The issue of global hunger has been very important to Brandon, ever since he went on a field trip to the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry with his UH Sunday school class. For his mitzvah project, Brandon decided to do something locally to help the cause. Son of Diane and Craig Bleyer of Clarkson Valley, he felt that his work at the Jewish Food Pantry would make a positive impact on the welfare of the local citizens so they can then focus on work and school.

While working at the Jewish Food Pantry, Brandon organized and stacked food items as well as filling hundreds of bags for distribution. He looks forward to continuing to volunteer there on an on-going basis. “Brandon enjoys the ‘hands-on’ type of work that is needed at the pantry,” said his mother.

In addition to giving his time, Brandon chose food baskets to be the centerpieces at his bar mitzvah luncheon. He shopped and filled the baskets with Italian food items that were similar to the food his guests enjoyed at the luncheon.  In total, he donated to the Food Pantry enough food items to make 25 Italian meals. 

A student at Crestview Middle School, Brandon also used a portion of his bar mitzvah gifts to purchase Jewish Food Pantry tribute cards in honor of his guests. His mother commented that it was a pleasure to work with the staff to customize the cards so they could double as place cards and proudly be displayed at the luncheon.

“Volunteering at the Food Panty helped me realize that I can give back to the world, and it made me feel proud that I was helping to improve other people’s lives,” said Brandon. “Helping to keep local families fed is an excellent way to help the overall St. Louis community. I feel good that my volunteer work has an immediate impact on those who are not as fortunate as I am.”