November 22, 2026

In fall 2025, SNAP benefits–a critical resource that millions of families across the country rely on to pay for groceries–were put on pause as part of the government shutdown. During this time, many of our neighbors who already faced near-impossible decisions on a daily basis, had to look at finances and how they would get food for themselves and their families with increased scrutiny. The impact of a delay in receiving SNAP funds (or CalFresh, in California) could mean the difference between addressing a critical medical situation or not, being able to pay rent, addressing a car repair to be able to get to a next shift at work, or getting the food needed to feed your family. The Karsh Center answered this call and pivoted programs to help meet our community members where they were, increasing the number of grocery bags available at our Tuesday and Sunday Food Pantry, growing our mobile food delivery program, and lowering barriers to access for  Thanksgiving meal kits at the Big Give.

Big Give 2023 took over Wilshire Boulevard Temple and the Karsh Center’s shared parking lot, and welcomed our registered clients and guests for a walk through “shopping” experience. Registered individuals received a Big Give tote when they arrived, and were invited to select items at different stations hosted by volunteers, based on their preferences and what would be easiest and most realistic for them to prepare. Choices included items like a pre-cooked turkey breast or a whole frozen chicken; fresh or canned yams; gravy or curry or sazon; and more. One item that stood alone was a community favorite, the whole pumpkin pie! Big Give 2023 brought our whole community together for an experience rooted in dignity, individual choice, and celebration. We are thrilled to carry this model forward into future events!

When the COVID-19 began, the Karsh Center swiftly pivoted to meet the dramatically increased need for essential items, such as food and diapers, within our community. We learned that more than 80% of our client community had lost employment since the pandemic started, and our Sunday Food Pantry was seeing more neighbors than ever before coming for food, as well as reaching out about other essentials such as childcare items. To keep our whole community of clients, volunteers, staff and collaborators safe, gathering together as we had for the previous decade would not be an option — but the Big Give would be more critical than ever. So 2020 transformed into Big Give Week — or really, nine days of activities that allowed us to safely show up and share the Thanksgiving resources we always had, and then some! We increased the number of Thanksgiving meals and hygiene kits prepared from 1,000 to 1,500. Collaborator QueensCare provided flu shots on-site, and FEAST did a virtual cooking demonstration of how to use the contents of our meal bag! Volunteers prepared no-sew blankets and Thanksgiving cards from their own homes, and we hosted new activities online to bring people together from afar. While 2020 demanded a Big Give we could not have ever anticipated, we are more grateful than ever for the entire Karsh Center community who made it possible.

In 2019, we were proud to host the first ever Big Give on 6th Street, adding to our historic Thanksgiving bag distribution a celebration of our community through a new community resource and activities fair. Over 1500 members of our community from Koreatown, Wilshire Boulevard Temple and volunteers came together for a magical day of fun, learning, support, and connection. 

In 2016, the Karsh Family Social Service Center opened and has since proudly been the hub of the Big Give. Since then, the Karsh Center has worked with our network of 28 Collaborator organizations to make sure that all of those families and individuals we serve together in Koreatown have access to a Big Give “ticket” to receive a bag of fixings for a Thanksgiving meal for four. This event has become a vibrant and proud coming together of hundreds of Wilshire Boulevard Temple volunteers, dozens of Karsh Center Collaborator organizations, and one thousand clients and client families who we strive to honor and support with this special day.