Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (“Met Council”), The Jewish Education Project, and the New York City Department of Education, with the support of the UJO of Williamsburg and the Jewish Community Council of Boro Park, provided 4,000 free kosher lunches to school-age children from low-income families during the week of August 25th.

Kosher Summer Meals was launched in 2012 to help low-income families provide nutritious meals for their children during the last week of summer, when children lack access to meals they ordinarily receive through school or camp. The program mirrors the Citywide Summer Meals program, while acknowledging the needs of kids who keep kosher. The program was created in response to the alarming number of children living in poor Jewish households. In Brooklyn alone, there are 168,800 poor and near-poor Jewish households with children, and 45% of all children in the New York City area live in households that are at or near the poverty line.

“In New York City, there are one-half million poor and near poor Jewish New Yorkers who struggle to feed their family every day,” said David M. Frankel, CEO and Executive Director of Met Council. “This year’s summer meals helped families feed their children nutritious meals that otherwise would have been cost prohibitive. We thank the generosity of our donor and the hard work of our partners: Chancellor Farina and the New York City Department of Education, Rabbi Schloss and The Jewish Education Project, Rabbi Niederman and UJO of Williamsburg and, Rabbi Silber and the JCC of Boro Park.

“It’s truly inspirational to be part of this multi-agency collaboration serving the common good,” said Rabbi Dr. Martin A. Schloss, Director of Government Relations & General Studies, at The Jewish Education Project. “There is no better way to prepare for the New Year.”

“The United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg is very happy to join together with our great partners at Met Council and The Jewish Education Project to once again bring kosher lunches to children in Williamsburg,” Rabbi David Niederman, President of The United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn. “The meals being distributed this week help some of the community’s poorest children have a satisfying and nutritious meal when camp is over and before schools start.”

“It is most gratifying coming back every year and seeing our neighborhood children enjoying a good nutritious lunch in the park, especially this week when most camps have ended and school has not yet begun” said Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Executive Director of Boro Park Jewish Community Council. “I am most grateful to our partners in this project for their ongoing support.”

“I’m thrilled to be a partner in providing 4,000 free kosher lunches to children in need,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “It is unacceptable for any child to go hungry, and I am excited that this partnership is working together to ensure our children have nutritious meals. My thanks and gratitude goes out to Chancellor Farina and the Department of Education, David Frankel and Met Council, Rabbi Niederman and UJO of Williamsburg, Rabbi Schloss and The Jewish Education Project, and Rabbi Silber and the JCC of Boro Park.”

“Access to nutritious food is vital to the health and success of our City’s children, yet so many families are unable to afford it,” said State Senator Daniel Squadron. “I am grateful to the Metropolitan Council, the Jewish Education Council, the Department of Education, the UJO of Williamsburg and the Jewish Community Council of Boro Park for spearheading this effort, so that families who keep kosher can start the school year off right.”

“I would like to thank the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, the Met Council, the Jewish Community Council of Boro Park, The Jewish Education Project and the NYC Board of Education for dedicating their time and resources to this great cause,” said Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol. “Throughout New York City, families struggle to put food on their table every night, it’s programs and events like these that provide much-needed help for those less fortunate. As we all know, the mind doesn’t work without food, so this program will satisfy these children’s bellies as well as their creative minds.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)