About the Alliance
The JFCS Women’s Alliance is a group of women committed to addressing hunger in our community. By supporting this initiative, you will help ensure that those with the greatest need will have access to healthy and nutritious food.
This membership-based collaboration benefits the JFCS mobile and on-site food pantries year after year. Since 2019, 253 Members have raised over $521,000 in support of the pantries.
Why focus on Hunger?
Now more than ever, food is a serious need in our region, where more than 1 in 10 individuals in Mercer County are hungry.
Food insecurity is an ongoing issue in our community and the number of families served by JFCS’ food pantry increased by 31% in the past year. The mobile and on-site pantries are distributing a combined 1,800+ bags each month.
Why become a member?
As a member of the Women’s Alliance, you will be invited to exclusive member event(s) during the year, and listed on our website and in the Annual Report. Most of all, you will be making an impact in the year to come by supporting JFCS food programs.
Dollars Raised by Women's Alliance since 2019
Join The Alliance for our Annual Event
Tuesday, October 28 | 6:00 PM | The Boathouse at Mercer Lake, West Windsor, NJ
When you join the alliance, you are invited to attend our annual event.
This year, we welcome Beejhy Barhany, Harlem-based chef & cookbook author. Join chef and author Beejhy Barhany as she shares her journey from Ethiopia to Israel to New York, and discover how she uses food as a universal language to build bridges and foster understanding. Through her Ethiopian Jewish cuisine and the tradition of ‘Gursha’ – feeding one another – Beejhy shows how breaking bread together transforms strangers into family.
When faced with antisemitism at her Harlem restaurant, Tsion Café, Beejhy responded with resilience, expanding her mission to welcome all communities through food. Her story reminds us that we all strive for peace, love, and respect – and food becomes the tool to fight ignorance with dialogue and understanding.
Join us for inspiring stories about creating connection in our diverse world.
2025 Event Committee
Chairs: Elaine Sussman & Stacey Wasserman
Nancy Alter • Anne Berman-Waldorf • Rabbi Adena Blum • Beth Englezos • Susan Falcon • Bobbi Freedman • Marsha Freeman • Andrea Genek • Sharon Gomberg • Evy Grossman • Joanne Lasky • Carol Lerner • Rachel Lesser • Fran Lichtenstein • Wendy Merkovitz • Lauren Nazarian • Robin Persky • Marci Resnick • Martha Rossman • Beverly Rubman • Pat Schlaefer • Carly Sussman • Ilana Sussman • Kim Sussman • Nikol Sussman • Lisa Tobias • Melissa Wasserman • Audrey Wisotsky
Women’s Alliance Founding Members
Anonymous (3)
Abrams Foundation/
Nati Kushner
Jennifer Agran
Meryl Baurmash
Stacey Bialow
Shari Blecher
Stacey Block
Sara Bucholtz
Jill Chevlin
Christine Cirkus
Myra Colbert
Holli Elias
Susan Falcon
Bobbi Freedman
Marsha Freeman
Beth Frieder
Andrea Genek
Carol Golden
Ellen Gordon
Nadivah Greenberg
Linda Grenis
Paula Heller
Patricia Herst
Jennifer Hilton
Amy Hoffman
Jill Jaclin
Emily Josephson
Florence Kahn
Joyce Kalstein
Rakefet Kasdin
Lily Krauss
Kathy Lane
Barbara Lawrence
Carol Lerner
Mel Lubin
Debby Maisel
Carli Masia
Ginny Mason
Linda Meisel
Michelle Napell
Lauren Nazarian
Carole Nimaroff
Alexa Offen
Jacqueline Orr
Reba Orszag
Arlene Pedovitch
Danielle Perlman
Allison Persky
Robin Persky
Carol Pollard
Sheryl Punia
Susan Rappaport
Rachel Reiss
Lois Riskin
Phlaxy Rosenman
Beverly Rubman
Gail Ruderman
Norma Saks
Patricia Schlaefer
Jacqueline Schreiber
Marcie Shavel
Denise Siegel
Lisette Siegel
Betsy Silverman
Lisa Smukler
Deborah Soffen
Helane Staller
Cathy Straus
Polly Strauss
Elaine Sussman
Lisa Tobias
Marissa Treu
Amy Vogel
Linda Weber
Audrey Wisotsky
Ann Zecher
Frances Zeitler
Learn More
Contact Helaine Isaacs at HelaineI@jfcsonline.org / 609-987-8100 ext 104.