Your local school lunch program probably doesn’t send fundraising emails. Have you ever wondered how they get the money they need to support hungry students?
Unlike many other countries, where federal standards guarantee access to school food, the very existence of Canadian programs is precarious. School budgets are tight and rarely have money left over for food - funding is too often dependent on scarce municipal grants or voluntary donations from affluent parents. These funding sources are unreliable, and, when they don’t come through, kids go hungry -- especially in low income communities and remote regions where hunger hits hardest. Did you know that donations to public schools are not automatically receiptable (unless the school seperately takes steps to create its' own charity or foundation)?
Last year, 1 in 3 Mazon partner programs focused on children and youth -- including some of our most grassroots and financially vulnerable partners. In 2023, these small but mighty programs provided 1.1 million meals to more than 100,000 people across Canada. We even built a specialized granting stream, to best evaluate the unique needs of programs serving kids.
Rosh HaShanah 5785 arrives as children head back to school. As Jews, our hearts ache to think of young people sitting in classrooms with growling bellies, unable to learn. Through Mazon, you can help.
This High Holiday season, the power of your tzedakah can provide healthy snacks and hearty lunches in schools and community centres, food banks and community kitchens, all across Canada. For the next 30 days, every cent of your donation will be directed to these incredible programs, with zero percent going to overhead. Such is our commitment to maximizing our community’s power to make a difference this holiday season.
Before the High Holidays begin, consider doing one last mitzvah: make the New Year sweet for someone in need by giving today.
Blessings for a sweet, healthy, and peaceful new year - for you, and for us all.
Shana Tovah,
Izzy Waxman
Executive Director
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