55 for the Food Pantry with a “Lemonade, Cookie and Art Stand.” Gabby Marton, 12, is collecting donations of toiletries, another need of Pantry recipients.

"We’re thrilled with the success of our first food drive,” said Rahn. “We made it very easy to participate. We circulated a list of food items most needed, and asked people to just pick some up when they did their regular shopping, or look through their pantries. We had 29 drop-off homes throughout the Woodfield communities, and teenagers who would pick up packages. And we provided reusable ‘green’ bags donated by Publix and an individual.”

	Susan Rahn bagging food in Zinman Hall for Forster Kosher Food Pantry delivery

“The extent of local needs continues to challenge the Forster Family Kosher Food Pantry, and it’s up to all of us to keep them from running out of food,” continued Rahn. “We will definitely repeat our efforts in Woodfield this fall, and we urge other South Palm Beach County communities to hold their own drives. We will be glad to help!” 

For more information about the Federation’s Next Generation of Leadership and opportunities to meet vital community needs, contact  jessicar@bocafed.org or 561-852-3109

 

The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County serves the Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach areas, raising and allocating funds to meet vital human needs. Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service is a founding beneficiary agency of the Federation.