VII. Retrieving Perfectly Good Food-Bal Tashchit

A. FOOD DONATIONS IN ISRAEL ($500)*
We are very familiar with the problem of hungry people in Israel, as so many of our projects work to eliminate hunger on a daily basis. We recently learned of one Jerusalem-based grass-roots effort that has adopted the American system of making a donation to a hunger-relief organization by placing "coupons" at the supermarket check-out. The idea is to select one coupon, hand it to the cashier and have that amount added to your grocery total. The supermarket will then forward a check for the total amount of donations to the organization fighting hunger. Our funds were used to print the coupons and counter stands.

[Tentatively called "The Coalition to Encourage Giving." Contact Chashi Freedman, 7 Ezra St., POB 3112, Efrat 90435, Israel, phone: 02-993-3956 (h), 02-560-5224/97 (o), fax: 02-561-9293, e-mail: chashif@vanleer.org.il.]

B. RACHEL'S TABLE ($360)
Rachel's Table is an extremely effective program dedicated to retrieving leftovers from bakeries, restaurants, markets, and other food establishments in the Springfield, MA, area. Their all-volunteer crew works on a precise schedule to pick up the leftovers and get them to shelters and food pantries where they provide sustenance for hungry people. No frills, no bureaucracy. Our funds paid for the printing of a wonderful kids booklet about hunger.

[Rachel's Table, 1160 Dickinson St., Springfield, MA 01108, Attn: Pamela Finer, 413-733-0084, fax: 737-4348, jfgs18@aol.com, www.delpadre.com/rachels-table.]

C. KOSHER CITY HARVEST ($250)*
This past fall, we were excited to learn that City Harvest, New York City's very successful live food retrieval program, had developed a Kosher food run that feeds hundreds of the city's hungry Jews on a weekly basis. With private donations in place and the hiring of a Mashgiach (Kosher food supervisor), City Harvest expects this aspect of their work to expand as more and more Kosher food establishments learn of its existence and sign on to donate their leftovers. Our donation was used to provide packaging materials for the donated food.

[City Harvest, Julia Erickson, Executive Director, 159 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10001-7203, phone 212-463-0456, fax: 727-2439.]

To locate a food retrieval service in your area, contact Foodchain, phone: 816-842-6006, toll-free information: 800-845-3008, fax: 816-842-5145, rescuefood@aol.com, www.foodchain.org.

D. COLLECTING FOOD ON CAMPUS ($500)*
The Jews for Social Justice group at Columbia University is working on several different fronts to solve the problem of hunger in New York City. Our funding provided a receptacle that has been placed outside a campus convenience store. Students have been asked to buy an extra nutritional item and donate it.

[Jewish Campus Life-Tzedek Program, Attn: Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, 105 Earl Hall, Columbia University, NY, NY 10027, 212-854-5111, jcr40@columbia.edu.]

Columbia's program is but one example of a wonderful phenomenon exploding on campuses across the country. New York University has signed a contract with their food service, ARAMARK, which mandates that leftovers from all campus events are to be picked up by City Harvest. Contact Gloria Cahill, Director of Community Services (212-998-2439) to establish a program on your own campus. Food retrieval programs are also in place to a greater or lesser extent at Yeshiva University, Tufts, University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Maryland. The revolution has begun, thanks to the actions of our college students.

E. ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO ($1,800)
The Society of Saint Andrew's website will teach you a great deal about the extent of hunger in this country and how we can feed everyone if we do not waste our resources and retrieve all manner of food from every possible source. Their Potato Project is specifically dedicated to rescuing tons of fresh produce from our nation's fields. Here are their statistics: more than 275,000,000 pounds since 1983, 27,200,000 this past year alone - of which 8,200,000 pounds were gathered by hands-on gleaning by 20,300 volunteers. Their intricate system of trailers criss-cross the country delivering this precious food at a cost of about 2 cents a serving.

[Society of St. Andrew/The Potato Project, 3383 Sweet Hollow Rd., Big Island, VA 24526, Attn: Michael Waldmann, toll-free phone: 800-333-4597 or 804-299-5956, fax: 804-299-5949, sosausa@mindspring.com, www.endhunger.org.]

F. WASHINGTON AREA GLEANING NETWORK (WAGN) ($180)*
The story of Ruth highlights the Mitzvah of Leket-Gleaning the Fields: She came and gleaned in a field, behind the reapers (Book of Ruth 2:3) This Washington-based group's mission? To fight hunger by harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables from farms and orchards. They glean more than 1,500,000 pounds of produce annually.

[Washington Area Gleaning Network, PO Box 9871, Alexandria, VA 22304, Thomas R. Chandler, E.D., toll-free  800-745-0319, phone: 703-541-9052, fax: 541-9054.]

VIII.The First Principle of Tzedakah: Providing for Near-Poor, Poor, and Desperately Poor People
A. CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ($3,500)
Another favorite stop on our summer rounds is the tiny kitchen of Tova Cohen, one of Jerusalem's quiet angels. Every Wednesday, without fail, Tova can be found in her tiny, tiny kitchen (maybe 6'x 8') preparing a huge pot of chicken soup filled with fresh vegetables and rice. Despite the early hour, we would never consider passing up this special treat. Tova and her helpers feed a group of 20-25 people from this very poor neighborhood. For most, this may be the only hot meal they will enjoy that week.

[Tova Cohen, Tova's Kitchen, 26 Yosef Caro St., Jerusalem, 02-582-2879. The meals are served in the synagogue, #33.]

B. A CHICKEN IN EVERY POT ($1,400)
No one should travel to Israel without scheduling a visit with the delightful and animated Clara Hammer, affectionately known as the "Chicken Woman of Jerusalem." Clara feeds many poor people, a task she took on years ago. Families that become known to Clara will receive two chickens and some chopped meat every Friday (or vegetarian food for vegetarians), so that they, too, can enjoy the beauty of Shabbat. Today, more than 127 families celebrate Shabbat because of Clara's efforts. We are happy and proud to announce that Mayor Ehud Olmert recently presented Clara with the honorary title of "Yakirat Yerushalayim-Distinguished Citizen of Jerusalem."

[Clara Hammer, Mishmar HaGvul 4, Ramat Eshkol, Jerusalem, phone: 02-581-6164.]

C. TRUDI ($3,500)
Trudi Birger is one of the finest examples we have of an individual who has experienced great tragedy and then gone on to devote her life to helping others. Trudi is the author of the well-known book, A Daughter's Gift of Love, which relates her life during the Shoah and her literal last-minute salvation from the gas chamber. Not only is she the life-force behind Dental Volunteers in Israel, an organization that offers free dental care to the poorest families in Jerusalem, but she also provides for the critical needs of many families in the Romema neighborhood in Jerusalem. Trudi's work with these families includes meeting their most basic needs such as clothing and food, as well as seeing that they receive needed medical care and educational opportunities. Our contribution: $1,250 towards the dental clinic and $3,500 for the Romema project.

[DVI, 29 Mekor Haim St., Jerusalem, Attn: Trudi Birger, phone: 02-678-3144, fax: 02-643-3623, home phone: 02-643-6628, dvi@internet-zahav.net, www.interdent.co.il/clinics/dvi/dvi.html. Tax-deductible contributions through PEF-Israel Endowments. (See section II:A.) Donations for the families: contact Ms. Birger directly, 2 HaMeyasdim St., Jerusalem, home phone: 02-643-6628.]

D. TO LIFE ($1,800)
Rachel Chalkovsky is also one of Jerusalem's quiet angels. Bambi, as she is affectionately known, is not only the chief midwife at Shaare Zedek Hospital, but also provides many critical items to more than 500 needy families. This year's gift was made possible in part by a family that asked friends and relatives to donate to Bambi rather than give gifts to their newborn son. This very special Mitzvah generated a healthy sum of money which only increased when the family matched the gifts of their friends and relatives.

[Rachel Chalkovsky, 3 Azriel St., Jerusalem, phone: 02-652-6721. Contributions made out to "Matan BeSeter B.A.M.B.I."]

E. FOOD WITH DIGNITY ($25,012.12)
The Youngstown Community Food Center is the work of Joe Lordi and his devoted volunteers. It isn't a fancy place, but it does what is needed - providing food and other provisions at no cost for people who are hungry. For poor people in the Youngstown area, Joe is a lifesaver. Our funds have given Joe some much-needed support with transportation and general operating expenses. He is now looking for someone to donate an up-to-date computer.

[Youngstown Community Food Center, Inc. and Gleaners Food Bank, POB 3587, Boardman, OH 44513, Attn: Joseph Lordi, 330-746-8436 (food bank), 330-726-9591 (h), gleaners@boss.com.]

F. MIGRANT WORKERS ($3,000)
Caridad Asensio has devoted her life to those people who labor in the fields to bring fruits and vegetables to our tables. Caridad's center now provides migrant workers with housing, essential daily needs, education, and medical care. A few years ago, we were pleased to witness the opening of her fine clinic (MASF) which provides the latest medical attention and social services for the workers. Caridad and her fine staff offer their services with Dignity and Care.

[Migrant Association of South Florida, Inc., 8645 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33437, Attn: Caridad Asensio, 561-737-6336 (w), cellphone: 561-271-0924, fax: 274-0077. Or call Caridad's assistant, Connie Berry, 561-963-3473 website www.masf.org

G. ON THE ROAD WITH JOHN FLING ($1,000)
John Fling's work in and around Columbia, SC, is unmatched. Going from home to home in this very poor region, John provides for all manner of needs - food, clothing, rides to the doctor, money to pay bills. Every December, John gives more than 2,000 kids a holiday shopping spree at a local store. His office? His pick-up truck.

[John Fling, c/o John Fling Ministries, POB 5491, 2916 River Dr., Cayce, W. Columbia, SC 29171, car phone: 803-360-JOHN (which is where he gets his messages), or 803-256-7195.]

H. THE LEGENDARY GRANDMA ($1,000)
Last year we reported the sad and untimely death of Grandma Edie Lewis, founder of Grandma's House. Struck down by a hit-and-run driver, Grandma had been responsible for saving the lives of so many kids who had lost their way in the Dallas area. With her own brand of tough love and wisdom, many, many lives were pulled from the depths of despair. Unfortunately, Grandma's House died along with Grandma for there was no one who could replace her.

Grandma's pride and joy was Koe Jones - the young man she rescued from the gangs. It was only with Grandma's intense dedication and love that Koe was saved. Today, he is a handsome man about to enter his last year of college with plans to go on to Seminary. Grandma's friend, Brayton Campbell, continues to work with Koe. It is Brayton who remains the constant in Koe's life, offering a firm but loving hand when necessary. Our contribution provided for some of Koe's needs while in college. No one doubts that Koe, in turn, will continue Grandma's efforts to save kids from the violence of the streets.

[Contact Brayton Campbell, 1641 CR 266, McKinney, TX 75069, 214-761-5139 (o), 972-562-1964 (h), brayton@ev1.net.]

I. MAIMONIDES IN CENTRAL AMERICA ($1,250)*
Here is Ziv's opportunity to bring to life Maimonides' highest level of Tzedakah - providing employment for people. MayaWorks employs people in Guatemalan villages who crochet and weave many beautiful objects that are sold here in the States. We love their colorful and extremely well-made crocheted Yarmulkas/Kippot and buy dozens of them to sell at our programs. For every $1.00 received through sales, at least $.75 is returned to the artisans.

[MayaWorks, Pat Krause, 3 Mary Austin Place, Norwalk, CT 06850, phone/fax:203-846-0043, Behrhorst@compuserve.com.]

J. WHAT'S FOR DINNER? ($2,500)
Every Monday evening, students and faculty work together at New York's Hebrew Union College soup kitchen to prepare and serve a fresh hot meal to the neighborhood's hungry residents. They are often joined by students from area congregations who help serve and also study relevant Torah. Our donations were used to add something "extra special" to the menu.

[HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen, c/o Rabbi Aaron Panken, Brookdale Center, 1 W. 4th St., NY, NY 10012, 212-674-5300, apanken@huc.edu.]

K. YAD SARAH ($1,420)
Though Israel's Yad Sarah organization is best known for lending medical equipment free of charge, they are actually involved in many other life-saving activities. Our donation was used for the soup kitchen they operate at their original location in Jerusalem.

[Yad Sarah, 124 Herzl Blvd., Jerusalem, phone: 02-644-4444, fax: 02-624-4425, info@yadsarah.org.il, www.yadsarah.org.il. Tax-deductible contributions: Friends of Yad Sarah, c/o Els Bendheim, Parker Plaza, Room 1450, 400 Kelly St., Ft. Lee, NJ 07024, 201-944-7920.]

L. DRESSING UP ($750)
Barbara and Scot Pittman's Street Clothes Project in Philadelphia has grown tremendously over the past year. More than 16,000 people have received much-needed clothing. We are particularly impressed with their "Fashionably Frankford" program. Students at Frankford High School Business Academy have opened a clothing boutique that provides professional clothes for people about to go on job interviews. It is open to homeless men and women, coming off of welfare, and completing job training and seeking employment. The boutique, located in an empty classroom, is operated solely by the students. Very impressive.

[Street Clothes Project, Barbara and Scot Pittman, PO Box 52208, Philadelphia, PA 19115, 215-464-3955, fax: 464-0843, Barb7849@aol.com.]

M. MAZON ($600)
Since 1986, MAZON-A Jewish Response to Hunger, has granted more than $20,000,000 to food projects around the world. The next time your family celebrates a Simcha, remember to share the occasion with others by making a donation to Mazon that represents 3% of the total cost of the food served.

[MAZON, 12401 Wilshire Blvd., #303, Los Angeles, CA 90025, Attn: Susan Cramer, 310-442-0020, fax: 442-0030, mazonmail@aol.com, www.shamash.org/soc-action/mazon/.]

N. LET ALL WHO ARE HUNGRY ($500)
Every spring, as the festival of Passover approaches, poor Jews in the Chesapeake Bay Region are provided with appropriate food through the efforts of local B'nai B'rith chapters. For many years, Project HOPE (Help Our People Everywhere) has fulfilled the Mitzvah of Ma'ot Chittin, Providing Passover Food for People in Need in a most admirable fashion.

[B'nai B'rith Project Hope, c/o Sam Kaplan, c/o B'nai B'rith Chesapeake Bay Region, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-857-6589.]

O. HEBREW FREE BURIAL ($250)
This Washington-based organization is responsible for providing a dignified and proper burial for any Jew whose family cannot afford to do so or who has no family to perform this essential Mitzvah. It is quiet work, but so very important.

[Hebrew Free Burial Society of Greater Washington, Attn: Martin Kamerow, c/o Kamerow, Weintraub & Swain, LLP, 11400 Rockville Pike, #800, Rockville, MD 20852, 301-468-2424, fax: 468-2480, marty@kwscpa.com. Emergency phone number: 301-230-7200.]

P. A HOME OF OUR OWN ($200)*
We are impressed by the students at Tulane University who are raising money to complete a school-sponsored Habitat for Humanity house.

[C.A.C.T.U.S. (Community Action Council of Tulane University Students), Stacey Rosen, Room 043C, Tulane University Center, New Orleans, LA 70118-5698, sroen@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu.]

Q. CLIPPING COUPONS ($300)
The goal is simple - teach people how to shop for food in the most economical way and still eat healthy, nutritious foods. Reverend Kevin Newcomer and his wife established Learnshop in 1997, and it continues to grow. They have produced an instructional video that is donated to social service agencies and community housing centers for educational purposes. They also collect thousands of manufacturers' coupons that are placed in strategic locations in the waiting rooms of these agencies - there for anyone to take and use. In addition, their coupon collection has purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of food at but a fraction of the original cost.

[Learn Shop, Inc., Rev. Kevin and Louise Newcomer, PO Box 1754, Wheaton, MD 20915, 301-942-5136, fax: 942-1329, Learnshop2@aol.com, www.learnshop.org.]

R. N STREET VILLAGE ($800)
Founded thirty years ago by Reverend John Steinbruck in Washington DC, N Street Village has grown to an impressive size. The newsletter's title, The Urban Oasis, is an apt description of their work. Eleven specific projects are mentioned in their letterhead. Transitional housing, shelters for homeless women, individuals recovering from addictions, mental illness, victims of domestic violence, and primary medical care are all part of their fine work. This past year they were the recipients of an astonishing 32,000 hours of volunteer support that translates into 15.4 full-time employee-hours! Ziv's contribution was used for refurbishing cots used by N Street Village residents.

[Luther Place N St. Village, 1333 N St., NW, Washington, DC 20005, Attn: Ann Bodnyk, 202-667-2728, fax: 319-1508, nstreet@ibm.net.]

S. CESAR CHAVEZ HIGH SCHOOL ($300)*
Irasema Salcido, herself, the daughter of Mexican farm workers, is working to provide a better than good high school education for disadvantaged kids in the District of Columbia. She started the Cesar Chavez High School for Public Policy so that these kids would be challenged and empowered to succeed.

While the school does receive some funding from the District, many, many costs are not met and it is up to Irasema to find the funds to keep this fine school going. Students in the school have posted some of the highest scores in standardized tests in the District. Irasema was also recently cited by the Caring Institute.

[Cesar Chavez High School for Public Policy, Irasema Salcido, 1346 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 phone:202-387-7808, fax: 387-6980.]

T. FRONT-LINE MITZVAH WORK ($261.89)
Founded by Sister Margaret McCaffrey in Shreveport, LA, the Christian Service Program provides a variety of services for local families. Since Sister Margaret's death two years ago, Father Giovanni Reid has taken over the day-to-day operations of providing essential items for people living precariously close to the economic edge. Aside from fine medical care, they offer clothing, food, household supplies - whatever it takes to insure a Menschlich life. Our donation provided a much-needed fax machine.

[Christian Service Program, POB 21, Shreveport, LA 71161, Attn: Father Giovanni Reid, 318-452-7144, cell phone: 453-5793.]

U. THE WRITING ON THE WALL ($250)*
 This unusual program in New York brings together the oft-forgotten art of mural making with community developers. Its mission is unusual - to facilitate community-run mural projects with themes that reflect the community's interests. The murals are created by the young, often disenfranchised, members of that community. Working in partnership, Groundswell and community organizations have completed murals in some of the most economically devastated parts of New York. In so doing, they empower not only entire neighborhoods, but also the young people who live on those streets. Our donation was used to purchase paint for a planned mural.

[Groundswell Community Mural Projects, Inc., Amy Sananman, Executive Director, 231 11th Street #2, Brooklyn, NY, 11215, phone/fax:718-965-9475, director@groundswellmural.org, www.groundswellmural.org.]

IX. Projects Concerning Victims of Domestic Violence
USED CELLPHONES: Many organizations are asking us to donate used cellphones and chargers: (1) The phone companies re-program them to the "911" number, (2) they are donated to victims of domestic violence, a real life-saver. Check with your local domestic violence organizations, cellphone company, or police department, to find out who is organizing the program in your community. Also check out BellAtlantic Mobile's website for further information: www.bam.com/donate_phones.htm.

A. SAFE HAVEN ($180)
The name CHANA - Counseling, Helpline, and Aid Network for Abused Women - tells you everything you need to know about this very important program. Though it is the year 2000, only a handful of Jewish domestic violence shelters exist in this country. CHANA serves the residents of the Baltimore area.

[CHANA, 101 W. Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201, Attn: Shelly L. Hettleman, 410-234-0030, Helpline: 410-234-0023, fax: 410-576-9388.]

B. SHALVA (Chicago) ($1,000)
The dedicated staff of SHALVA in Chicago has served Jewish victims of domestic violence for many years. They go about their work quietly, with just the right touch of compassion and love for those who come to them seeking peace and safety.

[SHALVA, 1610 W. Highland, #9, Chicago, IL 60660, Attn: Ms. Hedvah Campeas-Cohen, 773-583-HOPE,
SHALVAchgo@aol.com.]

C. ROOM SERVICE ($3,123.51)
Naomi Berman-Potash delights us with her creative Mitzvah thinking. Project Debby continues to enlist hotels and motels across the country in the battle against domestic violence. When a local shelter is either full or non-existent, participating hotels provide a safe and clean room for women fleeing an abusive home situation. This is such a simple program, one can only wonder why it isn't being done everywhere.

[Naomi Berman-Potash, Project Debby, Inc., 11456 N. Solar Avenue, Mequon, WI 53097, 262-242-4347, fax: 240-0466.]

D. WOMEN IN DISTRESS ($5,250)
Bella Savran, our main contact at the Israel Counseling Center, shared the group's latest work with us when we visited Israel last July. The Center, originally started by 10 women, now provides therapy to hundreds of women (and their children) annually. All of their clients are victims of domestic abuse and have chosen to remain in the home environment. Through the therapy process they learn how to deal with their situation and often successfully change the family dynamic. Additionally, the Center offers general education in issues of domestic violence and sexual harassment to both the public and the professional sectors of Israeli society. Our donation was used to provide therapy for women whose economic status prevents them from paying even the minimal fee.

[Counseling Center for Women, 8 Herzl St., Ramat Gan, 52431, Attn: Emily Levy-Shochat, phone: 03-673-9006, fax: 673-9032, ccw@netvision.net.il. Our contact in Jerusalem: Bella Savran, phone: 02-673-3827, fax: 02-673-5382, msgeorge@pluto.mscc.huji.ac.il.]

We also remind you of the following website which contains pertinent information about Jewish domestic violence in North America: http://users.aol.com/agunah/shelters.htm.

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