TORONTO — When Bonnie Dale volunteered at National Council of Jewish Women Canada, Toronto section’s first Passover Food Drive, there were about 200 recipients.
This year, for the organization’s 29th food drive, volunteers will deliver food to about 2,500 addresses, said Dale, who is co-chairing the drive with Karen Fenwick.
Recipients, who include individuals living in poverty, recent immigrants in need and people with disabilities and inadequate financial resources, are referred from agencies, synagogues, schools, service groups and chaplaincy services.
One recipient, a single father with a 12-year-old daughter, lost his business in the economic downturn and went bankrupt. When his daughter leaves for school each day, she thinks her father is working from home. In reality, however, he’s receiving welfare. The Passover box provides him with the food and ritual items necessary to celebrate Passover.
Each box contains such items as matzah, gefilte fish, tuna, canned fruit, matzah ball mix with soup, Passover wine, a Haggadah, candles and sweets.
Fenwick said that kosher for Passover food – collected at participating grocery stores, schools, community centres and synagogues – makes up approximately 10 per cent of the needed supplies.
“The project is solely funded by donations, and monetary donations are needed so we can buy the necessary items at wholesale prices,” she said.
She said that in the last couple of years, organizers have noticed that people who were formerly working are starting to have financial difficulties. “There is an increase in single-parent families, and we’ve seen that there are a number of men between the ages of 50 and 64 who have lost their job and are without income. These growing demographics affect the food drive. There is a decrease in funds and an increase in need.”
Dara Ronen-Nathanson the drive’s scheduling co-ordinator, says when she retired as a teacher in the Jewish school system, she wanted to volunteer. “I saw the schools get involved in the drive, and now I’m seeing it from the other side.”
When the drive started, she said, it was in about two or three schools. “Now we’re in 20 schools, and we’ve started a project called Matzah Bricks. The kids buy a “brick” for $2, and their name is put on it. This encourages them to give tzedakah.”
One preschool, she said, has the kids create a Passover shopping list, “and then they go shopping to buy food to donate. We’re trying to educate kids at an early age to help other kids in financial need.”
The community is “tremendous” in its support of the food drive, she said, and more than 1,500 volunteers donate their time to sort, pack, supervise and deliver food boxes.
Beginning March 11, schools, groups and organizations began coming in to pack boxes, she said. “A greeting card is placed in every box, so it becomes more personal,” Fenwick said.
She said organizers always need volunteer drivers to deliver the boxes on delivery day, which this year is March 25, 8:30 a.m. until noon.
“Delivery day – volunteers can show up at 4700 Bathurst St. – is always a heartwarming day. We really see the good in the community,” said Fenwick.
“Some volunteers come with babies in car seats, and others drive their grandchildren, who drop off the boxes.”
Ronen-Nathanson called the food drive a labour of love. “We want everyone in financial need to celebrate Passover with dignity.”
Dale said it’s a real “hands-on project. It’s not just about giving money. It’s about getting involved.”
For information on donating to the drive or volunteering, call 416-633-5100.
