Community - Social Justice - Hunger & Poverty

Hunger

Social Justice Issue

In San Francisco, 1 in 4 children and 1 in 5 adults do not have enough food to regularly meet their nutritional needs. 15,962 families with children live with the daily threat of hunger.

Jewish Response to Hunger

A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great. (Proverbs 18:16)
You open wide your hand and satisfy the hunger of every living thing. (Psalm 145:16)
When you are asked in the world to come, "What was your work?" and you answer, "I fed the hungry," You will be told, "This is the gate to the Lord, enter into it, you who have fed the hungry." (Midrash Psalms 118:17)

Actions

Volunteer to shop at the San Francisco Food Bank
Congregation Emanu-El volunteers shop each Friday at the food bank for groceries to be distributed at Roosevelt Middle School every Monday.

Volunteer to distribute food at the Roosevelt Healthy Children Pantry
Mondays from August 27: Volunteer to Distribute Food to Roosevelt Middle School Families at our Healthy Children Pantry. This opportunity occurs each Monday afternoon, 2:00-5:00 pm at Roosevelt Middle School, 460 Arguello Boulevard, between Geary and Clement.
Each week Emanu-El congregants distribute healthy supplemental produce and staples to over 125 families. To sign up, please contact lead volunteer, Susan Brown at susangb999@gmail.com or call (707) 322-9933.

Donate nonperishable food at the Temple
Congregation Emanu-El participates in collecting food for the San Francisco Food Bank on a year-round basis. Barrels are located in the Temple entrance at Arguello Blvd.

Volunteer to cook during our winter Interfaith Shelter Feedings.
Each January Congregation Emanu-El joins in this annual mitzvah by providing volunteers to shop, cook, and serve for 8 nights. We provide over 100 men with a home-cooked meal.

Congregation Emanu-El joins in the mitzvah of feeding the hungry by providing volunteers to shop, cook and serve dinner to over 100 homeless men for eight nights this year. These clients are extremely grateful to receive home-cooked meals served by people who look them in the eye and let them know they care. Under the coordination of long-time congregant Shabana Siegel, every constituent group from the Congregation participates (over 150 volunteers last year)!

Each Temple group brings a unique flavor to the evening and takes home unforgettable memories.

Sign up by contacting Shabana at: (415) 425-8869 or siegelsemail@gmail.com

Donate your food leftovers:
1. G-House : 6324 Geary Boulevard between 27 and 28 Avenue (415) 673-0911 x 601. Ring their doorbell and someone is always there to accept.
2. Food Runners: To donate food in San Francisco, package it and leave a message on (415) 929-1866 with the type and amount of food and the name and address of your business. If you call in the morning, a volunteer or our truck driver will come that same day. If you call in the afternoon, Food Runners will come the next morning. Any amount of food is welcome. If you have food to donate that you personally prepared in your home, you can contact Food Runners and they will tell you where you can take the food in your neighborhood. Email here.