Audra’s First Week at Yad Ezra! – 2026
Hello everyone! My name is Audra and today I will be talking about my first week of interning at Yad Ezra! I can’t believe a full week flew by already, but you know what they say – time flies when you’re having fun! In all seriousness, my first week here was wonderful; I learned so many new things and gained a deeper understanding of how a food pantry operates. For the whole summer I will essentially be working on one project, but I also have the opportunity to write fun blog posts like this, volunteer during serving sessions, and work to enhance Yad Ezra’s website and social media presence. As I enter week 2 of my internship, I am eager to continue my professional growth journey and learn more about how Yad Ezra’s initiatives positively impact our community.
My first week here mainly consisted of becoming familiar with Yad Ezra’s databases, such as Bloomerang, and learning how to generate reports and then organize them effectively in Excel. The data I have been working with is helping Yad Ezra prepare for its annual fundraiser. The annual fundraiser is held every fall and is a way to honor the individuals that help the organization, as well as thank donors and raise money to help serve clients. Additionally, this year’s annual fundraiser is especially important because it is Yad Ezra’s 36th year in operation. For anyone may not know, 36 in Judaism is “Double Chai”, which means “double life or blessing”. It is a significant number in Judaism, which is why this year’s fundraiser is very special.
As I worked in Excel throughout the week, I have learned so many new functions and new ways to organize data. My first semester ever of college I took an Excel class, so I understood the basics, but it had been a while since I had refreshed myself on the platform. Excel isn’t always the most fun, but I did enjoy learning more about it. I think it is a platform that will be very relevant in my future career – especially as I enter more 300-level accounting courses this coming semester. That being said, I enjoyed refreshing myself on it and learning how Yad Ezra utilizes the platform. I worked on creating and organizing a table that will be given to the fundraising committee soon, so it is exciting to see how the work I created will be used in the near future once the finishing touches are completed.
Apart from working with data, I also had the chance to volunteer at a serving session, which I discussed more in a previous blog post. Additionally, I learned about Yad Ezra’s Garden Fresh Distribution through Giving Gardens. This is a truly unique opportunity that Yad Ezra offers to support its clients. Whereas clients are only able to receive a full grocery order once a month, they can come to this program every week! It is held every Thursday from 4:00pm – 6:00pm where fresh produce is given out. Something I find special is that the produce in the Garden Fresh Distribution really caters to the clients – making them feel special and fostering a sense of community. For example, many of the Yad Ezra clients are Russian, and a lot of the vegetables distributed are used traditional Russian dishes such as turnips, beets, and French sorrel. I had never heard of French sorrel prior to last Thursday, but I tried it and it was amazing! It has an acquired taste, but it essentially tastes similar to a lemon, even though it is a leafy green. Although it is something as simple as a vegetable, the produce available here can make clients feel at home and enables them to make familiar dishes without the cost of a typical supermarket. The Giving Gardens at Yad Ezra is fortunate to grow many of its produce in-house, and partner with farmers to source produce that they cannot be grown on-site.
As I wrap up my reflection on my first week, I feel lucky to work for an organization that cares about its clients, staff, and community. Having both an administration role and hands-on involvement, I am gaining a wider perspective on food insecurity within our local community, and the behind-the-scenes work that Yad Ezra does to help the families who are in need.