A mother's charitable teaching to her two children stocked the shelves of Jewish Family Service (JFS)’ Popsie's Pantry, helping to feed more than 100 families in the local community.

At the start of the pandemic, Jordan bought white face masks in bulk. She came up with a fun, charitable project to keep her sons – Eli, 10, and Benji, 7 – busy during quarantine: they would tie-dye the masks, sell them online and donate the proceeds to Popsie’s Pantry. 

“I think volunteering your time, your energy, towards helping others is just a crucial element in contributing to society,” Jordan said. “And I know that that's something I want the boys to understand - that people need their help.”

Not only did Jordan’s social media posts about the masks draw buyers, but they also caught the attention of a neighbor who owns Denver CBD Indianapolis. The local business owner sent 100 hand sanitizers for Jordan to drop off at Popsie’s Pantry. 

“Well it felt really good to see their faces when we brought the check and hand sanitizer. I feel like there are so many people out there who need that kind of stuff,” Eli said about how it felt to volunteer and drop off the check. 

Jordan was teaching her sons about charitable giving long before the pandemic began. 

“I think it’s so important that children at a young age be introduced to the volunteer world or the act of giving back, and instilling those values in children when they're young,” Jordan said. “You can only hope that those will stick with them and those will continue to impact them so that they continue to do it as well as they get older.”

Before COVID-19 reached Indiana, Jordan was already a dedicated volunteer at Popsie’s Pantry. Her weekly routine regularly included buying groceries and supplies and stocking the pantry shelves. 

She has taught Eli and Benji that volunteering is fun, easy and rewarding. One year, one of the boys’ Chanukah presents was to join Jordan in shopping for goods and stocking the pantry’s shelves. 

“It makes me feel good and it’s helpful for all the people who don't have a lot of money.” Benji said about volunteering. 

Jordan is also teaching her sons about food insecurity. The need for food assistance is immediate, especially during a global emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. The reward for volunteering and donating is also immediate and impactful, Jordan said. 

“It felt really good what we were doing because a lot of people need food in this tough time when people are being laid off work, and people are struggling to find jobs, and people are being evicted from their homes, and it's a struggle to find food,” Eli said. 

With the $400 donation, JFS was able to replenish the pantry shelves with critical items like pastas, canned goods and toilet paper, said Rachel Katz, JFS Assistant Director. 

“These staples are in demand now more than ever,” Rachel said. “JFS has seen a 53 percent increase in pantry visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Jordan says she continues to decorate and sell masks to help stock the pantry’s shelves.

To donate to Posie’s Pantry, click here. To organize your own fundraiser, contact Rachel at rkatz@jfgi.org or (317) 259-6817