Masbia Commemorates Reb Shayeleh Kerestirer's Yahrzeit By Distributing 2,000 Emergency Food Packages, Celebrating A Record Of 200,000 Deliveries

By Y.M. Lowy

In honor of the yahrzeit of Reb Shayeleh Kerestirer, the Masbia Soup Kitchen Network once again demonstrated the power of their coordination. The emergency distribution of 2,000 food packages rolled out like clockwork, thanks to teams of volunteers, staff, and delivery partners. The deliveries were nothing short of remarkable; from start to finish, the process ran like a well-oiled machine. Packages left the distribution site in waves, each one carefully arranged.

Masbia runs supper meals every night, Shabbos meals, food packages, kosher food packages, and delivery packages with DoorDash. 

Door Dashers each take 4 packages, so Masbia orders 25 Dashers per 100 deliveries. Multiply this times 20 and imagine the scene at Masbia today. Thanks to Masbia’s partnership with DoorDash, the operation was fast, smooth, and incredibly efficient. 

On any given day, a trailer load can arrive with more food than seems possible, yet within just a few hours, it is all delivered. The need for food is so great that Masbia doesn’t require much storage, as everything moves quickly.

Timed with their 20th anniversary, this event was about more than just simple boxes of food. The deliveries included fresh produce as well as items like creamy Labaneh from Tnuva USA, beets from Gefen, and hummus from Holy Hummus—all with fast-approaching sell-by dates, rescued from waste.

Masbia has built a reputation not only for what it does but also for how it does it. The organization pays attention to the details and has created a system that operates with both heart and professionalism. Even after twenty years, there’s a sense that they are just getting started.

photos: Zevi Klein