UPDATED: Yad Ezra Receives $85,000 From Walmart Foundation

Kosher food bank received $85,000 on Wednesday from the Walmart Foundation that will help feed families in the Berkley-based nonprofit's Healthy Choice Groceries program.

The Walmart Foundation – the philanthropic arm of Arkansas-based shopping giant Walmart – provided the grant through its State Giving Program, which "strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the (United States)," according to a press release.

"This grant has a huge, positive impact on struggling families trying to make ends meet," Yad Ezra president Richard Simtob said. "There are still many families in our community who are food insecure."

The organization, established in 1990 to provide vulnerable Jewish families in Metro Detroit with free supplemental kosher food and household items, has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people in need in recent years, .

“The Walmart Foundation is very pleased to be supporting Yad Ezra and is committed to helping those in need in the communities where we serve,” said Walmart Market Manager Joe Barendse, who presented the check Wednesday at the nonprofit's Berkley warehouse. “Through this grant, we are hopeful that residents in southeast Michigan will have access to a greater variety of healthy fruits, vegetables and kosher food.”

For information on or simple ways to support Yad Ezra, visit the nonprofit's website.

Correction: Lea Luger is the executive director of Yad Ezra. A different title was given in a previous version of this story.