Education leads to action. Action leads to change. Change saves lives.
JDC Food Box Presentation
Plan a presentation and raise awareness on campus on how the Jewish community comes
together to assist hungry Jews in need, in the Former Soviet Union.
Program Objective: To educate the masses by relaying a powerful message
and displaying a presentation of items delivered monthly to poor and elderly
Jews in the Former Soviet Union.
Target Audience:
All students and faculty on campus.
Planning Checklist:
Decide on a few dates/a set week and a venue where you would like to
have this program (i.e. library lobby, student union, etc.)
Visit www.ujc.org to get a list of items found in the food box and print
yourself a copy of Russian labels for these items (to simulate what the
food parcels look like when a recipient opens this package in the FSU).
Go to your local store to collect items for an example food box.
Advertise well in advance (at least three weeks beforehand-longer to get
it on the Hillel Calendar)
Always keep the following three questions in mind:
Who is your audience and how much do they know about UJC?
What do you want them to know about UJC/the federation system
and your campaign?
What action do you want them to take as a result of the evening?
Reserve a room for the program and also make sure that there is a
microphone, podium or overhead if needed.
Place the food box out in a prominent place next to a Tzedakah box with
a description of the food box and what it is used for. Place a sheet of
paper next to the exhibit so that passers-by can sign up to receive more
information regarding UJC on campus and your local Federation.
At event present UJC campaign video and then give the traditional JDC
food box speech. For script and ideas of how this conversation flows
best visit www.ujc.org.
Invite students to become involved in the campus campaign either as a
participant in future events or as a committee member.
Let everyone know about the great national UJC events planned- the
Student Leadership Conference in Chicago and the UJC Institute to Kiev
and Israel over Winter Break.
Thank everyone for coming and distribute information about your next
event.
Schmooze and make sure that the sign up sheet gets passed around.
PR devices beforehand:
Mail out invitations to students-especially those who you know are
interested in humanitarian issues and social action
Request five minutes at the Shabbat dinners prior to this event to
describe the Food Box Presentation and encourage people to attend
Make flyers and place them all over campus-perhaps consider writing the
opening line in Russian to catch the attention of passers-by. Visit
www.ujc.org for sample flyers.
Follow-Up:
Write a thank you note to all the students on your core committee
Send an e-mail within a couple days to all the students who attended-
thanking them for participating and letting them know about upcoming
events both on campus and nationally.
Campus Expert:
University of Iowa
Instructions on how to give the
JDC Food Box Presentation
The key to giving this presentation successfully is to speak
genuinely and passionately. Creating a conversation simulation, by
establishing direct eye contact with your audience members, you will
create an environment and a feeling of an intimate, friendly,
personal conversation about a topic especially important to you
and the entire Jewish community.
1. You will place a brown cardboard box next to you during the
presentation, filled with the contents of the food box already prepared
with Russian labels affixed onto each item. (visit www.ujc.org for the
labels printed in a Russian font)
You will begin by pointing out to the audience that with the fall of
Communism in the Former Soviet Union, the largest Jewish
population outside of Israel, the population there who had invested
their money in the government now finds themselves without
the finances and social security owed to them.
Most of the young people therefore, have decided to relocate, to
find a better place to live, with more financial growth opportunities.
The elderly people though, no longer able to get around or
relocate easily have been left behind—though not left alone—
thanks to the help of Chesed foundations around the FSU
supported through UJC and local Federations.
Recognizing this crisis, where the meager $20 government
pensions given to the elderly Jewish population goes to rent and
electricity, these Jews are left without financial means to
support themselves.
To come to their aid a food box is sent once a
month to feed these people who would
otherwise go hungry—all alone.
2. Presentation of items (order is not important).
Canned fish- a source of protein that is non-perishable in the can
Kasha- an inexpensive Russian staple that satisfies hunger
Cooking oil- needed for food preparation to serve hot food—a
luxury during the winter
Condensed milk- a source of calcium, especially important for
this elderly population where brittle bones can often be a problem
Spaghetti - carbohydrate staples useful for satisfying hunger and
providing an extended release of energy
Rice- carbohydrate staples useful for satisfying hunger and
providing an extended release of energy
Lentils-a cheap and rich source of protein that can be dried and
rehydrated when it is prepared
Cocoa-more often than not this luxury item is not sipped by the
recipient but used far bartering, often as protection from
dangerous neighbors or as added payment for heat
Coffee-another bartering item, often sold on the black market for
additional funds to pay for medications
Soap- provided in these boxes monthly because the very
cheapest form of soap available in the FSU, called lye is a very
strong cleaning agent, so abrasive that it will burn skin when
rubbed on the surface.
Sugar- used in cooking or as a bartering item
Split peas- a cheap and rich source of protein that can be dried
and rehydrated when it is prepared
Toothpaste- an expensive toiletry item that helps one to maintain
their personal dignity in hygiene—often a luxury item that must be
cut out of one’s very limited budget
3. To sustain the life of our extended family in Russia, an $18 gift—
chai—will provide all of these items to an elderly Russian Jew for
an entire month. Without any other means to survive, support
from us abroad will make a PERSONAL difference in the lives of
these people.
4. Other Miscellaneous
These items are not purchased in the US.
They are purchased in bulk in the FSU to save enormous
international shipping costs and delivered peronally by
Chesed representatives from all over the region.
The Cheseds are supported by generous gifts
made by Jewish people who care and who want
to make a tangible difference in the lives of
Jewish people in need.
COFFEE COOKING OIL
FISH CONDENSED MILK
LENTILS SPLIT PEAS
RICE KASHA
COCOA SOAP
SUGAR TOOTHPASTE
SPAGHETTI
JDC Food Box Items
Sugar
Cocoa
Kasha
Rice
Split Peas
Coffee
Lentils
Spaghetti
Canned Fish
Toothpaste
Condensed Milk
Soap
Cooking Oil