Jewish boards rise to #ERLunchChallenge
In response to the #ERLunchChallenge, issued by the Jewish Community Relations Council's board in early May, several Jewish boards have offered lunch to health care workers, and others are preparing to follow suit.
JCRC's board chair, Adam Goodman, developed the idea with the help of Banner Health to offer a way to show support to health care workers on the frontlines. The challenge also enables people to join together as a board and as a community to show their support without impinging on an organization's mission, because board members are using personal resources rather than organization coffers.
"It's nice to think of the Jewish community writ large doing something impactful for the rest of the community," said Goodman.
To date, eight boards have taken part, and more are in progress. Along with JCRC, the boards of Jewish Community Foundation, Jewish Free Loan, Desert Foothills Jewish Community Association, Jewish Tuition Organization, Arizona Jewish Lawyers Association, Gesher Disability Resources and Phoenix Holocaust Association have all participated.
"The AJLA is always looking to make deeper connections within the Jewish community and our community as a whole, and this was a small but wonderful way to connect with other great local Jewish organizations and support our community," wrote Erica Erman, chair of the Arizona Jewish Lawyers Association, in an email.
"We are very happy to know that the contributions made by board, staff, emeriti board members and friends will provide over 120 meals to healthcare workers at the Arizona State Fairgrounds drive-thru testing site, who are working so hard to protect and care for the Phoenix community during these uncertain and unpredictable times," wrote Ellen Sacks, Jewish Free Loan's associate executive director, in an email.
Jewish Federation — as well as its NowGen program — and Arizona Jewish Historical Society are also planning to participate.
Thus far, the challenge has fed more than 560 health care workers and has raised over $3,700.
Originally published by Jewish News of Greater Phoenix's Community Briefs, 27 July 2020
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