Every year I forget to write this article before Purim. I am,
therefore, writing it now in the hope that after reading it,
you will clip it out and save it for future years, too.
I'd like to describe a great idea that my friend Arleen
Habshush, an active askonis in my neighborhood, had a
few years ago. I am sure that many people would like to
incorporate it into their lives as we have done here in
Jerusalem's Arzei Habira neighborhood.
It is a PURIM LEFTOVER DRIVE. Not complicated, it is a
neighborhood project that costs nothing but the price of
photocopying some signs and a few phone calls to the
recipients. It yields a tremendous amount of food for poor
families and makes everyone feel good.
To specifics: everyone, B'H, gets items from Purim shalach
monos that they do not need or want. This includes bags
and boxes of candy, cookies, crackers, potato chips and other
such nosh, chocolate bars, toffee, jars of jelly, boxes of
cereal etc.
Not knowing what to do with it all, rather than throwing it
away, G-d forbid, or mindlessly sending it along to other
friends who also have tons of stuff, we organized our
neighborhood and now collect the items, sort them, and then
give them out to poor families who appreciate and can really
make use of the food. This includes the junk food and candy
which their kids rarely get.
How to Organize a Purim Leftover Drive:
1. Get one or two women to act as collection points or
depots. These are dropoff places where people will bring
their Purim extras. These women will separate and organize
the various items. See below.
2. Get one or two women to be distributors in charge of
giving out the foodstuff, and for arranging to get it from
the collection points.
3. Hang up signs two weeks BEFORE Purim [next year or
tomorrow, this year] so that people will see them and know
that you are collecting. Also, remind people you see and ask
them to spread the word regarding where to bring their Purim
Extras.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to always stress that you are only
accepting closed packages, only store-bought items. I
seem to always get 1-2 opened bags of Bamba each year.
Specify on the signs whether you are accepting bottles and
canned goods. Every poor family can use and will appreciate
juices and soda, canned goods, tea, coffee, tuna etc. And
remember -- most wines are Kosher lePesach, which will really
help the poor families. Last year, several large poor
families with over ten children each were able to make their
Seder using only the bottles of wine and grape juice which
our Purim Leftovers provided!
Prominently display the last final day for delivering items
to the collection points. Expect one or two latecomers, but
at least, with this deadline you will not be finding boxes of
cookies outside your front door two days before Pesach!
4. This is a really big and beautiful mitzva. May you
have much success. It really isn't hard to set this up and
the dividends are enormous.
*
A few suggestions for the Collection Point people on
separating out the food items.
1. Start collecting clean boxes from your vegetable man 1-2
weeks before Purim.
2. Try to get similar boxes when possible, as they are easier
to stack. Collect several empty soda cartons with intact
handles for the bottles of wine and grape juice.
It is better to have a few extra boxes than not enough. Also,
get a few clean, strong, high boxes for canned goods.
3. A few suggestions for separating out the food items: to
make giving out the food easier for the distributors, I
suggest that as the collector gets the various shalach
monos packages, it is best to immediately separate out
the individual food items according to the categories listed
below. I have advised how to store them for easier
transportation and distribution.
The important thing is to separate out each individual item
as the packages come in and put it in its appropriate
carton/bag and not let the unsorted packages pile up.
SEPARATE EACH FOOD ITEM INTO ITS OWN BOX/BAG ACCORDING TO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
1. Boxes and bags of cookies (best if put into large low
carton boxes). Transparent bags save time in identification
for distribution.
2. Bisli, potato chips and other bags of nosh (best if put
into large carton boxes)
3. Packages of crackers (best if put into low carton
boxes)
4. Whole packaged bonbonnieres (best if put into a carton
box, though possible in a large, strong bag)
5. Individual chocolate candy bars (put into a low carton box
or a strong bag)
6. Individually wrapped toffee candies (best in a larger,
strong bag]
7. Individually wrapped hard candy [best in a bag]
8. Lollipops (in a bag)
9. Individually wrapped wafer bars (best in a large bag)
10. Real food, like coffee, tea, cans of tuna, jars of jelly
etc. (best in a strong carton box)
11. A bag or small box for halva, packages of nuts, raisins
and other health foods
12. Juices and sodas (best if put into a strong carton
box)
13. Wine and grape juice (best in soda boxes with handles)
A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR DISTRIBUTING THE FOOD ITEMS TO POOR
FAMILIES
1. Make a list of 10-20 families who you know (and verify)
would appreciate the extra free food. Be sure to include
their phone numbers next to their names so that if they do
not show up at the time specified, you can remind them of
"one last chance to come."
Include the number of children per family and any particular
needs and/or preferences.
2. Prepare individual strong, large bags with each family's
name on it, making sure that every child in that particular
family will receive exactly the same number and type of item.
We want to spread happiness, not hurt and angry feelings
among the children. Note: do not put bottles or glass items
together in this bag.
Inform each family that they should bring one or two empty
soda boxes, preferably with a handle, when they come. This is
for the bottles of wine, grape juice and soft drink. Be sure
to have a few extra empty boxes and strong bags available.
4. Choose two consecutive days of the week that are
convenient for you and designate a two-three hour period of
time for the pickups. Families should send older children who
can manage bottles and carry heavy bags.
5. Get rid of the perishables and breakables as soon as
possible.
6. If you know of a family making an oif-ruf or a bar
mitzva, save the toffees and wrapped hard candies for
throwing in shul. You might get enough sweets to sponsor a
birthday for classmates in gan/school.
May you and your neighborhood enjoy and successfully help
many families this Purim and in many coming years. May we
always be able to give, and give wisely and efficiently.
