Yad Ezra Bringing Clients Back for In-Person Shopping

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Yad Ezra clients returned to in-person shopping March 1 after a twoyear hiatus, once again able to select the foods they want.

The return to total choice food pantry, where clients can select what they want as opposed to a default list of items, comes after two years of Yad Ezra using a delivery model due to the pandemic. Throughout it all, Yad Ezra never closed or had a single day where clients were unable to get food.

For the last two years, Yad Ezra put together packages based on family size and did not have the bandwidth to customize delivery packages.

“We’re allowing our clients to return and choose what they would like on their own. To shop with a shopping list, which is what they were used to,” said Daniella HarPaz Mechnikov, executive director of Yad Ezra. “We’ve decided we’re calling this phase one of bringing people back for total choice. We’re also still allowing clients to receive delivery.”

Yad Ezra volunteers, who walked through new pandemic procedures Yad Ezra put in place on Feb. 25 and Feb. 28, are also returning.

All clients and volunteers will be required to wear a mask when in the building and during close conversation. Shopping lists will be given to clients at Yad Ezra at their vehicles/cars, and clients will stay in their cars until called into the building to review their shopping lists. Every client will be given a new client card at that time. Groceries from clients’ shopping lists will be packed by Yad Ezra employees and brought to clients’ cars.

Technology upgrades have streamlined check-in processes and keep everyone safe.

Clients were asked to register and let Yad Ezra know if they’re coming back or if they want to continue to receive deliveries. About 250-300 clients, about a quarter, will continue to receive delivery, which amounts to about 70 deliveries a week.

Yad Ezra is partnering with Jewish Family Service, helped by a grant from Federation to help supplement transportation costs for the deliveries.

Mechnikov says volunteers are thrilled to come back, and for many of their clients, coming back for total choice is a relief.

“There are a lot of clients who are just excited to see us. Over the years, relationships develop, so people are excited to be together again,” Mechnikov said. “It feels like a beacon of normalcy to people who were so used to coming here. It was such a part of the fabric of their lives to come once a month.”

Yad Ezra will now also be offering items that make life a bit easier for busy mothers and families, adding menu items such as boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chicken nuggets, Cholov Yisroel string cheese and marinara sauce. Items for babies under 2 years old, such as baby formula, diapers and wipes, are available for free without it counting against a client’s point allotment.

“For me and some of our staff, it’s particularly exciting because some of us have never been here during a total choice pantry experience,” Mechnikov said. “I started working at Yad Ezra a couple weeks before the pandemic, right before Passover. For me, I’m excited to see Yad Ezra in its full glory.”

National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan (NCJW | MI) is holding a Youth Video PSA Contest for Oakland County high school girls on how to be an upstander in the face of bullying or hate. NCJW | MI hopes that entrants to the youth video contest will come up with compelling and imaginative 30-second video entries. First prize is $1,000, second is $750 and third is $500. Entries are due by midnight on Monday, March 28, and the awards will be presented at a ceremony at Bloomfield Township Public Library (1099 Lone Pine Road) on Thursday, May 5, at 7 p.m. According to stopbullying.gov, government statistics cite that around 20 percent of 12-18 yearolds have experienced bullying on school grounds or through texting or on social media. Further intolerance is shown by the continuing rise in hate crimes. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice show that hate crimes with a bias against race/ethnicity/ ancestry rose from 3,963 incidents in 2019 to 5227 incidents in 2020, some of which was reported due to religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and gender.

“At a time when there is unfortunately so much hate in the world, we need our young people to stand up to threats, intimidation and bullying like never before,” said Amy Cutler, president of NCJW | MI. “We know that the high school girls in our community are imaginative and will take a stand against injustice, so we are hoping that we will see some outstanding videos that inspire everyone to be brave when they see bullying or hate in action.”

For more information on the award, contact mail@ncjwmi.org or call (248) 355-3300 ext. 0.