University Programs: Programming Home: Education: JDC Food Box Presentation

Education leads to action. Action leads to change. Change saves lives.

Plan a presentation and raise awareness on campus about 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.

All students and faculty on campus.

• 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/universityprograms 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/universityprograms.
• 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 October 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/universityprograms for sample flyers.

• 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.

University of Iowa

The key to giving this presentation successfully is to speak genuinely and passionately. By establishing direct eye contact with your audience members you will create an environment and the 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 have, therefore, decided to relocate to find a better place to live, with more financial growth opportunities.
• The elderly people, 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.
• This crisis, where the meager $20 government pensions given to the elderly Jewish population goes to rent and electricity, leaves these Jews without the financial means to support themselves.
• A food box is sent once a month to feed and aid these people who would otherwise go hungry.

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 whose 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 for 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 lye, the very cheapest form of soap available in the FSU, is a very strong cleaning agent, and so abrasive that when rubbed on the surface, it will burn skin.
• 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 his personal dignity in hygiene—often a luxury item that must be cut out of one's very limited budget

2. 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.
3. 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 personally 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.

JDC Food Box Items