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Arizona Kosher Food Pantry

Passover: Opening Our Doors—and Our Hearts

By UncategorizedNo Comments

Passover begins, and by now, many homes are already prepared—tables set, food ready, and traditions waiting to be shared. At this point, it may be too late to donate food for the holiday. But it is never too late to make a difference.

A Different Way to Give

Even as the holiday begins, you can still support families in need by making an online donation to the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry. Your contribution helps ensure that those who are struggling can still experience the dignity and meaning of Passover—not just this year, but in the days and weeks ahead.

The Meaning of Elijah’s Cup

During the Seder, we pour a special cup of wine for Elijah and open the door to welcome him. This beautiful tradition is more than symbolic—it is a reminder of hope, redemption, and the idea that we must always be ready to welcome others.

This year, as you open your door for Elijah, take a moment to reflect:

Who else might need that door opened for them?

Making Room for Everyone

There are families in our community who are unable to fully celebrate. Some are struggling financially. Others may feel isolated or overwhelmed. The message of Passover calls on us to remember them.

The Arizona Kosher Food Pantry works to ensure that no one is left out—that everyone has a place, a meal, and a sense of belonging during this meaningful time.

A Place at the Table

Passover teaches us that freedom is not complete unless it is shared. As you gather with loved ones, remember that there are others who need support—not just today, but every day.

By donating, by reaching out, or simply by keeping others in your thoughts, you help create a community where everyone has a place at the table.

Wishing you a meaningful and heartfelt Passover. May your home be filled with tradition, and your heart with generosity.

April 1, 2026
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Tax Season is Here – Donate Today

By UncategorizedNo Comments

Why Donating to the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry Before Tax Season Matters

As tax season approaches, many of us are looking for meaningful ways to give back while also making smart financial decisions. One powerful way to do both is by donating to the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry before filing your taxes.

Supporting Your Community When It Matters Most

Food insecurity is a real and growing concern, even in our own communities. The Arizona Kosher Food Pantry provides essential support to families in need, ensuring access to nutritious, kosher food. Your donation helps stock shelves, feed children, and support individuals who may be struggling silently.

Every contribution—big or small—can make a direct and immediate impact.

The Tax Benefit: Giving That Gives Back

Beyond the emotional reward of helping others, charitable donations can also offer financial benefits. When you donate to a qualified nonprofit like the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry, your contribution may be tax-deductible.

If you itemize your deductions, you can potentially reduce your taxable income, which may lower the amount you owe or increase your refund. It’s a simple way to align generosity with financial planning.

(Tip: Be sure to keep your donation receipt and consult a tax professional to maximize your benefit.)

Timing Is Everything

To qualify for a deduction on your current tax return, donations typically must be made before the end of the tax year (December 31). However, if you’re still within a contribution window for specific filings or planning ahead, now is the perfect time to act.

Donating before you finalize your taxes ensures you don’t miss out on potential savings.

More Than a Deduction

While the tax benefits are valuable, the true impact of your donation goes far beyond dollars and cents. You are helping create a stronger, more compassionate community. You are ensuring that families can gather around the table with dignity and nourishment.

That’s something no tax return can fully measure.

Make a Difference Today

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to give back this season, consider supporting the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry. Your generosity can change lives—and it may also benefit you when tax time comes around.

Ezras Cholim (EIN 47-5645369) is a non-profit (IRC) Section 501 (c) (3) organization Ezras Cholim is also a Qualified Charitable Organization/QCO and you may use code: 22071 for your additional Donation Tax Credit

 $987 for married filing jointly filers or $495 for single

March 31, 2026
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Kosher Chickens for Shabbos

By About the Pantry & Organization, Arizona Kosher Food Pantry, Community News, Community support, Events

Fresh for Shabbos: Order Your Chicken from the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry

Preparing for Shabbos is always a special time—filled with tradition, family, and of course, a delicious meal at the center of it all. The Arizona Kosher Food Pantry is here to make that preparation a little easier (and tastier!) with their fresh Shabbos chickens.

איכות, Convenience, and Flavor

The pantry is offering high-quality chickens for just $7.99 per pound—a great value for families looking to serve something both meaningful and delicious. These chickens are known for their freshness and flavor, making them a perfect centerpiece for your Shabbos table. Whether you roast them with classic herbs or prepare a favorite family recipe, you can count on a meal everyone will enjoy.

Don’t Miss the Deadline

To ensure your chicken is ready in time for Shabbos, all orders must be placed by the end of the day on Wednesday. Planning ahead means one less thing to worry about as you get ready for the weekend.

How to Order

Placing your order is simple:

Be sure to include your name, order details, and any questions you may have.

Supporting a Greater Mission

When you purchase from the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry, you’re doing more than preparing a wonderful Shabbos meal—you’re also supporting a vital community resource that helps provide food to those in need.

Make your Shabbos both meaningful and delicious this week. Order your chicken today—you won’t be disappointed!

March 24, 2026
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Drive Change – Give Hope

By Community News

Drive Change: Volunteer to Deliver Meals and Hope

Every day, individuals and families in hospitals rely on the kindness of others for something as simple—and meaningful—as a warm meal. Behind every meal delivered is a team of caring volunteers who make it all possible. Today, we are inviting you to be part of that mission.

Why Volunteer as a Driver?

Our driver volunteers play a critical role in bridging the gap between generous food donors and those in need. By picking up donated food and delivering meals to hospitals, you help ensure that no donation goes to waste and no patient or family goes without nourishment and support during a difficult time.

This is more than just a delivery—it’s an act of compassion that brings comfort, dignity, and hope.

With or Without a Truck—You Can Help

Whether you have a truck, SUV, or standard vehicle, there is a place for you on our team:

  • Drivers with trucks or larger vehicles can assist with picking up bulk donations from local businesses and transporting larger quantities of food.

  • Drivers with cars or smaller vehicles can help deliver prepared meals directly to hospitals and families, ensuring timely and efficient distribution.

No matter what you drive, your time and effort make a real difference.

Flexible and Meaningful Service

We understand that life is busy, which is why our volunteer opportunities are flexible. Whether you can help once a week, once a month, or on an as-needed basis, your contribution matters. Even a single delivery can brighten someone’s day.

Be the Reason Someone Smiles

Imagine the impact of arriving with a meal for someone who has been sitting beside a loved one in a hospital room for hours or days. Your presence alone can bring comfort—your delivery brings relief.

Join Us

If you are looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community, we encourage you to volunteer as a driver. Together, we can turn generosity into action and ensure that every donation reaches those who need it most.

Sign up today and help us deliver more than meals—help us deliver care.

March 14, 2026
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Trucks, Food Donation Sites, and Citrus?

By UncategorizedNo Comments


Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry is almost fully funded for the truck that will help us pick up and distribute food more efficiently. This truck represents more than transportation — it means more food rescued, more families supported, and more dignity for those who rely on us each week.

As we approach the finish line, we’re also looking for creative places to place food donation boxes. If you own or manage a business, synagogue, school, office, or community space and would be willing to host a box, we would love to partner with you. Small, consistent donations add up to a big impact.

Finally, with citrus season in full swing, we are gratefully accepting extra citrus from backyard trees. Oranges, grapefruits, lemons — if you have more than you can use, we can make sure it reaches families who truly appreciate fresh produce.

This pantry is built on community. Thank you for helping us move closer to a future where no one has to worry about their next meal. If you’d like to host a donation box, donate citrus, or get involved in another way, please reach out — we’d love to hear from you.

We’re Almost There — and We Need the Community More Than Ever

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry is almost fully funded for the truck that will help us pick up and distribute food more efficiently. This truck represents more than transportation — it means more food rescued, more families supported, and more dignity for those who rely on us each week.

As we approach the finish line, we’re also looking for creative places to place food donation boxes. If you own or manage a business, synagogue, school, office, or community space and would be willing to host a box, we would love to partner with you. Small, consistent donations add up to a big impact.

Finally, with citrus season in full swing, we are gratefully accepting extra citrus from backyard trees. Oranges, grapefruits, lemons — if you have more than you can use, we can make sure it reaches families who truly appreciate fresh produce.

This pantry is built on community. Thank you for helping us move closer to a future where no one has to worry about their next meal. If you’d like to host a donation box, donate citrus, or get involved in another way, please reach out — we’d love to hear from you.

January 18, 2026
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Volunteer Spotlight

By Featured
🌟 Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Ann P.

At the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry, our mission is powered by dedicated volunteers whose skills and passion make a real difference. This month, we are proud to spotlight Ann P., whose decades of experience and commitment to community service have had a lasting impact on our work.

🌻 Getting to Know Ann

Ann grew up on a chicken farm in upstate New York and moved to Phoenix after graduating from Albany State Teachers College (now SUNY). She met her husband of 59 years at a Temple Beth Israel singles mixer, and together they built a beautiful life in the Phoenix community. Ann and her husband have four daughters—all local—and five grandchildren.

A lifelong volunteer, Ann turned her passion for community service into a remarkable 45-year career as a professional fund development officer. Today, she continues her work as a Grant Writer for ValleyLife, an organization serving individuals with disabilities.

Ann and her family have been longtime members of Beth El Congregation, where their daughters—and four of their grandchildren—have attended or currently attend Talmud Torah. Their extended family is also active in the local Jewish community through Or Zion.

🥫 How Ann Found the Pantry

Ann first learned about the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry through Carol Bell, who introduced her to Yecheskel Friedman. What inspired her to volunteer? As Ann puts it simply, “It seemed like a good organization—and it’s hard for me to say no.”

She has been volunteering with the pantry since June 2021, putting her professional expertise to work where it matters most.

✍️ Making an Impact Through Grants

At the pantry, Ann focuses on grant writing, helping secure crucial funding that allows us to expand services and reach more families in need.

What does she enjoy most about her role?

“Being part of an important cause—and having my grants funded.”

Ann thrives on the intellectual challenge of grant writing and finds deep satisfaction when a proposal comes through, knowing it directly supports people facing food insecurity.

💙 Why the Pantry Matters

What makes the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry special to Ann is its inspiring history—how a small effort preparing Shabbat meals for a few families grew into a vital, community-wide organization serving thousands.

She believes supporting local food programs is essential because, sadly, “too many people in our city are hungry.”

❄️ A Fun Fact About Ann

Despite spending her early years surrounded by snow in upstate New York, Ann says Phoenix is the perfect place for her—she loves the warmth and has had more than enough winter weather for one lifetime!

🌍 Words That Inspire

The quote that motivates Ann to give back reflects both gratitude and perspective:

“How lucky we are that our grandparents took the risk of coming to a new country.”

Thank you, Ann, for your dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to our mission. We are deeply grateful to have you as part of the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry family.

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A small gift can make a big difference for a family facing food insecurity.
January 18, 2026
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Why a Truck Matters More Than You Think: Our Pantry’s Mission Depends on It

By Free Food, Free Food MarketNo Comments

Why a Truck Matters More Than You Think: Our Pantry’s Mission Depends on It

At the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry, we spend every day fighting hunger in our community. We pack boxes, we greet families, we listen to their stories, and we make sure no child, senior, or struggling parent walks away without the food they need. But behind all of that compassion and organization is something simple and very practical:

We need to pick up the food first.

For years, we have depended on borrowed vehicles, temporary rentals, and the kindness of partners to help us gather food from grocery stores, warehouses, and donation sites. Every pound of produce, every case of canned goods, every loaf of bread that ends up on our shelves starts with a pickup.

And right now, our ability to pick up food is limited.

That’s why our current fundraiser—to purchase a dedicated truck for the pantry—is not just a “nice to have.”
It is mission-critical.

More Food → More Families Helped

Every week, we receive calls from stores, distributors, and partners letting us know they have food ready for donation. Sometimes it’s 50 pounds. Sometimes it’s 500. Sometimes it’s pallets. Sometimes it’s entire truckloads.

But if we don’t have a truck available at that moment, the food can be lost.

A dedicated pantry truck means:

  • More food rescued instead of thrown away
  • More consistent pickups from stores who want to help
  • More produce, protein, dairy, and essentials for families
  • More reliable support for our community

Right now, we help over 2,000 people every month—and that number is growing. A pantry truck allows us to meet that demand with stability and dignity.

A Truck Isn’t Just a Vehicle — It’s Hope on Wheels

When most people think of a food pantry, they picture shelves, volunteers, or the distribution line. But the real heartbeat of a pantry starts earlier, behind the scenes, in the early morning hours when food donations are waiting to be collected.

A truck is what brings that food home.

It is what fills our shelves for the grandmother picking up food for the grandkids she’s raising.
It is what delivers produce for the single parent who’s stretching every dollar.
It is what brings Shabbos meals to families who want to keep traditions alive but simply cannot afford it.

A truck is the difference between scarcity and stability.

How You Can Help Us Fill This Need

We’ve launched a fundraiser to purchase a dedicated truck—one that will allow us to increase pickups, expand our reach, and ensure that no box of food goes unused because we lacked the transportation.

Your donation, no matter the amount, moves us closer to that goal.

  • $18 helps fuel the truck
  • $54 helps cover maintenance costs
  • $100 helps us pick up hundreds of pounds of food
  • $500+ helps us grow our rescue routes and bring in pallets of fresh produce

Every dollar creates more opportunities to feed more families.

Community Kept Us Going — Together, We Can Keep Going

We’ve seen firsthand how powerful this community is.
Families helping families.
Neighbors supporting neighbors.
People giving even when times are tight.

This truck will not belong to the pantry.
It will belong to all of us.
To every family we serve.
To every child who goes to bed full because someone cared.

We’re not just fundraising for a vehicle.
We are fundraising for the ability to say “yes”—
Yes, we can pick up that donation.
Yes, we can bring this food to the pantry.
Yes, we can help one more family today.

 

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January 5, 2026
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How the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry Changed My Life

By Community News, Featured, Sponsors + PartnersNo Comments

How the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry Changed My Life

I first walked into the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry during one of the most stressful periods of my life. I had just lost my SNAP benefits. With three children at home, I earned too much to qualify for assistance, yet not enough to confidently buy groceries, pay rent and utilities, and cover all the other expenses that come with raising a family. Every week became a balancing act, and food was the thing that kept slipping through the cracks.

The day I came to the pantry, the woman at the front desk greeted me with kindness instead of judgment. She packed a cart full of nutritious fruits and vegetables, canned goods, and staples—enough to feed my family for weeks. Then she told me something I will never forget:

“Come back next week. And if you call before you come, I’ll have everything ready so you can just pick it up and get back to work.”

Since 1972, the Jewish Community Foundation has been helping people support Jewish and secular causes that matter most to them. As the largest resource for Jewish philanthropy in Greater Phoenix, the JCF plays a crucial role in our community. For more information about the Jewish Community Foundation, visit the website.

That small act of dignity changed everything.

A little later, Laura from the pantry asked if we needed Shabbos dinner. I had tried to create a traditional Shabbos for my family, but by the time the bills were paid, there was simply nothing left for challah, chicken, or the foods that make Friday night feel sacred. I was terrible at making my own challah, and the pantry stepped in—quietly, kindly, without hesitation.

Those Friday nights became the heart of our home. We sat together, said the blessings, and—for the first time in a long while—put our electronics away and simply enjoyed each other’s company. We read books, played games, talked, and laughed. The pantry didn’t just give us food; it gave us family time, peace, and connection.

When summer arrived and school let out, Laura asked if I could work the front desk for a few months. I said yes. That summer changed me. I volunteered Monday through Friday, checking people in, helping them choose groceries, and listening to their stories. I got to put food on the tables of thousands of people and witness the relief and gratitude in their eyes. For many of them, it meant one less thing to panic about.

It was a blessing—one I didn’t expect.

Today, I work behind the scenes at the pantry: organizing, tracking our numbers, posting on Facebook and Instagram, supporting programs, and helping keep things running. I’ve watched our guest count grow steadily. I’ve heard stories of struggle, resilience, and hope. And I’ve seen firsthand how a bag of food, a smile, or a warm conversation can put light back into someone’s life.

We now help approximately 2,000 people every month—and every one of them matters.

The pantry didn’t just support my family through a difficult time. It shaped who I am. It gave me purpose. It reminded me how powerful a community can be. And it continues to impact me every single day as I see the difference we make in the lives of others.

This pantry fed my family, lifted my spirits, and brought me into a community I now have the privilege of serving.

I walked in needing help. I stayed because helping others has become one of the greatest gifts of my life.

Scan to Donate

A small gift can make a big difference for a family facing food insecurity.
December 10, 2025
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Support our mission.

The Arizona Kosher Food Pantry is also known as Ezras Cholim. We share the same 501(c)(3) number, and donations made to the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry are tax deductible. Our Arizona QCO number is through Ezras Cholim. You can donate up to $495 for a single filer or $987 for a married couple. The QCO number is 22071, Ezras Cholim of Arizona.

Donate Today

© 2026. The Arizona Kosher Food Pantry. All Rights Reserved.

Mon, Wed, Fri: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Tues: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Thurs: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Location

7118 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85020

CONTACT

(602) 492 4989
info@azkosherpantry.org

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