I Love The Upper West Side covered the food drive led by Society members Janet and Howard Rose, who have been organizing residents of Upper West Side buildings to collect food for city pantries:
It started when Janet and Howard Rose saw the long lines of people around Lincoln Center waiting to collect food from a local pantry a few months ago. This was a concrete example of the needs of their neighbors.
As members of the New York Society for Ethical Culture’s Ethical Action Committee, they realized that collecting food from buildings and delivering it to various local pantries is needed and matches their ethical goals.
To date, they have gone to 14 buildings in their van to collect canned food, dry goods and products for a women’s shelter. Some buildings are repeats which always exceed their first visit. All they need is a contact at a building to help with building wide announcements. What is emphasized is that no building staff help is required.
Janet explains, “This is a 5 times mitzvah or gift: Howard and I are glad to be able to help those in need; the building organizers feel more in control during these difficult times; the people donating are thrilled to be doing something for others; the pantries are appreciative of the support; and the recipients receive much needed food.”
