JCC Names Food Pantry for Outgoing Director

The JCC of the Greater Five Towns has named its Woodmere food pantry for its outgoing executive director, Rina Shkolnik.

The pantry, now named The Rina Shkolnik Kosher Food Pantry, has provided food assistance to the community since 2006 and today serves over 300 families. Shkolnik relocated the pantry from the JCC’s basement to its present location on Central Avenue in Woodmere “when the needs of the community became too great” and “as a response to the changing demographics in the Five Towns,” according to a press release.

“Many seniors were living alone, we identified a large Russian population who needed assistance, our Holocaust survivors were becoming more frail and many large families were moving to the Five Towns,” Shkolnik said in the release.

The distinction was granted to Shkolnik at the JCC of the Greater Five Towns’ recent annual dinner, which honored several community leaders for their commitment to enriching and improving the lives of all Five Towns residents. Shkolnik also receiving the Harrison-Kerr Community Achievement Award.

“The board of directors wanted a fitting legacy for Rina, who will be retiring at the end of June,” said Michael Rattner, president of the JCC in 2005 when both he and Rina saw the need in their community for the creation of a kosher food pantry.

The Rina Shkolnik Kosher Food Pantry is a joint initiative of the Jewish Community Center of the Greater Five Towns and UJA-Federation of New York and is supported by the Five Towns Community Chest. Representatives from both organizations were on hand to share in the surprise announcement.

Dr. Kenneth L. Berman received the JCC’s Person of the Year Award. Berman is a community leader known for his philanthropic support of many Jewish and community-based causes, including a longtime record of service to UJA-Federation of New York, and for his many years of active work and efforts on behalf of the JCC, according to the release. Berman is a past president of the board of directors of the JCC and its current chairman. He is also a current member of Temple Beth El of Cedarhurst and a member for many years at Congregation Sons of Israel in Woodmere. Before retiring, Berman practiced dentistry in the Five Towns for over 45 years.

Perri and David Kaye were given the JCC’s New Leadership Award, recognizing the next generation of community leaders. The young couple quickly became involved in the JCC shortly after moving to the Five Towns, following the tradition of service to the community, the release says. Perri’s mother, Jane Gural Senders, has long been an active member of the JCC and Perri’s grandfather, Aaron Gural, was a founding member of the JCC. David is a member of the JCC’s board of directors.