SBH Food Pantry Fights Hunger

As a 5th grade class filed into the SBH offices to begin their project, Charles Anteby, coordinator of volunteers, had some questions. “How many of you had breakfast today,” he asked. Almost a full showing of hands. “How many ate at home?” About half of the kids raised their hands. Last question: “How many of you worried there wouldn’t be any breakfast today?” Not one hand went up.

Thank goodness in that room on that day, every belly was full. The biggest worry these kids had that morning was which cereal to choose. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Three hundred community families will receive meals and groceries this week from Sephardic Bikur Holim. That is not a small number.

Ten years ago, SBH opened The Sarah Sutton, A”H, Food Pantry, servicing a few families hard on their luck. Last year, it became evident that the small space would not suffice. Jeffrey Gindi, then President of SBH, thought expanding it would be the perfect project for the high school students, always looking to volunteer. They loved the idea. A larger area of the SBH offices was designated and they got to work.

“They jumped right in, planned the layout and figured out the logistics. About 60 kids adopted the project and they did it all. From painting to building, to electrical work, it was their baby. After three months they were ready to open up shop,” Charles Anteby recalled.

“This is a win-win situation. Not only are we providing food for people that need it desperately, we’re building the confidence of the kids running the show. They built it, so it’s theirs. They make sure it’s always stocked and running properly. It has become a business experience as well as a wonderful social experience, plus it’s a no-pressure atmosphere where they can be themselves,” Anteby continued.

To fill up the pantry, items are donated, purchased from grocery stores, or obtained directly from wholesalers. Now, SBH has tapped another source. In every community yeshivah there is a monthly food drive. As a result, five to six thousand canned and boxed food items are being collected from our kids every month.

The amazing fact is that if every child brings in just one food item each month, there’s enough food to feed 300 families all year long. What’s nicer is that classes like the 5th graders can come to SBH and load the food they collected directly onto the shelves. This hands-on volunteering brings a tremendous sense of pride.

Still, SBH realized families couldn’t live on cans of soup alone. Growing children need meals; meat, chicken and fish. When Selena Gindi attended an event for Deal’s Food Pantry, the women participating put on aprons and got to work cooking. Selena was inspired.

“What could be better than feeding people?” she said, “It was perfect for me.”

Selena was connected with Charles Anteby, Al Falack, Rachel Sutton and Erica Sarway. “We wanted to prepare full meals,” Gindi explained. The girls enlisted family and friends to cook once a week, and appointed captains to follow up. The high school kids do the pick-ups so the cooks don’t go out of their way. Wrapped and labeled, the food is brought to families in need.

Because of confidentiality, many of Bikur Holim’s stories go untold, but this is a project worth screaming about. “We are building tomorrow’s leaders here,” said Anteby. “Volunteering for the pantry and programs like it gives teens something to strive for. Taking ownership, they believe there is nothing they can’t accomplish. You’ll see—they’ll initiate new ideas and change the way we help people in years to come. They are our future.” To donate food or volunteer for The Food Pantry, please call (718) 787-1100.