120 Volunteers Feed 900 Families Ahead of Rosh Hashanah

Nine hundred families in Broward County walked away with warm meals and even warmer hearts this weekend, thanks to volunteers who wanted everyone to celebrate the Jewish New Year.

More than 120 volunteers gathered at the Dorit & Ben J. Genet Cupboard in Davie, Florida on Sunday morning to hand out holiday meals ahead of Rosh Hashanah. The massive food distribution reached seniors and Holocaust survivors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone or without enough to eat.

The effort was part of the annual High Holiday Initiative organized by Goodman Jewish Family Services. It also coincided with Hunger Action Month, shining a spotlight on the reality that food insecurity affects families year round.

Morgan Weinblatt, Chief Development Officer of Goodman Jewish Family Services, explained what makes this distribution special. "Many of our volunteers provide a means of socialization, checking in on our clients, and also giving them a holiday meal to welcome in the new year of Rosh Hashanah and help them celebrate with dignity," she said.

The timing matters deeply. Rosh Hashanah, which begins Friday at sundown, marks the Jewish New Year and a time for reflection, renewal, and gathering with loved ones over festive meals.

The Ripple Effect

This food drive does more than fill empty pantries. It reminds hundreds of seniors, many who survived unimaginable hardship during the Holocaust, that their community sees them and cares about their wellbeing.

The volunteers who showed up Sunday morning created connections that extend beyond a single meal. They checked in with neighbors, asked how they were doing, and made sure people knew someone was thinking about them during an important holiday.

Food insecurity affects millions of Americans, but initiatives like this prove that communities can come together to meet the need. When 120 people give their time, 900 families eat with dignity.

As families across South Florida prepare to dip apples in honey and gather around holiday tables this week, hundreds more will join them because neighbors chose to help.