Lottie's Kitchen Serves Food, Love And Support,

"I had moved to Israel just two weeks before from West Hempstead, N.Y.," recalls Sharon Liebman, now a 10-year resident of Beit Shemesh. "My husband was still in the States and I had no family here. At that stage, a simple trip to the grocery was overwhelming, and my daughter had just been rushed to the hospital with an appendicitis attack. I was waiting in the hospital, terrified and powerless to help my daughter or myself.

I had had nothing to eat or drink for hours. I was frantic, worn out. The cafeteria was closed. As my tears fell and isolation closed in around me, an Ezer Mizion volunteer appeared out of nowhere and offered me a hot, cooked meal! That meal restored my energy and spirits and, even more vital, it told me that someone cared.

"A few years later," continues Sharon, "I chanced to pass by the Ezer Mizion office and offered my services to Ezer Mizion's Lottie's Kitchen, grateful that I could begin to pay back what the organization had done for me. I love the work. All of us at Lottie's Kitchen have bonded in our desire to reach out to others. I felt such tremendous satisfaction that, when I did go back to work, I arranged my work schedule around my volunteer days."

Lottie's Kitchen was founded by Lottie's four daughters, in memory of their parents, Lottie and Haim Chalom, a"h. When illness or crisis strikes, food is often the last thing on the minds of families doing their best to cope. People caring for an infirm family member can be too preoccupied to pay proper attention to eating and food preparation.

(L-R) Claudia Bildirici, Nina Cohen, Joe Maleh, Rebecca Maleh, Linda Dayan, Susan Menashe.

Lottie's Kitchen prepares and distributes hundred of meals, sandwiches and snacks every day to families of sick and hospitalized patients. In addition, Lottie's Kitchen provides refreshments for families of the wounded, rescue workers and hospital staff immediately after the, all too frequent, terror attacks in the Jerusalem area.

Every week in Lottie's Kitchen:

· 1,500 meals are prepared and distributed to Hadassah Ein Kerem, Hadassah Har Hatzofim, Shaarei Zedek and Alyn hospitals.

· 150 meals are prepared and distributed to homes.

· 1700 sandwiches are prepared and distributed to hospitals.

· 800 portions of cake are distributed to Hadassah Ein Kerem and Machon Sharett.

Susan Menashe, Nina Cohen, Linda Dayan and Claudia Bildirici, Lottie's daughters, annually plan an event in support of Lottie's Kitchen in Israel. The event, A Dayin Lottie's Kitchen, takes place in Deal, N.J. every summer.

This year's affair was hosted by Joe Maleh and Rebecca and Alan Maleh, who opened their magnificent home on behalf of Lottie's Kitchen. Thousands of guests in Deal, N.J. streamed into the Maleh home to view fascinating, original food demonstrations. Among the experts in Rebecca Maleh's kitchen were Gabe Levy from Wendy's Plate and many talented cooks and bakers from the community.

Throughout the day, women excitedly purchased the newest in kitchen gadgets, elegant baked goods and tickets for an exciting Chinese Auction. The very talented Lisa Melamed compiled a state-of-the-art cookbook, The Best of Lottie's Kitchen, featuring recipes demonstrated at the event. Over 500 copies were available, but at the end of the day not one was left! In addition, mothers waited patiently in long lines for individual portraits of their angelic cherubs by noted photographer, Susan Menashe.

"Food for thought" was also provided to the guests who were treated to an inspiring speech by Bonnie Mansour, renowned community speaker, who spoke of our obligation to resolve the daily wrinkles of our relationships. Tapes explaining Mansour's concept of the Shalom Fund are available by calling Ezer Mizion.

Amid the pastries and recipes, fun and laughter, guests left the Maleh home in a spiritual glow, knowing that they had made a difference in the lives of vulnerable Jews in Israel. Lottie's Kitchen a loving hand in Deal, N.J reaching across the expanse of oceanssustaining those in need.

For further information call: 718 853 8400 or go to www.ezermizion.org

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Lottie's Kitchen Serves Food, Love And Support ,