It was a lesson that students in the JEC Lower School will not soon forget as they had the opportunity to see the results of their efforts when they delivered food collected by the school to the JFS of Union County’s Kosher Food Pantry.

The JEC was tapped to help bolster the pantry’s provisions after Thanksgiving, when supplies were all but depleted. Students and faculty were quick to step up to the task and filled box loads of high quality food in relatively short order.

This week, accompanied by JEC Executive Director Steve Karp and JEC Lower School Assistant Principal Mrs. Faigy Leiter, students from the fifth grade personally delivered the food items to the pantry. They were amazed upon seeing the pantry itself for the very first time and were especially impressed with both the organization of the foodstuffs as well as the care taken to both protect the dignity of every recipient as well as make them feel good about what they receive.

“It is both inspiring and humbling for our students,” said Karp. “They get to learn what it is to give, but also what it means to receive, and this experience is a powerful one that we know will remain with them for life.”