Dear Asif community,
When I took this job this fall, I never imagined I would be writing to you in the midst of some of the most difficult times we have ever known. I am heartbroken, but when I see people across the country volunteering their time and comforting one another, I am confident that we will succeed as a society and as a country in rising back up.
As my team at Asif and I grieve, we are also taking action the best way we know how—by cooking. In the last two weeks, along with a group of dedicated volunteers, we have cooked thousands of meals everyday for displaced families and hospitals. (You can get an inside look on our Instagram account.)
To support our work, our partners at the Jewish Food Society launched an online fundraising campaign and hosted a bake sale in New York that brought together celebrated cookbook authors, pastry chefs, and hundreds of supporters. With the funds raised, we have been able to buy ingredients — supporting local farmers and small food businesses — and hire people to oversee logistics, to make sure the meals get to where they need to go.
We need your support to continue this vital work. Please consider donating. We also need more volunteers to help cook and distribute meals. If you are able to join us, please sign up.
Hoping for quieter days and good news,
Chico Menashe
Executive Director of Asif