Faces of the Food Pantry...

Video of Barry's Story
Barry, age 53, from Fort Thomas, KY, worked in insurance before his health took a turn for the worse, he lost his job, and needed assistance from Jewish Family Service Food Pantry.

Last year Jewish Family Service Food Pantry fed 208 people living in 36 different zip codes across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Many of whom, such as Barry, thought they would never need to ask for help meeting basic needs.

“I’ve got an autoimmune disorder along with some muscle wasting and bone loss. Before I got this really bad disorder I was running ten miles a day, weighed about 250 pounds, and had a 30 inch waist. I was really healthy, into weight-lifting and all that, so I really got depressed after I got sick.”

“Well I’m disabled right now and I’m on food stamps, so it’s a big need because food stamps don’t help out enough,” explains Barry. 

Barry has been going to Jewish Family Service Food Pantry off and on since 2007. There, clients who are experiencing financial difficulties are able to choose from a variety of free personal care items and kosher food including meat; fresh fruits and vegetables; and canned and packaged goods.

“There’s more quality with kosher,” Barry says. Being Jewish, he appreciates working with a Jewish organization, and feels “safe in this environment.”

For Barry and others who use the pantry, the challenges they face often go beyond their need for food. Jewish Family Service provides them with case management, supportive guidance, and counseling to improve their situation and support their efforts toward self-sufficiency.

“I go to Fran at JFS for counseling and that’s a big help,” he says. He explains that Jewish Family Service social workers “help you explore other opportunities to help you reach your potential.

“I’m lucky that this place exists because if it wasn’t for this place I’d be out on the street.

“I’m trying to get my health back so hopefully I can be giving money instead of taking money from the organization.”

Barry’s story is indicative of what most of the clients who come to the pantry experience every day explains Fran Gafvert, Director of Vital Services at Jewish Family Service.

“Most people have a preconception of what a person who relies on a food pantry is like,” says Gafvert.

“What they often don’t realize is that an illness, disability, job loss or any misfortune can change anybody’s life in such a profound way. Jewish Family Service is their safety net. With support from the community, JFS can give them hope for a better future.”

A video of Barry sharing his story is available on the Jewish Family Service website at www.jfscinti.org/vital-services-support.

Jewish Family Service Food Pantry receives a portion of its funding from the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and Mazon: The Jewish Response to Hunger. It is located in lower level space donated by Golf Manor Synagogue.

For assistance, or to donate food, money or time, contact Jewish Family Service at 513.469.1188.

Self-portrait

by Reuven

After having been employed for several years, I found myself envisioning a modest but stable financial future. I was employed and I was meeting all of my financial responsibilities when suddenly and without warning, my circumstances had taken a turn for the worse.

Jewish Family Service has been my life anchor during unreliable times and a spiritual guiding light when situations seemed like they were at their bleakest. Today while randomly accepting part time employment opportunities, I am a sculptor and painter with gallery contracts in both the U.S. and Europe.

The social workers and care managers at Jewish Family Service have never laid upon any judgments, but instead have devoted their efforts solely towards my health and well being.

After a 25-year-long career as a psychiatric nurse, Margi finally gave in to the problem that had been haunting her: the fact that she herself suffered from severe depression and agoraphobia. She quit work and just stayed home for “six or seven years,” during which time her physical health declined seriously.

Margi looks back on those years and says, “If it was a pretty day, I wanted the shades drawn. I wanted no reminder that there is a good life and I was so far away from that. I couldn’t listen to music for years.”

Finally in 2004, Margi reached out for help and contacted Jewish Family Service (JFS). Danielle Sabarese, a mental health case manager, was sent out to meet with her.

Today, Margi is doing well. She has overcome her agoraphobia and manages her depression with medication and the support of people around her, especially the help she has received from JFS. “Danielle is very important to my stabilization,” Margi says.

Danielle set about linking Margi with other JFS services. With her very limited disability income, Margi has needed emergency financial assistance from JFS’s Chaver fund to pay her utility bills. She counts on food from the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry every month. Danielle has also located some donated clothing for Margi.

Thanks to Danielle’s encouragement, Margi is taking advantage of a scholarship to join Mayerson JCC.

Danielle even gave some thought to Margi’s spiritual needs, and several years ago, recruited a rabbinical student to spend some time with Margi. Margi credits that relationship with helping her reconnect to the Jewish community in a meaningful way.

Now that she’s doing better, Margi has made it her mission to educate people about mental illness. She has spoken to social work students at Northern Kentucky University, to rabbinical students at Hebrew Union College, and at the annual meeting of Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Southwest Ohio.

“Judaism is about nothing if not tzedakah,” Margi believes. Her message today: “Open your heart. Open your wallet. Volunteer. Help Jewish Family Service. JFS is so important to so many people in our community.”

When a truck ran over Judy in 1996, it filled her body with years of endless pain. Judy lost her ability to work. But she never lost her smile or fighting spirit.

"I have a wonderful family. And I am so lucky to even be able to have children after the accident. I love them so much; nothing can compare to being a mother," said Judy.

As a typical loving mother, Judy wants her children to eat healthy foods, even on a tight budget.

"My husband works full-time. But his pay is $10.50 an hour. It is 50 cents too much to qualify for food stamps. And much of his salary pays for health care," she said. Her aunt suggested she call Jewish Family Service.

Jewish Family Service Food Pantry offers kosher food and personal care items to people in the Greater Jewish community who are experiencing financial difficulties.

"Jewish Family Service Food Pantry has been heaven sent," she said.

"I can make a few meals out of this," she says pointing to her basket of fresh carrots, cabbage and potatoes along with packages of ground beef and a turkey breast.

Jewish Family Service Food Pantry provides more than food and case management services. With the help of volunteers, it also fulfills dreams.

"One year we had an anonymous benefactor - who we called our 'mystery munshkin' - deliver five huge bags filled with toys and clothing for Hanukkah. We were so tickled. Without that, my children would not have had any gifts."

"Oh, that shiny black coat was so perfect. It was awesome. I wore it every day," exclaimed her daughter Amber who is now 12.

Jewish Family Service is proud to participate in The Paper Plate Project. Read personal messages written on paper plates about the ways the economy has affected lives...and what Jewish Family Service Food Pantry means to them.