(August 21, 2020, Chicago) — On August, 21, 2020 StandWithUs continued its friendship drive in support of New Beginnings Church/Project HOOD’s 3rd food relief drive in Chicago’s Woodlawn/Englewood neighborhood. StandWithUs supporters and the Shur Pack Company donated over 1,400 pound of fresh produce, PPE supplies, and school supplies.
Amid the pandemic, the violence and destruction in some of Chicago’s most vulnerable neighborhoods have left communities reeling. Some stores are boarded up and other closed permanently, leaving residents there even more desperate for basic services. The areas of Woodlawn and Englewood, already lacking for access to fresh produce, are now food deserts.
This is the second such friendship drive for StandWithUs Midwest Director Peggy Shapiro, Managing Director Assaf Grumberg, and board members Howard Schneider and Barbara Silverman. The first one brought in a truck load of much needed baby formula for the community served by Project HOOD.
StandWithUs is honored to team up with Pastor Corey Brooks, whose vision inspires New Beginnings Church and Project HOOD. The last drive served over 6,000 people. The one on August 22 is expected to help almost 7,000 people. Peggy Shapiro looks forward to more partnership opportunities with Pastor Brooks and Project HOOD. “We hope that our friendship drive opens more doors for our communities to work and grow stronger together.” Pastor Brooks, who keeps a copy of “Thou Shalt Innovate: How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the World” on his desk, shares Shapiro’s hopes for the strength which unity can bring.
About StandWithUs
StandWithUs (SWU) is an international, non-profit and non-partisan Israel education organization that works to inspire and educate people of all ages about Israel, as well as challenge misinformation and fight against antisemitism.
Through university fellowships, high school internships, middle school curricula, conferences, materials, social media, educational films and missions to Israel, StandWithUs supports people around the world who want to educate their schools and communities about Israel.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization has chapters and programs on 5 continents, including the U.S., Israel, UK, Canada, South Africa and Brazil.
For the last 7 years, SWU has consistently received the highest possible ratings from Charity Navigator (4 stars) and Guidestar (Platinum).
www.standwithus.com and www.facebook.com/standwithus and www.twitter.com/standwithus
