An Inside Loo k At
feature story
Jewish Relief Agency’s Voluntee r Eff orts
SASHA ROGELBERG | STAFF WRITER
A ttached to the back of David Kent’s compact
car is a large storage trailer he borrowed
from his dad, who uses it to carry equip-
ment back and forth from dog shows.

But rather than being fi lled with canine supplies,
Kent’s trailer was fi lled with boxes full of food on
July 8, stacked neatly by his teenage son and nephew.

For the past three years, Kent, a Horsham resi-
dent, has volunteered with Jewish Relief Agency, a
Philadelphia-based nonprofi t combating hunger in
the area by providing food to over 3,400 low income
households and 6,000 individuals in the area.

For one week out of each month, the organization
hosts volunteers at their North Philadelphia ware-
house, where dozens of individuals pack and deliver
boxes to be dropped off across 90 zip codes. Th e orga-
nization serves mostly elderly clients, 73% of whom
are over 65 and 65% of whom are Jewish. Many are
Russian and Ukrainian immigrants.

“People are always very grateful for getting what
JRA provides,” Kent said. “It’s a really valuable service.

I think it’s something that we can tell is needed, that
we can tell is of terrifi c value to the people involved.”
Like all organizations, JRA has been impacted
by the pandemic, having to change their volunteer
model and accommodate growing demand for food
from those impacted by COVID. But even through
the nonprofi t’s struggles and adaptation, one thing
has remained the same: Th ose who show up are
excited to be there and happy to help.

camps for help.

“Our whole program relies on volunteer power,”
Roth-Saks said. “It’s really essential that we recruit
from the community.”
JEVS Human Services Franklin C. Ash Summer
Interns were at the warehouse Friday learning the
ropes from the more seasoned volunteers.

“Food is such an essential thing for us as humans,
and no one should be restricted from that,” said
intern Ella Spencer. “It’s great that I’m able to help
contribute.” Set up like an assembly line, volunteers walk down
rows set up in the warehouse, grabbing cans of fruit
and tuna, boxes of oatmeal and pasta, and toilet paper
rolls to pack in 12-pound boxes. Volunteers place a
yellow slip with instructions — in both English and
Russian — on how to contact JRA and a recipe to make
with the box’s ingredients on top of the packed goods.

Families with young children may get a bag stuff ed
with chips, granola bars and kid-friendly snacks.

Some get custom-packed bags with diapers, shampoo
or menstrual products. JRA works with the Greater
Philadelphia Diaper Bank and Cradles to Crayons to
distribute items for younger children.

“We partner with several agencies in Philadelphia
who provide much-needed diapers, incontinence
supplies, children’s clothing and school essentials
that are delivered by our volunteers directly to our
recipients along with their food boxes,” JRA Chief of
Operations Julie Roat said.

As volunteers continue to pack, Arthur Davis
stands out from the crowd in his neon yellow t-shirt.

A volunteer at JRA since the opening of their ware-
house in 2007, Davis is quick to lend a helping hand
to the newbies; aft er all, he used to be one of them.

Th e Old York Road Temple Beth Am member was
recruited by a friend several years ago to come vol-
unteer at JRA. Th e fi rst time his friend asked him to
volunteer, Davis didn’t show up.

“He said to me, ‘I tell you what: I’m going to come
pick you up next time, and I will continue to knock
on your door until you either come or you call the
police,’” Davis said.

Davis showed up to volunteer the next opportunity
Every Litt le Bit Matt ers
Inside the warehouse, about a dozen volunteers begin
loading up 3,200 food boxes to be distributed for
the month.

It was an unusual day; JRA was a bit ahead of
schedule thanks to the summer camps who were
there on Wednesday and Th ursday assembling and
packing boxes. While most deliveries happen Sunday
through Tuesday, the packing happens the Th ursday
to Sunday prior, with a break for Shabbat on Saturday.

Th at week, campers from Camp Galil, Camp
Canadensis, Camp Ramah Day Camp and Camp
Moshava Ba’ir came to volunteer, their fi rst time
returning to JRA since the beginning of the
pandemic. “Th e campers are high energy and a lot of fun,”
said JRA Executive Director Jodi Roth-Saks. “We’re
so glad they came out to volunteer.”
Over the summer, when volunteer numbers wane,
JRA relies on professional groups and summer
First time volunteer and JEVS Ash intern Ella Spencer
packing boxes
Photos by Sasha Rogelberg
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 17