Jewish Family Service LA Distributed Thanksgiving Meals and Groceries to Over 1,500 Families and 1,000 Seniors
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (November 23, 2022) – On November 18th, Jewish Family Service LA’s (JFSLA) SOVA Community Food & Resource Program held its annual Thanksgiving distribution, providing Thanksgiving staples to more than 1,500 families. Every SOVA visitor received two chickens as well as a variety of Thanksgiving staples such as stuffing, mashed potatoes, canned green beans, celery, onions, gravy, a box of corn muffin mix, cranberry sauce, canned pumpkin, and canned yams.
“The annual Thanksgiving distribution is incredibly significant,” said Kathi Dawidowicz, JFSLA Supply and Logistics Manager at SOVA. “Many of our clients are not able to afford many of these special Thanksgiving staples, particularly with the recent high cost of groceries.”
32 volunteers joined the SOVA staff to prepare more than 1,500 Thanksgiving bags in anticipation of the distribution. “We could not have a successful distribution without our dedicated staff and volunteers,” said Kathi. “Accomplishing this hectic day is fulfilling and rewarding when we see clients so happy to receive food for a Thanksgiving meal.”
JFSLA’s Senior Nutrition Program also provided Thanksgiving meals to more than 1,000 seniors. The dedicated Hirsh Family Kosher Kitchen staff worked hard to prepare meals for home delivery clients, as well as clients who visited JFSLA’s Grab ‘N Go and senior meal site locations. The special menu featured roasted turkey with gravy, raisin pineapple yams, green beans almondine, baby greens salad with citrus dressing, cranberry sauce, fresh rolls, apple pie, and orange juice.
“Seniors are often isolated, have limited family and/or friends to celebrate with for the holidays, or may no longer have the ability to cook like they once did,” said Siri Perlman, JFSLA Director of Senior Nutrition Services. “Special holiday foods such as these represent love and care from their community.”
Senior Nutrition Program staff and volunteers, including JFSLA staff and Board members, delivered meals to homebound seniors across Los Angeles.
“I really enjoy getting to know our volunteers while they pick up meals. I’m so thankful to the extraordinary individuals who brighten my day with their kindness,” said Siri. “We are very grateful to our annual Thanksgiving delivery volunteers who every year make time to deliver meals to our homebound seniors. It is so meaningful to the both the clients and volunteers.”
This was an especially exciting year for the Senior Nutrition Program, because four JFSLA dining centers recently re-opened and had in-person Thanksgiving gatherings with games and activities. The four dining centers that each hosted a special Thanksgiving celebration on November 23rd were the BAR Center at the Beach, Plummer Park Community Center, JFS Valley Storefront, and the Jona Goldrich Multipurpose Center.
To learn more about JFSLA’s Food and Hunger services, including the SOVA Community Resource Program and the Senior Nutrition Program please visit jfsla.org/food-hunger
