Community Kosher Food Pantry Goes Green Thanks to McCaffrey's
August 22, 2011 - Princeton Online
August 25, 2011 - Pennington Post

Emily Pressman and David Speer, coordinators for our community Kosher Food Panty located at Jewish Family & Children’s Service in Princeton show off the new, reusable McCaffrey’s shopping bags that the pantry can now offer their clients. Thanks to a donation from McCaffrey’s in Princeton, food pantry clients can do their part to be more environmentally friendly, eliminating the need for thousands of brown paper bags the pantry previously used.

Princeton, New Jersey, August 22, 2011 — It is estimated that the United States uses 10 billion paper grocery bags each year. Last year alone, our community Ohel Avraham Kosher Food Pantry used over 54,000 brown bags. That is a lot of bags and in the heated debate on whether to use paper or plastic, studies agree that the use of reusable bags is most beneficial to the environment. Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) runs the community kosher food pantry and with the help of McCaffrey’s in Princeton, is now able to offer food pantry clients reusable bags. Patrons are encouraged to keep the bags and use them each time they visit the pantry.

“We were thinking of ways to improve the Kosher Food Pantry and one of our volunteers suggested we use recyclable bags,” explains Emily Pressman, food pantry coordinator. “We spoke to McCaffrey’s and they were on board with our goals and generously donated their signature re-usable bags, allowing our pantry clients to do their part in being environmentally friendly. Our clients will no longer be wasting multiple brown bags each month and the new bags are easier for clients to carry their food in, as most of the paper bags did not have handles.”

"We applaud the Jewish Family & Children's Service for helping those less fortunate in our community and are proud to be a partner in their efforts to protect our environment," commented Mr. Jim McCaffrey.

Jewish Family & Children's Service (JFCS) of Greater Mercer County is a nonprofit, non-sectarian agency providing social services, counseling and support to individuals, families, children and teens. Professional, licensed social workers offer one-on-one and group counseling, family education, crisis and domestic violence support, re-employment assistance, grief and bereavement programs, and services for special needs children and their siblings. Services include food vouchers, meals on wheels, the kosher food pantry and kosher cafes, which serve thousands of meals to the elderly. The Secure@Home program is a vital program which allows participants to retain their independence and age at home. Youth programs include leadership, social skills and peer education. Visit the JFCS website for a complete listing of services www.jfcsonline.org.