20,000 LB. of Kosher Meat Donated to Oklahoma
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New York - In the wake of yesterday’s devastating tornado in Oklahoma, a major kosher meat distributor is donating twelve pallets of meat products to disaster victims.
Agri Star Meat and Poultry has 20,000 pounds of meat and poultry ready to be shipped to Oklahoma City. Agri Star is working in conjunction with Masbia to raise the necessary funds to transport the meat to its intended destination, Chabad of Oklahoma City.
“We are sending a variety of foods as per the request of Rabbi Goldman, the local Chabad rabbi,” Jo-Ann Chadbourne of Agri Star told VIN News. “We are sending rapid prep foods including deli, chicken nuggets, beef patties, hot dogs and other items that can be distributed quickly to tornado victims. Providing some sort of relief is the least we can do and we are privileged to be able to help in any way we can.”
Masbia has undertaken the task of raising the $3,000 needed to transport the donated items from Agri Star’s Postville, Iowa plant to Oklahoma City and is urging the public to contribute funds to defray the cost of transportation. Donations can be made at wepay.com
“Food is most essential to victims of disaster,” explained Alexander Rapaport, Executive Director of Masbia. “We found during our on the ground Sandy relief work that the victims need food, the first responders need food and the volunteers need food. I cannot ever forget those smiles on their faces when we arrived with food.”
While the most urgently needed items at the moment in the tornado ravaged area are water, toiletries, baby items, cash and gift cards to stores such as Walmart, Target and Sam’s Club, the Agri Star donation will be a major boon to area residents, according to Rabbi Ovadia Goldman of Chabad of Oklahoma City, located approximately twenty miles from the devastation, who is working with local officials on the relief effort.
“Right now we are distributing ready to eat meals but down the road there will be a heavy need for protein and as soon as we can assess those needs, we will distribute the meat products,” said Rabbi Goldman. “As of now we are working with local food banks to make sure that we can house the meat properly when it comes in.”
Masbia is the soup kitchen that served meals to thousands of survivors of Hurricane Sandy.