 FEBRUARY 4 • 2021 | 19

A

fter 28 years, Lea 
Luger has decided to 
retire from Yad Ezra 
as executive director. 
Yad Ezra has convened 
a search committee for a 
replacement with no defin-
itive date for her departure, 
although she plans 
to leave some time 
this calendar year.
“It has been an 
amazing, wonderful 
and humbling expe-
rience,
” Luger said. 
“I’m so thrilled to 
have been a part of 
this incredible orga-
nization that not 
just helps people by 
giving them food but does it in 
a way that treats people with 
dignity and respect.
“It’s time,
” Luger continued. 
“My grandmother always said 
to me ‘Leave them while they 
still want you,
’ and I hold true 
to that. It’s time for someone 
else to take over the reins. 
Change is good.
”
For Luger, her passion for 
Yad Ezra remains, and she will 
still be involved with the orga-
nization. 
Luger, who began in the 
role in 1993, is most proud 
of initiating the Lunch 
Assistance Program, creating 
the Giving Gardens program 
in an effort to be more than 
a Band-Aid against hunger, 
helping establish a kosher food 
pantry in Warsaw that ben-
efits Righteous Gentiles who 
saved lives during WWII, and 

adapting when serving clients 
during the pandemic — pro-
ducing home deliveries to 300 
families a week.
“We never dropped the ball,
” 
Luger said. “We have families 
who have been with us since 
we opened our doors in 1990, 
and there was never 
a day where we 
didn’t have food to 
give out. I’m proud 
that regardless of 
what was going 
on in the world, 
we kept our doors 
open and were able 
to continue feeding 
people. 
“I am constantly 
amazed and humbled by the 
members of the community 
who have really partnered with 
us — this has been a group 
effort,
” Luger reflected.
“I may be the executive 
director, but believe me, this 
is a huge effort on the part 
of a lot of people. I have met 
incredible people, and I am so 
proud of our community and 
what we’ve been able to do to 
make sure those who are vul-
nerable don’t feel forgotten.
”
She will continue to work 
to help the community. Luger 
was recently appointed to Gov. 
Gretchen Whitmer’s Protect 
Michigan Commission, which 
is charged with helping raise 
awareness of the safety and 
effectiveness of the COVID-19 
vaccine and helping to protect 
the health and safety of all 
Michigan residents. 

Longtime executive director helped 
respectfully feed the hungry for 28 years.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Lea Luger to Retire 
from Yad Ezra

Lea Luger

5829 Maple Rd. Ste. 129 
 West Bloomf
 eld, MI 48322

248.757.2503

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