Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Sid Jacobson JCC’s Community Needs Bank?
Sid Jacobson JCC’s Community Needs Bank (CNB) serves as a collection site and distribution center, providing non-perishable food, limited perishable food, personal care items, and household essentials to support neighbors in need. CNB is comprised of four centers:

• Nikki Schwartz Memorial Food Pantry
• Migden Family Household Needs Center
• Personal Needs Center
• Baby and Family Needs Center

What is Nikki Schwartz Memorial Food Pantry? How is hunger affecting people in our area?
Nikki Schwartz Memorial Food Pantry is a critical component of CNB dedicated to addressing food insecurity on the North Shore of Long Island. In 2024, Feeding America released its updated “Map the Meal Gap” report, which included data from 2022. The report shows that food insecurity increased by 58.3% overall and 63.4% among children from 2021 on Long Island. The work done by this pantry is essential in supporting our neighbors.

What is the relationship between the CNB and Island Harvest?
Island Harvest is Long Island’s largest food bank, and CNB serves as a Redistribution Organization (RDO) for Island Harvest. In this role, we coordinate bi-monthly food distributions and participate in rescue operations for North Shore pantries, collecting surplus food from nearby supermarkets to distribute to local community members in need.

Where is CNB located?
Sid Jacobson JCC’s Community Needs Bank is located at the Sid Jacobson JCC Annex at 200 Forest Drive, Suite 11, in East Hills.

Who does CNB serve?
Sid Jacobson JCC’s Community Needs Bank supports a network of local pantries and shelters in Roslyn Heights, Great Neck/Manhasset, Old Westbury, Port Washington, and Glen Cove, enabling these areas to directly serve community members in need. In addition to assisting local pantries CNB also provides direct support to local households in need.

Can people come to CNB to receive food?
If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, please call our Warm Line at 516.484.1545, ext. 196. A social worker will respond promptly and provide you with a list of available community resources.

What hours is CNB open?
The Bank is open Monday through Friday, from 9am to 5pm.

What type of donations does CNB receive?
We rely on community donations of non-perishable food, personal care items, and household goods.

Where can I drop off donations?
Donations can be dropped off at CNB by appointment only. Please email cnb@sjjcc.org to schedule a drop-off time, or call 516.484.1545, ext. 212.

What type of donations do we accept at the Community Needs Bank?
For a full list of items that are accepted at Sid Jacobson JCC’s Community Needs Bank, please check out our wish list here.

To purchase food for our Nikki Schwartz Memorial Food Pantry, please view our Amazon wish list.

To learn about targeted drives that meet the current needs of all recipients, please visit sjjcc.org/communityengagement.

Does CNB accept bulk donations?
Household-sized products are always preferred. We will repackage bulk donations to best serve smaller households.

Does CNB accept financial donations?
Absolutely! CNB accepts gift card donations (American Express and Visa), as well as gift certificates for local supermarkets, so our volunteers can do the shopping for you. To make a financial contribution, please visit sjjcc.org/give.

Is it only volunteers who work at SJJCC’s Community Needs Bank?
CNB is managed by community volunteers and serves as a dedicated life skills site with meaningful volunteer opportunities for our Program Without Walls (PWW) neurodivergent participants. Our PWW participants gain experience in sorting, inventory, quality control, data entry, computer skills, packaging, deliveries, and customer service.

What is the Bank Buddy Program?
The Bank Buddy program will engage community members of all ages in collections and drives to help us stock the shelves of CNB with items in high demand. If you are interested in becoming a Bank Buddy, please contact us directly by emailing Susan Berman at sberman@sjjcc.org.

Do you accept perishable food donations?
CNB accepts a limited amount of perishable food donations. Please feel free to email our Center for Community Engagement at sberman@sjjcc.org for suggestions on essential items and to learn more about our perishable food recovery initiatives.

What is the Lunch Box?
The Lunch Box at Sid Jacobson JCC’s Nikki Schwartz Memorial Food Pantry is designed to meet the needs of our pantry recipients. When you sign up to become a Lunch Box Chef, you will prepare and freeze nutritious meals from the comfort of your own kitchen. Recipes have been curated by a nutritionist and are easy to follow. Instructions will guide you step-by-step through shopping, cooking, freezing, and storage, while adhering to proper food safety guidelines. These meals will then be brought to the JCC, where they will be prepared for delivery.

For more information on becoming a Lunch Box Chef, please email foodbank@sjjcc.org.

Can I bring a group to volunteer at SJJCC’s Community Needs Bank?
Yes, please email cnb@sjjcc.org to discuss volunteer opportunities for your group. All group service projects will include a brief, customized educational workshop.