JP Updates: Masbia Opens Citywide Registration for Kosher-for-Passover Emergency Food Packages

Posted on: March 31, 2014

By JP Newsroom

Just in time for Passover, Masbia Soup Kitchen Network announced Monday morning a toll-free number for kosher-for-Passover food packages in response to increased demand from New Yorkers in need. Including seder staples, such as eggs, chicken, apples, walnuts, almonds, potatoes and more, the special packages will be available in Boro Park, Flatbush/Midwood, Rego Park and Manhattan on Thursday, April 10.

“Families already have difficulty being able to put enough food on the table for daily meals, the added strain of Passover and children being home from school may be too much for many,” stated Alexander Rapaport, Executive Director of Masbia Soup Kitchen Network. “Masbia’s annual Passover food package distribution and Charoset Drive was created to help those families in need that want to celebrate a complete Pesach seder, while supplying enough food to last beyond the seder for the entire the Passover holiday.”

“Over the past few months we have already seen longer lines at all three of our soup kitchens, and we expect that our needs will continue to grow beyond Passover,” explained Masbia’s Chief Development Officer Beau G. Heyen. “We are bracing to break records with an expanded distribution, new partners, and substantial packages of kosher-for-Passover food, all which come at a great price.”

Taking the annual Passover distribution and Charoset Drive to the next level, Masbia will provide their largest food distribution since their founding in 2005. Distributing 180,000 meals, worth a retail value over $600,000, in the neighbors Masbia serves all year round, Boro Park, Flatbush/Midwood and Rego Park, and a new distribution location in Manhattan at Lincoln Square Synagogue, this year’s Pesach distribution will supply 2,500 families with kosher-for-Passover staples.

“Lincoln Square Synagogue is proud to partner with Masbia’s efforts to provide meals for those in need across New York, and excited to be able to help expend Masbia’s efforts in Manhattan,” added Ben Keil, Executive Director at Lincoln Square Synagogue. “As a Modern Orthodox synagogue, we must look for ways to engage in the wider community, and to provide comfort to those in need. This partnership with Masbia provides us with a great opportunity to meet those goals.”

Masbia is proud to partner not only with Lincoln Square Synagogue, but also with Boro Park Jewish Community Council, Ohr Natan, Orthodox Union, Pomegranate, New York Apple Association, New York Apple Sales, Midwood Development Corporation and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. As always, additional support is provided by The Henry and Susie Orenstein Emergency Food Kitchen Network, UJA Federation of New York, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, City Harvest and Food Bank For New York City.

“No charoset would be complete without apples and New York’s apple growers are honored to be included in so many local families’ Passover celebrations, we are thankful for the fantastic crop we harvested last fall and are glad to support our community this way,” said New York Apple Association President Jim Allen. “Masbia’s work to address hunger here is important, we hope that other area food suppliers will respond to this worthy call too.”

View the original article HERE.