Spirituality

Rikki Shapiro, 14, and
her mother, Michelle

Ryke Shapiro, of West
Bloomfield volunteer

O

together in filling a
cart of items for Yad

Ezra clients.

A Bountiful Passover

Yad Ezra volunteers organize and distribute holiday food packages.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Senior Writer

W

hen Yad Ezra's spe-
cial Passover distri-
bution was complete
on April 13, nearly 60 volunteers
had assisted 800 families with
food items to help ease the
financial burden of purchasing
holiday necessities.
Left: Volunteers Jeff Fox of West Bloomfield and Richard Ludwig of Huntington Woods take a break from
That amount is "an all-time
organizing donation packages.
record for one day;' said Lea
Right: Ben Luger, 15, a volunteer from West Bloomfield, adds Passover food items to a client's cart.
Luger, development director of
the Berkley-based agency that is
macaroons, gefilte fish, horseradish, chick- gets:' she said.
Michigan's only kosher food pantry. And
en, matzah ball and soup mix, tuna, oil,
To get ready for the distribution, Luger
the distribution continued into a second
onions, potatoes, apples, carrots, cucum-
said, "Bernie Phillips, Yad Ezra's warehouse
day, until the packages were dispensed
bers, candy and Haggadot.
supervisor, prepares the warehouse for
to all of the 1,300 families who receive
Acknowledging the expense of Passover the distribution and acquires the produce
monthly food and health care items
food, Luger said, "Clients are very appre-
donations. Linda Chordash, Yad Ezra's cli-
through Yad Ezra.
ciative of the packages. The assistance
ent-volunteer coordinator organizes the
Before Passover, clients receive matzah,
from Yad Ezra definitely helps stretch
client distribution, deliveries and volun-
matzah meal, grape juice, eggs, cake mix,
already severely stretched Passover bud-
teers to make the process run smoothly

Jt4

and efficiently.
"Statistics site that
Passover is the most cel-
ebrated Jewish holiday,
regardless of level of reli-
gious affiliation," Luger
said. "All of our clients are
very grateful for the seder
packages that help make
the celebration festive, pro-
vide a sense of community
and belonging, and some
economic relief for this
expensive holiday" 111

To volunteer or
make a donation to
Yad Ezra, access
the Web site at:
yadezra.org or call
(248) 548-3663.

May 1 • 2008

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