FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
CINDY OELKE
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
STEPHEN CENTER
(402) 715-5476
PROJECT TO BENEFIT STEPHEN CENTER
On the day after he became a Bar Mitzvah, Solomon Marburg got up as usual, went to the Bagel Bin with his father, Dan, drove the Bagel Bin van to Aksarben Village Shopping Center's farmers market, filled it up with produce and baked goods and delivered it to Stephen Center, an emergency shelter at 2723 Q St.
As required of all B'nai Mitzvah students at Temple Israel, he carried out a mitzvah project. "I had been thinking about it for awhile." It was important to him to do something on a large scale and have a large impact. "My original idea was to organize a drive with a bunch of vehicles going to a bunch of restaurants. But it worked out better to pick up food at the farmers market. I had a lot of help editing and trimming the project," said the 13-year-old Westside Middle School student.
The Farmers Market director, Vic Gutman, was happy to let Solomon and Dan pick up at the closing of the market. Solomon said, "When the market closes people start bringing what they didn't sell. There's lots of produce and baked goods loaded into the van between 12:45 and 1:15 p.m. Then we go back to the Bagel Bin and usually have a quick lunch, pick up their leftover bagels and pastries before we drive all of the goods to the Stephen Center."
Sometimes, Solomon's mother, Deb Marburg, grandparents Jerry and Judy Marburg and Sue Schreiber, and brother Elijah also help. At times, Solomon noted, "the van is completely full." He generally picks up 300 or 400 pounds to as much as 800 pounds! When they pull up to The Stephen Center, residents and volunteers help the Marburg's unload the van.
Holly Kaffenberger, Volunteer coordinator at the Stephen Center stated that "He's a great individual with a go-getter kind of spirit who wants to help and go the extra mile. He goes above and beyond. We were impressed with the organization of his project. The produce and other food have thoroughly blessed the kitchen and the food service that's prepared here. Four hundred pounds of produce really impacts us!"
Solomon began his mitzvah project in July. The farmers market runs through October, and he is continuing his Sunday routine through the end of next week. He's also hoping to propose the idea to Westside High School administrators so students there can participate and earn their community service hours.
Deb Marburg added, "Solomon has a strong desire to find a way to get the excess prepared and fresh food that Omaha area restaurants, vendors and/or businesses were just ‘throwing away' to people who need and could use it. It was an ambitious concept that took a lot of time, effort, and coordinating to develop on a scale that would be workable for all involved. The end result…is both manageable and meaningful for Solomon. Every week he sees the immediate benefit of his efforts, and I see a young man who has a true sense of serving his community. I couldn't be more proud of him!"
"It's really a great feeling," Solomon admitted. "The vendors are glad we're doing it and appreciate it. The residents at the Stephen Center are very appreciative too. To see them have a great Sunday dinner was just a great feeling."
About Stephen Center
Stephen Center, Inc. has served the homeless and low-income men, women and children in Omaha since 1984. Stephen Center is the only "dry" emergency shelter in Omaha, focusing on assisting those who have made a commitment to overcome the life destroying effects of drugs and alcohol. Stephen Center operates three distinct programs: Stephen Center Emergency Shelter, Stephen Center HERO Program and Stephen Center Transitional Living Program.
