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Synagogues throughout the country bring limitless determination and endless imagination to their support of MAZON’s anti-hunger mission. Below are some past and present, synagogue-based MAZON fundraising efforts that have helped bring a higher profile to the important cause of hunger relief:
MAZON Community:
In Tulsa, OK, Congregation B’nai Emunah and Temple Israel joined together to develop a “MAZON Community.” As part of the city’s commitment to hunger relief, all Jewish institutions donate 3% of special event costs to MAZON.
Food Baskets:
In Chevy Chase, MD, Ohr Kodesh Congregation has its bar/bat mitzvah students prepare baskets with nonperishable food items and present them as centerpieces or offer them on the bimah. Families make a contribution of $36 for the bimah basket and $18 for each centerpiece basket. The money raised is donated to Ohr Kodesh Congregation and to MAZON.
Grocery Bag Appeal:
Temple Beth El of Boca Raton, FL, prints information about MAZON’s High Holy Days fundraising campaign on the grocery bags they distribute during Yom Kippur. Synagogue members send proceeds from the campaign to MAZON, and donate food to local food banks.
Hoops for Hunger:
Ohr Kodesh in Chevy Chase, Kol Shalom and Adat Shalom in Bethesda and B'nai Tzedek in Potomac, MD join forces to host an annual "All Star" basketball tournament.
Kiddush:
In Teaneck, NJ, Congregation Beth Shalom hosts a beautiful weekly kiddush. But one week a month, the normally elaborate Kiddush becomes a simple affair, and leftover funds are sent to MAZON.
Matching Contribution:
In La Costa, CA, The Elijah Minyan encourages congregants to match the contributions the temple raises during the High Holy Days. The total sum is donated to MAZON.
Mile Walk-a-Thon:
Temple B’nai Jeshurun of Short Hills, NJ, coordinated a social action project for youth group members that involved finding sponsors for a walk-a-thon whose proceeds were then donated to MAZON.
A Million Pennies for MAZON:
Temple Israel in Melbourne, FL, initiated this project with the goal of raising one million pennies in loose change. Synagogue members decorated 5-gallon water bottles and placed them around the shul. This event was so successful that it is now a minhag (tradition): Congregants walking into the temple drop their change into the bottle.
Mitzvah Mall:
In Franklin Lakes, NJ, Bernert Temple hosts an annual fair. The synagogue invited charities (including MAZON), food vendors, Judaica shops and others to set up booths and hand out information about the services they offer.
Penalty Money:
In Bellevue, WA, Cantor David Serkin-Poole of Temple B’nai Torah collected money for MAZON by requiring bar/bat mitzvah students who lost their practice tapes to pay for subsequent materials. The “penalty” paid was donated to MAZON.
Restaurant Night:
Temple Solel of Paradise Valley, AZ, coordinates with local restaurants to donate a portion of the total cost of meals served to MAZON.
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