The Jewish Community Council says it’s feeding thousands this Pesach
The organisation is stepping in as food poverty hits low income families.
Jenni Frazer is a freelance journalist
The Jewish Community Council of north London says it is feeding thousands od people this Pesach as food poverty hits low income families.
Last week the organisation held a hugely well-attended Pesach Food Distribution event attended by “hundreds of families”, according to the JCC director, Levi Schapiro. Each family received up to £600 worth of food, depending on the size of the family.
Schapiro said: “We have doubled our efforts this year, providing grape juice, matzah, fish and meat, all to help struggling families. The demand for food assistance has tripled as a direct result of rising food prices”.
Even with families where both parents work at two jobs a day, Schapiro said, “Passover, a time of year where we are supposed to celebrate in happiness, becomes a nightmare for some families who struggle to feed their children on the festival”.
He added: “It’s beautiful to see that while we are feeding hundreds of Jewish families, the local non-Jewish families from all walks of life can also benefit from this service, and enjoy some of the fresh food and produce. They feel the squeeze just like us and we believe it’s important to help our neighbours at this very difficult time”.
The JCC, Schapiro said, aimed to continue these important food distributions and food vouchers throughout the year “and help these struggling families in a meaningful, respectful and dignified way”.
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