As summer camps begin winding down, parents look for family-friendly activities to keep the kids busy. A popular excursion is picking fruit from local farms and orchards. While it is a fun activity for everyone, before you know it your family is loaded down with pounds of fruit that will never get eaten. Jewish Family and Children’s Service (JF&CS) doesn’t want that extra fruit to go to waste. 

The Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry is accepting donations of fresh produce for the rest of the season. The pantry welcomes apples especially because of their longer-lasting freshness. However, berries, peaches and other fresh produce are also welcome. 

JF&CS and the food pantry not only encourage families to donate their extra fruit, but they even recommend families make a special trip to pick fruit just for those in need. Centering a family activity around giving back to others teaches children how fun and rewarding helping others can be.

Laura Silver of the Harvey Kornblum Foundation (and a Jewish Light trustee) is enthusiastic about the idea. “Providing fresh fruits and vegetables is essential to those who cannot afford them because these donations may be the only fresh food that the clients eat all week,” Silver said. “So this idea is great because it contributes to the nutrition of clients while at the same time teaching children how important their donations are for those in need. The kids get to have fun and do something which is so valuable for others. What a great lesson in life!”

Drop off picked fruits at the food pantry any time during operating hours. The food pantry is located at 10601 Baur Boulevard and is open Monday through Thursday 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. For directions or more information, call 314-993-1000.