Summer Faerman, with Salvation Army Major Cece LaLanne, got the idea for Little Free Food Pantries as she distributed books to a Little Free Library in Boca Raton. Photo provided
By Jan Engoren
Summer Faerman had an epiphany while replenishing books in her Boca Raton neighborhood’s Little Free Library.
Faerman, the director of the Meryl and Ron Gallatin Tzedakah, Learning and Chesed program at B’nai Torah Congregation, called her friend Penina Bredoff to come help distribute books that were taking up space in her garage.
At the last stop, the two sat down to rest and Faerman remembers thinking, “I need to fill one of these boxes with food.”
Bredoff called her husband, Shane, who, using trash left out for bulk pickup, built a prototype.
“It’s a safe way to help people,” says Faerman, 42. “If you have, you give; if you need, you take. There are no hurdles, no judgment, no obstacles, no paperwork, no age or income restrictions.”
According to Feeding South Florida, more than 184,110 people in Palm Beach County are food insecure, many of them children, families and older adults, and the pandemic has made the situation worse.
“Our B’nai Torah com-munity has the means and wants to give back,” Faerman says. “They don’t always want to write a check and this enables them to be hands-on.”
Bredoff, director of the Florence Melton School for Adult Jewish Learning at the congregation, says her “magic carpet” ride with Faerman began when the two met seven years ago.
“People want to help but don’t know where to begin,” she says. “If you know Summer and express a desire to help, she will find you a place to contribute.
“She’s a tremendous asset to the community,” Bredoff says.
Her whole family — including two sons, Spencer, 20, a junior at Washington University in St. Louis, and Nate, 18, a senior at American Heritage School in Delray Beach — got involved in the effort.
The first food pantry was installed at the Salvation Army at 300 SW Second Ave. in Boca Raton on Aug. 23, and Bredoff says the project has taken on a life of its own.
“People have been falling over themselves to either sponsor a pantry or to help build one,” she says.
The Salvation Army is next to Boca Elementary School, a Title 1 school. Kids take food on their way to and from school, says Bredoff. Other Boca locations include Advent Elementary & Middle School and Ebenezer Church.
B’nai Torah also has little food pantries on Swinton Avenue in Delray Beach and on Lantana Road and plans for others in Boynton Beach, Margate, Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach.
The pantries are stocked with bottled water, granola bars, oatmeal, beans, pasta, beef jerky, cans of Chef Boyardee, Kind bars and GoGo squeeZ fruit snacks.
Faerman has partnered with the Salvation Army, Advent Lutheran Church and the Fusion Academy.
Jessica Ballas, ministry director at Advent Lutheran Church, says, “I was so taken by Summer’s enthusiasm, I had to get involved.
“It’s an amazing concept,” she says. “I’m in awe of Summer’s passion and what she has accomplished.
“Look what we can do if we pitch in a little,” Ballas says. “Just imagine what we could do if we pitched in a lot.”
Faerman updates her Facebook page on which boxes need replenishing and people respond to her updates.
“It’s one thing to be involved in a food drive, but when you actually go out and put food in one of these pantries, it’s a very satisfying experience and makes the need in our community very real,” Faerman says.
“It’s a Field of Dreams situation,” she says. “This project was my dream and it brings joy to me every time I go.”
To learn more visit btcboca.org/littlefreepantry or on Facebook at TLC Little Food Pantry.
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