As the High Holidays approach, JCCGCI is proud to continue our longstanding tradition of caring for the most vulnerable members of our community. Each year, through our Annual Rosh Hashana Food Distribution , we ensure that over 1,000 low-income older adults and Holocaust survivors are able to usher in the new year with dignity, comfort, and joy. These efforts are not just about nourishment- they are about ensuring that no one in our community feels forgotten during the most meaningful times of the year.

This year’s food distribution will take place over several days, and we need your help. Volunteers are needed to pack and distribute food bags filled with holiday essentials to older adults who would otherwise struggle to afford or access these items. We will be working on Monday, September 8th, from 10:30 AM-3:30 PM; Tuesday, September 9th, from 9:30 AM-4:00 PM; and Wednesday, September 10th, from 9:30 AM-4:00 PM.

For many of our older adults, especially Holocaust survivors living on limited incomes, preparing for Rosh Hashana can be overwhelming. With rising costs and limited mobility, the challenge of putting food on the table is all too real. Your support as a volunteer means more than just groceries—it means hope, connection, and the ability to celebrate the High Holidays with dignity.

We are calling on volunteers of all ages to join us in this important mitzvah. Whether you help us pack bags, distribute them, or simply offer a smile and a kind word, your time and effort will have a direct and lasting impact. Every bag packed is another family who can welcome the new year with warmth and nourishment.

Join Us!

Mark your calendars and lend a hand:
📅 Monday, September 8th ⏰ 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM
📅 Tuesday, September 9th ⏰ 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
📅 Wednesday, September 10th ⏰ 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

📍 Location details will be provided upon RSVP

Be a part of something truly meaningful this High Holiday season. By volunteering with JCCGCI, you are ensuring that no older adult or survivor in our community has to face the holiday alone.

To sign up or learn more about volunteering for the Rosh Hashana Food Distribution, please contact us at info@jccgci.org.

Pictured above: NY State Assemblyman Michael Novakhov joins JCCGCI Executive Director Rabbi Moshe Wiener and JCCGCI staff in distributing food to older adults at one of our food distributions.

These food packages were enabled by the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty’s “Kosher Food Network” (the largest kosher food network in the country), the Food Bank for New York City, the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD), United Way of New York City’s HPNAP (Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program), Orthodox Union, and private donations. Our ability to conduct these distributions has been significantly enhanced by the support of the New York City Council, with funding provided specifically by Councilmembers Justin Brannan and Inna Vernikov. We also extend appreciation to the leadership of the City Council’s Brooklyn Delegation and its Co-Chairs, Councilmembers Chi Ossé and Farah Louis.

Together, let’s make sure everyone in our community can welcome the new year with dignity, joy, and a full heart.

ABOUT JCCGCI

Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI) is a community-based organization with a citywide scope, providing a wide-spectrum of senior citizen, career, educational, crime-reduction, mental health, community revitalization and related services benefiting all segments of the population. JCCGCI is also a technical assistance provider, offering capacity building services to nonprofits in all five boroughs through its NonProfit HelpDesk division (www.nphd.org). With 40 program sites throughout New York City staffed by almost 400 social service professionals, JCCGCI assists an average of upwards of 2,500 needy individuals and families each day.

JCCGCI’s Holocaust Survivor Support Services is one of the largest in the world, providing critical assistance to over 4,000 Holocaust Survivors annually. Services include Homecare, Transportation, Case Management, Friendly Visiting, Medicaid Appeals, Socialization, and Home Delivered Meals.