Jewish Family Services, Whole Foods raise more than $15K for food pantry

Jewish Family Service and Whole Foods Del Mar teamed up in November to raise vital funds for the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry. Through the extraordinary efforts of Whole Foods Del Mar staff members and the generosity of its customers, the campaign raised more than $15,000.

Whole Foods customers were able to donate at the register or online while ordering their holiday meals. This year, Whole Foods Del Mar raised more than twice the original goal of $7,000. With this donation, the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry at JFS can provide more than 70,000 meals to San Diegans facing hunger this holiday season.

“Time and time again, we find that collaborating with other organizations produces bigger results than we could ever achieve alone. This was such a positive and rewarding partnership with Whole Foods Del Mar,” said Michael Hopkins, CEO of JFS. “The support of the Whole Foods Del Mar staff and its customers means so much to us and the thousands of military families, older adults, refugees, single parents, homeless individuals, and families in crisis who are served by our food pantry each year.”

Feeding America San Diego’s “Hunger in America” study shows that of the 473,500 San Diego County residents who seek emergency food every year, 26 percent are under age 18, 64 percent live in households in which at least one member worked during the previous year, and 27 percent live in households that include at least one member who is serving or has served in the military. By providing more lean meats, low-fat dairy, and fresh fruits and vegetables, the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry helps people get the nutrition they need.

Visit www.jfssd.org/handup.