Naomi’s legacy

Recently, the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry launched a project called “Naomi’s Feel Good Recipes.” A spinning rack at the food pantry displays printed recipe cards with colorful pictures along with a bit of information on preparing, choosing and storing various food items, especially ones that clients may not be familiar with, like beets or Brussels sprouts. None of the recipes have more than five ingredients, so they are pretty simple to prepare. Clients can help themselves to the recipes cards — or not — it’s entirely up to them. But the hope is that by knowing how to prepare these foods, clients and their families will eat healthier and enjoy more variety in their meals.

The inspiration for this initiative came from its namesake, Naomi Sanders, who passed away in September of 2012 at the age of 43. Naomi was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 30, and fought long and hard for 13 years. Toward the end, the disease robbed her of the ability to even turn her head, let alone walk or muster the strength to speak. But her good friend, Julie Eisenberg of Olivette, had come to clearly understand Sander’s intentions.

“Cooking was one of Naomi’s passions, as was a love of helping others,” explains Eisenberg, who first got to know Sanders when the two worked on a cookbook as a fundraiser for Traditional Congregation many years before. “When she could no longer walk, she would wheel herself up to Shenandoah Valley Elementary School (in the Parkway district) to read to the children there. 

“She and I had this connection around food,” continues Eisenberg, who is a member of Nusach Hari B’nai Zion. “Naomi wanted to develop a cookbook that compiled simple, healthy recipes for those who could not afford to cook elaborate, nourishing meals. It really was so important to her.”

Understanding how much this meant to Sanders, Eisenberg vowed to see her friend’s wish fulfilled. “Naomi was just such a wonderful spirit — she never complained, she never stop being positive,” says Eisenberg.   

“As her condition got worse she knew the cookbook wasn’t going to happen while she was alive. But I told myself when she died, I was going to make sure this happened for her.”

Eisenberg contacted the folks at the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry, where she volunteers, who said rather than a cookbook, they would prefer recipe cards that could be easily distributed to their 7,000-plus clients. She then put together a steering committee to help “adopt” a recipe to cover reprinting costs of the cards and weigh in on what directions the project would continue to take, such as looking for donations of spices to go along with the recipes.

Eisenberg says she is thrilled that her good friend’s vision has been recognized and her name is being remembered in a way that champions Sander’s open-heartedness. “Toward the end of her life, Naomi could do nothing for herself, but she could still do for other people,” says Eisenberg. 

Meanwhile, Marcia Mermelstein, coordinator of the Jewish Food Pantry, says the recipe cards are “flying off the rack” with clients eager to try something new and healthy. “It’s a win-win for us because we want to see all the food, especially produce that has a limited shelf life, be picked up by clients, and we want them to help them prepare healthy meals,” she says. 

Both Mermelstein and Eisenberg encourage the local Jewish community to get involved in the “Naomi’s Feel Good Recipes” initiative. “A person can adopt a recipe to offset the printing costs — it’s something like $10 to print 100 cards,” says Eisenberg. Another way, too, is to volunteer at the food pantry to restock the display rack, and/or become a member of Eisenberg’s steering committee. 

For those interested getting involved or in finding out more information, email Eisenberg at [email protected] or call Mermelstein at the food pantry at 314-993-1000.

Oh, and one other thing. Sanders had two wonderful children, Eisenberg reports, one of whom is going to culinary school. “I know that would make Naomi smile,” says Eisenberg. 

Kicking butt on Kickstarter

With less than a week left in its Kickstarter campaign, Hearing Our Way, the magazine for children and teens with hearing loss, has already achieved its funding goal of $10,000. Way to go, Melanie Paticoff of St. Louis, who is the guiding light of the magazine, which strives to provides social and emotional support to young people with hearing aids and cochlear implants. Money raised from the campaign will be used to send the magazine free of charge to children around the world. 

Of course, the more money raised, the more individuals the magazine can reach. To donate or learn more, connect with Hearing Our Way’s pageon Kickstarter.com. And remember, the campaign ends Monday (Sept. 8) so time is a wasting.