Across the city, need and food insecurity has increased drastically since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-profit organizations were hit hard with increased demand – Jewish Family & Community Services alone saw a 50% rise in food pantry clients since March.
However, the Jacksonville community did not allow the hardships of 2020 to defeat our sense of hope. JFCS’s Max Block Food Pantry opened two new satellite food pantry locations last year. JFCS also partnered with Door Dash in order to bring meals to families and individuals with mobility challenges and those without transportation. At one of the satellite food pantries, George Washington Carver Elementary School, 99% of the student population is on free or reduced lunch meal plans, and can now receive aid from our pantry.
“JFCS is thrilled that we have this new partnership with George Washington Carver Elementary School. When we learned that close to 99% of their students struggle with food insecurity, we knew that we had to add a Max Block Food Pantry in their school. We appreciate that the Jewish Federation Young Leadership Division jumped right in to assist us in creating a space that will meet these children’s basic needs, so that they can focus on their academics,” said Colleen Rodriguez, JFCS Executive Director. Just as the need in our community continues, our work is not yet over. Start the new year off on the right foot by giving back. For more information on how to donate, please visit jfcsjax.org/howtohelp/.