MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

Aug 31st 2009

by Peter Gjerset

While we all understand that feeding the hungry is an essential step toward repairing the world, effectively battling hunger requires not only treating the symptoms but also giving individuals the tools to control their own lives.  In the U.S. and around the globe, MAZON supports not only food providers but programs that work to build ... continue reading »

Aug 27th 2009

by Heather Wolfson

A MAZON donor was recently highlighted in The News-Gazette  newspaper of Champaign-Urbana, IL. August 13, 2009 Making the Grade “For his bar mitzvah – a coming-of-age ceremony for Jews – Saul Downie elected to give gifts instead of receive them and collected thousands of dollars for two charities in the process. The Urbana Middle School ... continue reading »

Aug 26th 2009

by Heather Wolfson

The months of August and September mark the time for new beginnings.  Young children are going off to school; young adults are off to college; and we begin our “normal” routine.  As I reflect on this summer, I recall the worries of drought, concerns about the economy and the slowly increasing gas prices.  All of ... continue reading »

Aug 18th 2009

by H. Eric Schockman

I have just returned from keynoting a speech at a conference sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Churches. It was held at a rustic retreat center on beautiful Lake Geneva in Williams Bay (about an hour from Milwaukee). The theme of the interfaith conference was “The Earth Speaks: Hunger, Our Spiritual Challenge”. My speech pertained ... continue reading »

Aug 12th 2009

by Leslie Friedman

My first official blog as Vice President of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is prompted by recent news from Fred, my friend and former colleague at the SOVA Community Food and Resource Program in Los Angeles.  In 2002, when I became SOVA director, our three food pantries were providing free groceries for about 2500 ... continue reading »

Aug 10th 2009

by Marla Feldman

With unemployment on the rise and food pantries seeing 40% more people seeking emergency food assistance, it is critical that California moves to a semi-annual reporting system which will ease the burden on food stamp participants and allow them to continue to receive the food assistance that they need.   California is one of the last states to ... continue reading »

Aug 3rd 2009

by Ed Yerke-Robins

Haiti remains one of the poorest countries in the world: 80% of Haitians live under the poverty line, with 70% unemployed. Hurricanes flood the streets, while deforestation devastates the soil & eliminates key sources of fuel. Last year’s food riots have ceased (after bringing down the government), but shortages & malnutrition still plague Haiti. That’s the bad ... continue reading »

Jul 30th 2009

by Ed Yerke-Robins

Child Nutrition Programs are very important to us at MAZON. We’ve been increasing awareness all summer under the banner “Hunger Doesn’t Take A Summer Vacation”. Our website features information about The Child Nutrition and Reauthorization Act of 2004, set to expire September 30, and many of our donors and partners have responded with advocacy, writing ... continue reading »

Jul 29th 2009

by Ed Yerke-Robins

The following originally appeared as a guest blog on Twitter for Food for Tisha B’Av 5769. Twitter for Food is a monthly event where Twitter users gather and skip a meal to draw attention to stopping hunger. For more information, read our thoughts here and visit TwitterForFood.com. You Tweet for Food every month. You click ... continue reading »

Jul 24th 2009

by Ed Yerke-Robins

Recently, we profiled St. Joseph’s Center, a MAZON grantee with several projects surveying & sustaining Venice, CA’s homeless population. Thankfully, they’re not the only ones working with these oft-overlooked residents. Venice Arts Gallery has a new exhibit, “Got Caught Up Out There: Photography by Homeless Women”, running through August 31, with an opening reception tomorrow (July ... continue reading »