It’s sad to say that in recent weeks the request for meals from MESH which supples meals to the food insecure population off Montclair has risen from 30 to 50 per week.

Today’s team of Co-chairs Aileen Grossberg and Lynne Kurzweil, ably assisted by faithful volunteer Susan Rosenblatt, valiantly produced 50 tasty, filling meals. Our wonderful custodian Carlos helped us leave the kitchen as spotless as it was when we began.

Starting with Aileen’s menu for today’s meal, the cooks added 20 meals built around Shabbat’s leftovers.

The main meal consisted of Israeli salad with sliced mozzarella and basil, salmon patties, seasoned rice and roasted vegetables . Chocolate rolls and mandarin oranges provided a bit of sweetness.

The extra meals were cobbled together using enhanced leftovers to make a middle eastern inspired pasta bake accompanied by roasted vegetables. Many thanks to Linda Ariel and Beryl Hiller for those ingredients.

In the past weeks the cooks have been preparing almost double the number of meals. We are in dire need of extra volunteers to help cook and pack. You don’t need any experience in the kitchen and the satisfaction of during the mitzvah of feeding the hungry is inestimable.

Please join us on Tuesday afternoons or you may prepare all or part of the meal in your own home.

Sign up at: shomrei.org/mesh

About MESH:

The Carol Starr MESH Cafe at Shomrei (Montclair Emergency Services for Hope) is a cooperative effort between the MESH organization and local synagogues and churches. While in-person service has been discontinued, we are providing hearty, nutritious take-out meals for the hungry. Shomrei’s turn is on Tuesday nights. Please help fulfill this crucial mitzvah by volunteering to help with food preparation or bagging or by making a donation at: shomrei.org/donate.

For questions, contact Lynne or Aileen