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High Holy Day Food Drive—Donate Today!

08/03/2021 12:12:06 PM

Aug3

The High Holy Day Food Drive is a long-standing holiday tradition at Temple Beth El. The food drive continues to be as important as ever, with many people in our community dependent on food banks and meal programs to feed their families. Since this year some of us will worship in person and others will attend services virtually, look for the traditional food drive envelope in your August Bulletin. You can also donate online on the Temple website (choose “High Holy Day Food Drive” as payment type). 

Last year, Temple members generously donated over $15,000 to the High Holy Day Food Drive. The Social Action Committee allocated most of the money to Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, the region's largest and most cost-effective food bank. The remainder of the money went for direct food assistance provided through our community partners at the Catholic Multicultural Center, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Centro Hispano, Porchlight, and Food for Thought. 

Because of our sizable donation to Second Harvest in the Share Your Holidays drive, TBE was named a “silver level” sponsor, the only nonprofit organization to give at this level. Since a $10 donation to Second Harvest can provide up to 25 meals, TBE members effectively provided over 30,000 meals to help people through the darkest days of the pandemic.

(from Second Harvest https://www.secondharvestmadison.org/hungers-impact/hunger-stats)

Sadly, the pandemic is not at an end, and the economic recovery has been uneven and incomplete. Even though a majority of the households served by Second Harvest have a member who works at least 30 hours per week, they still struggle to balance paying for healthy food with other basic needs like rent, transportation, and medical care. One in six children in Southwest Wisconsin live in a household without enough food. For older people, high blood pressure and diabetes can result from not having enough healthy food. 

Our goal for 2021 is to match last year’s generous level of giving to help our neighbors move forward and put this terrible time behind us. Please donate what you can by returning the donation envelope enclosed in the August Bulletin or by donating online (choose “High Holy Day Food Drive” as payment type). 

 

April 19, 2024 11 Nisan 5784