Amid the ongoing national economic crisis, Met Council, America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy, plans to feed more than 200,000 food-insecure people before Rosh HaShanah – the traditional Jewish high holiday season. This comes as rising costs of food production, compounded by economic inflation, have created an increased demand for the organization’s assistance and support to put nutritious food on the table of food-insecure community members. The distribution is being funded through a recently launched emergency campaign, which aims to raise $2.3 million to cover the costs.
The food that Met Council distributes – much of which is tailored to a recipient’s needs via “Market by Met Council,” their exclusive online ordering system, helps recipients curate their orders to ensure choice and preference while also avoiding waste – includes apples and honey, tuna, chicken, gefilte fish, challah, eggs, oil, flour, fresh produce, grape juice, soup mix, rice, canned vegetables, and pasta, among other products. These are all items that are much appreciated during this holiday season.
The packaging and distribution are staffed by Met Council’s employees, along with an army of more than 600 volunteers, as well as community leaders and elected officials. This year’s food packages are available for pickup at 141 locations throughout New York State, including the five boroughs, Long Island, Westchester, Airmont, and Albany, as well as several additional pickup points throughout New Jersey and Connecticut.
“More families are finding themselves grappling with rising food costs as inflation continues to ripple through our economy. Our goal is simple: to ensure that families can celebrate this Yom Tov season with dignity,” said Met Council CEO David G. Greenfield. “On Rosh HaShanah, we sit together and dip the apple in honey, signifying a sweet new year. The holiday is rife with opportunities to set one’s year off to a strong start, and we hope that those who can afford to help will participate in our campaign so that they can help those less fortunate to have a sweet and happy new year.”
For more information, please visit www.metcouncil.org/RH.
