WEST HARTFORD – The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford (JCRC) is spearheading a food drive to help the thousands of people from Puerto Rico and and other Caribbean islands who have been displaced by Hurricane Maria and have resettled, or will resettle, in the Greater Hartford area. The drive is running now through Feb. 9.

Especially needed are Grace or Goya brand products, including bags of rice, bags of beans, and cans of tomato sauce or tomato paste; spices and seasonings such as sugar, salt, adobo, sazón and garlic powder; Kellogg’s brand cereals, Cheerios, Cream of Wheat and Quaker Oats; and coffee or juice, including Bustelo, Pilon or Maxwell brand coffee and Capri Sun brand juice drink. Donations will be distributed by the Centro de Ayuda Para Nuestros Amigos Caribeños (Relief Center for our Caribbean Friends) in Hartford, managed by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC).

Food drive drop-off locations include:

In West Hartford: the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry at Jewish Family Services, Beth David Synagogue, Beth El Temple, Chabad House of Greater Hartford, Congregation Beth Israel, The Emanuel Synagogue, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, the Mandell Jewish Community Center, Young Israel of West Hartford, Solomon Schechter Day School;

In Bloomfield: The Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy, B’nai Tikvoh Shalom;

In Manchester: Beth Sholom B’nai Israel;

In Glastonbury: Congregation Kol Haverim;

In Simsbury: Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation-Emek  Shalom;

In South Windsor: Temple Beth Hillel;

In Newington: Temple Sinai.

The food drive is the third phase of JCRC’s response effort in collaboration with CREC and other agencies. To learn more or to get involved, contact Alana Butler at (860) 727-6152 or abutler@jewishhartford.org.