When the JFCS Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry asks the community for help – You Respond! We need some specific items this summer to provide variety and accommodate various dietary needs.
While Kentucky and Greater Louisville’s COVID-19 cases continue to decline, the effects of the pandemic persist within our community. Our neighbors who relied on COVID-19 relief programs to assist with rent and utilities have now seen those programs come to an end. Coupled with rising gas prices and inflation, budgets are tighter than ever.
Accessing food, cleaning supplies and personal items through the JFCS Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Panty allows our clients experiencing financial hardship some room to breathe, giving them the opportunity to save and spend in other areas without worrying about food insecurity. This vital service exemplifies the values that guide our work every day at JFCS: respect for undeniable humanity of each person, actions rooted in compassion and empathy and service to others that has the power to repair the world.
At the JFCS Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry, we are here to provide food to any family in need and guide them towards our holistic services to address additional challenges. Right now, we need your help to stock the pantry for the summer. The list below can be used as a guide.
Food and financial donations can be dropped off at JFCS (2821 Klempner Way) on Sunday, May 15, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
For your convenience, we also created an Amazon Wish List – all items will be delivered directly to JFCS!
- Low Sodium Items
- Gluten Free Items
- Vegetarian Items
- Healthy Snacks
- Graham Crackers
- Dried Fruit
- Nuts
- Raisins
- Cookies
- Baking Items
- Flour
- Sugar
- Cooking Oil
- Olive Oil
- Spices
- Salt/Pepper
- Grains
- Brown Rice
- Lentils
- Split Peas
- Beans (Dried or Canned)
- Garbanzo
- Kidney
- Canned Fruits & Vegetables
- Pineapple
- Apricots
- Corn
- Spinach
- Coffee (Ground)
- Regular and Decaf
- Kosher
- Latke Mix
- Gefilte Fish
- Macaroons
- Matzo
- Condiments
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Salad Dressing
- Juice – Any Kind
- Jams/Jellies
- Any variety except Grape
- Soup
- Broth
Each year on Passover as we commemorate the exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt, we celebrate themes of spring, renewal and beginnings. Items on the Seder plate remind us that out of hardship and oppression there is an opportunity to begin again. We look outside and in Kentucky, the Eastern Redbuds and Bradford Pear trees are bursting with life after lying dormant through the winter.
We witness new beginnings every day at JFCS, where we meet families who are facing life’s most difficult challenges and working to overcome barriers to reach their goals. At a time when it can be difficult to envision life beyond these barriers, JFCS empowers our clients by identifying their assets, resiliencies, and strengths so that they may – one step at a time – begin again.
What does it take to begin again? To blossom and start anew after a cold and brutal season? Clients who feel empowered to be experts in their own lives – to set goals that are realistic and meaningful to their journey – is the first step in starting anew. Our clients, equipped with their past experiences and unique perspectives, are not alone in their journey. Whether the goal is to lessen anxiety, access stable housing, or age with dignity in their own home, JFCS works to provide “kehilah,” connections that strengthen individuals and build community. We understand that it takes a village – staff, clients, volunteers, stakeholders and partners all play a role in fostering an environment where new beginnings are supported, goals are respected, and setbacks are not shamed.
We carry the opportunities of Passover with us year-round at JFCS so that all in Greater Louisville have the chance to live with dignity and purpose. Through asset-based family strengthening, we provide the support for our clients to break free from the barriers that hold them back, and work to advocate against the structural barriers that are often too large for individuals to overcome on their own. This Passover season, may we be reminded that each of us holds our own keys to beginning again, and that JFCS is here to help individuals and families along the journey.
–Avery Markel, Volunteer & Events Manager
Frank Schwartz is a born community organizer and leader who exudes compassion in all his endeavors. Born in Budapest, Mr. Schwartz escaped from Hungary in 1956 seeking refuge with his family in Toronto, Canada. He moved to New York in 1960 and served in the U.S. Army from 1966-68. In 1972 he graduated from Brooklyn College of the City University in New York with degrees in political science and English literature.
Schwartz came to Louisville in 1974, attending the University of Louisville and earning a masters degree in social work from the Kent School in community organization. Mr. Schwartz led Project Warm, a non-profit providing weatherization education and services at no cost to low-income households. He started his journey as a volunteer, then becoming the volunteer coordinator, and was named Executive Director in 2010. “Affordable housing and energy conservation is a community issue,” Schwartz responded when asked why he chose Project Warm and has stayed there for so long. “I believe that my work with Project Warm gives me the opportunity to make a difference in the areas of housing and energy efficiency.”
Now, Mr. Schwartz is working to help Cohousing Louisville, a national nonprofit supporting cohousing communities in changing our world. He volunteers throughout the community including Adath Jeshurun, JCRC and The Federation. A true reflection of JFCS values, Mr. Schwartz is incredibly deserving of this year’s MOSAIC Award.
Dr. Juan Polo was one of the first Cuban American physicians in Louisville to obtain his medical credentialing to practice medicine in the United States and has been serving the community since 1997. Currently, Dr. Polo is an Internal Medicine specialist with Norton Healthcare. After receiving his medical degree from Superior Institute of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba, he practiced as an OBGYN in Cuba, then for 2 years in the Republic of Burundi.
When Dr. Polo came to the United States in 1997, he utilized JFCS recredentialing services. He also met 3 Cuban physicians who came to the U.S. in the 1960’s, and benefitted greatly from their friendship and mentorship. Dr. Polo is passionate about removing language barriers for Spanish speaking patients in the medical sphere, and prioritizes establishing meaningful and culturally sensitive relationships with his patients.
Dr. Polo is involved in Norton Healthcare’s La Clinica, a practice dedicated to serving the Latinx community of Louisville. He is passionate about engaging the Latinx community around health education and prevention. JFCS is honored to present Dr. Polo with a 2022 MOSAIC Award.