Brighton Food Cupboard is a program of Jewish Family Service of Rochester in cooperation with, The Brighton Central School District, Foodlink and other community organizations and volunteers. Food insecurity goes hand in hand with other issues, as many are just a paycheck away from hunger. 

How the Brighton Food Cupboard Works
• The Brighton Food Cupboard follows a case management model.
• The model provides for client confidentiality as the clients do not come to the food cupboard, their case manager shops for them and     delivers the food to their home.
• Individuals in the community who are in need of food should call, (585) 271-5355 and ask to speak with the case manager.
• The case manager will arrange to meet with the individual and provide food. 

Contacting the Brighton Food Cupboard
For questions or to begin receiving services from the Brighton Food Cupboard, call (585) 271-5355 and ask to speak with the Case Manager.

Volunteering at the Brighton Food Cupboard
There are many volunteer opportunities available for unloading food, stocking shelves, assembling food baskets, organizing other volunteers, participating in food drives, and delivering food. Volunteers are vital to the Brighton Food Cupboard success. To volunteer, please call the Jewish Family Service at (585) 461-0110 or fill out their volunteer application.

Stock-A-Shelf Program
The Stock-A-Shelf Program is an opportunity for our community to help the Brighton Food Cupboard (BFC) meet the needs of individuals and families who are facing hunger and food insecurity. BFC opened its doors on November 17, 2010, and since then, requests for food have escalated from 200 individuals per month to 500 individuals per month.
Please help us meet this goal by participating in the Stock–A–Shelf Program. Anyone can participate - churches, synagogues, businesses, schools, scouts, or any group of enthusiastic people can conduct a food drive and "stock a shelf."   It takes local involvement to solve a local problem.  Your support for our food drives is critical to the ongoing mission of the Brighton Food Cupboard.
Next year, the Brighton Food Cupboard is estimating 48,000 pounds of canned and packaged foods are needed to support those in need. Your community organization, school, class or grade, church, synagogue, private business, family or an individual can provide both food and non-food items to families in need to fight hunger and food insecurity via the Brighton Food Cupboard (BFC)by stocking a shelf to help feed our community.   We are asking for your help in providing items that are difficult to keep stocked on our shelves.

The Stock–A–Shelf Program is simple and effective. Here are the steps the BFC suggests after a decision is made to participate:
Choose an item from the "Items Needed" list that you would like to supply for a "shelf" at BFC. The food donation list can be found below.

• Decide how often your group will provide the item to BFC: weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.
• Choose a member of your group to be the contact person for delivery information, feedback, and updates.
• Complete a Stock–A–Shelf Participation Form 
• Collect the item you have chosen.
• Arrange for delivery of your items to the BFC.

You can contact the Jewish Family Service with questions at 461-0110.

Food Donations
The Brighton Food Cupboard is in need of food donations year round.  Items in highest need include:

• Cereal
• Peanut Butter
• Rice
• Pasta
• Tomato Sauce
• Tuna
• Mayonnaise
• Soups
• Beans
• Canned Fruit
• Canned Vegetables
• Evaporated, Powder and Condensed Milk
• Healthy snacks such as Granola Bars, Crackers, Pretzels

The Brighton Food Cupboard is located at 220 Idlewood Road, Rochester, NY 14618. Non- perishable items can be dropped off from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on school days. Please drop off any perishable items during our open hours: Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. - noon and Thursdays from  9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Non-perishable donations may also be dropped off Monday - Friday between 10:00 a.m. and noon at 2035 Monroe Avenue (Brighton Central School District Administrative Building) OR at the Brighton Farmers' Market.
Brighton Food Cupboard sincerely appreciates your generous donations. Every donation you make helps to feed a neighbor, a family, a community!

Hunger and Poverty Statistics

Poverty
• In 2010, the federal poverty line for a family of four is $22,050.
• 42.2 percent of households have incomes below the official poverty line.
• According to a new government analysis, one in six older Americans live below the federal poverty line.
• 37.2 percent of households with children are headed by a single mother, and 27.6 percent are headed by a single father.
• In 2008, 22.1 million (11.7 percent) people ages 18-64 were in poverty.
• In 2008, 14 million (19 percent ) children under the age of 18 were in poverty.
• In 2008, 3.6 million (9.7 percent) seniors 65 and older were in poverty.

Hunger
• 49.1 million people lived in food-insecure households in 2008, including 32.4 million adults and  16.7 million children.
• 17.3 million people lived in households that were considered to have very low food security, up from 11.9 million in 2007 and 8.5 million in 2000.
• Of these individuals, 12.1 million adults and 5.2 million children lived in households with very low food security.
• In about 8,335,000 households with children (21 percent) lived with low or very low food security, up from 15.8 percent in 2007.

Foodlink Data - Hunger in America 2010
• 36% of clients served by Foodlink are children under the age of 18; 5% are elderly.
• 26% of client households include at least one employed adult.
• 82% of client households have incomes below the federal poverty level.
• 30% of client households report having at least one member in poor health. 23% of clients had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care.
• 50% of clients are White; 37% are Black; 11% are Hispanic; 2% are from other racial groups.

Jewish Community Federation - Count Me In Survey 2010
• 1000 individuals in the Rochester Jewish Community live at or near the poverty level

Jewish Family Service of Rochester, Inc.