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Mazel Tov

to the Detroit Jewish News!

Fulfilling A Mission,
Feeding A Community

By Jeffrey Hermann

H

ow does a food pantry measure
its success? Looking at the
statistics, there’s no doubt that
Yad Ezra, a nonprofit supplier
of supplemental kosher food to local fami-
lies in need, is fulfilling its mission: When
it began operating in 1990, the organiza-
tion started with a client base of 250.
Today, more than 1,300 families —or
about 3,000 individuals — receive essen-
tial food, health care items and other
household goods from Yad Ezra every
month. That’s more than 1 million pounds
of groceries every year. But there’s another,
more unexpected, success story that goes
beyond numbers.
“Our mission hasn’t changed since
1990,” said Jeff Supowit, president of Yad
Ezra. “What’s changed is our ability to
carry out that mission. We have a group of
six employees — we can raise the money,
but we can’t do the work that needs to be
done. An unbelievable team of 150 volun-
teers does the work. It speaks to what a
unified, organized Jewish community we
have here in Detroit. I know of nothing
similar around the country.”
Since its founding, the organization has
attracted volunteers and supporters from
across the community, and has sought
assistance and input from different syna-
gogues and other Jewish and non-Jewish
organizations. Yad Ezra places a special
emphasis on raising awareness about pov-
erty among children: Every year, second-
graders at Hillel Day School volunteer for
the organization, gathering food for the
warehouse. It’s also a common choice for
bar and bat mitzvah-aged children look-
ing for volunteer opportunities for their
mitzvah projects.
“It’s not surprising that a Jewish orga-
nization would get this kind of support
— we work hard at being a unifying orga-
nization for a diverse community,” said
Lea Luger, Yad Ezra’s executive director.
“What’s so gratifying is to see an effort to
fill a need in the community — supple-
mental food assistance — turn into an
opportunity to strengthen that commu-
nity bond.
“The time our volunteers give to Yad
Ezra ensures families get the help they

need,” she said. “And the heart, com-
mitment and sensitivity with which our
volunteers do that work ensures those
families get the respect and dignity they
deserve. And not just Jewish families —
whether you’re Jewish or not, nobody
leaves here without food.”
The needs that Yad Ezra and its volun-
teers fill go beyond food basics — families
bring home everything from produce
and meat to items for school lunches and
healthy snacks. Sensitive to privacy con-
cerns and some clients’ physical restric-
tions, Yad Ezra provides several ways for
clients to acquire their food parcels: They
can pick them up at the Yad Ezra ware-
house, use the new drive-through window
service or arrange for delivery. And assis-
tance doesn’t stop at food and household
items: Through the Harold and Mini Wade
Simcha Fund, Yad Ezra provides Kiddush
grants for families celebrating baby nam-
ings and brises, bar or bat mitzvahs and
weddings.

THE FUTURE
“It’s unlikely that the need for supplemen-
tal food assistance will go away, unfortu-
nately,” Supowit said. “It’s possible. And it’s
something we hope for. But we also aim to
get better and better at meeting the needs
of individuals and families. We see that
happening all the time. We’re proud that
we’ve been able to broaden our range and
serve communities outside of Detroit, in
Flint, Ann Arbor and Windsor. That’s suc-
cess to us.”
“There will always be need,” Luger
agreed. “Every zip code has people who
need food, and we’ll strive to be there for
them. But needs change, too. Identifying
what people in our community might be
lacking — maybe it’s training or classes of
some kind — is vital. And we are nimble
and flexible enough to be able to meet the
evolving needs of our community.” Y

Yad Ezra

2850 W. 11 Mile Road
Berkley, MI 48072
(248) 727-9000
www.yadezra.org

We at Yad Ezra applaud and congratulate the Detroit
Jewish News on the achievements it has accomplished
over the past 75 years.
Since Yad Ezra opened its doors in 1990, The
Detroit Jewish News has been a strong supporter
and advocate of our kosher food pantry. The JN has
stood by our side in our efforts to raise awareness
around the hunger issues that plague many in our
community. Through articles, editorials and photos
depicting our efforts to provide free kosher groceries,
the JN has educated its readership about the
thousands of families in the metro Detroit area who
are helped by Yad Ezra. For those reasons, it holds
a special place in our hearts.
From all of us here at Yad Ezra, we say Mazel Tov
and wish you another 75 successful years.

In need of our services?
Want to volunteer?

Call Darlene Rothman at
248-548-3663 or
email darlene@yadezra.org

How to get involved:

• Volunteer in the pantry
• Volunteer in the Giving Gardens
• Generate a passion project benefi tting Yad
Ezra
• Advocate on behalf of those who are hungry
• Participate in Bar and Bat Mitzvah projects
• Participate in and share our events
• Contact your legislators
• Follow us on Facebook

For more information about Yad Ezra
contact Nechama Lurie, marketing coordinator
at nechama@yadezra.org or
check out our website www.yadezra.org



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July 18 • 2017

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