FEEDING THE HUNGRY SUPERMARKET STRIKE LEAVES HOLE IN DONATIONS TO BAGEL CHARITY.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Herman Berman, head mensch of the Bagel Brigade, used to schlep thousands of day-old bagels and breads each day for hungry seniors and schoolchildren.

But since Southern California grocery workers went on strike two weeks ago, the 82-year-old bagel brigadier has had to cut his charitable deliveries in half as donations from the big supermarkets dry up.

``It's pandemonium,'' said Berman, whose army of volunteer seniors pick up surplus baked goods from San Fernando Valley markets at dawn each day.

``The scabs are not familiar with our system, our cause. They don't give a damn. They tell our volunteers, 'I'm sorry, we don't have any food. Goodbye.'''

The result, said Berman, is that donations from Ralphs and Pavilions - major suppliers of the San Fernando Valley charity - have plummeted.

Of the roughly 100 church pantries, senior complexes, mental health centers and schools supplied by the Bagel Brigade in low-income areas, half haven't been served since the strike.

Ironically, other distributors of donated food have reported increases since the grocery lockout and strike.

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, which supplies most food pantries with surplus canned goods, agricultural commodities and produce, reported a steady supply of donations from Ralphs; Vons, owner of Pavilions; and Albertson's markets. In Ventura County, agencies that feed the needy have even reported a boom in food donations from striking supermarkets.

``We are continuing to donate food to many hunger organizations,'' said Terry O'Neil, spokesman for Ralphs. ``We're making every effort possible to get back to normal operation.''

The Bagel Brigade and its recipients, meanwhile, are falling through the cracks. Founded nearly 10 years ago by Berman at the B'nai B'rith Encino Lodge, the Bagel Brigade has grown into a network of 135 senior volunteers from all religions.

Each day at 6 a.m., Berman and his brigade scatter throughout the Valley, picking up leftover bagels, rye bread, challah loaves, cookies and more from dozens of markets and delis.

The baked bonanza is then handed off to schools in low-income areas for parents to take home; to senior citizen complexes; to mental health centers; to church pantries; and to special-education centers like Lowman Elementary School.

In August alone, the Bagel Brigade distributed 56,535 bread loaves and baked goods, plus 98,495 bagels. This month his band will donate far less.

One day this week, the Jewish grandfather grabbed his cane and headed from his Sherman Oaks home to pick up treats from Solley's Deli, Sam's Kosher Bakery, Vallarta Supermarket and Mi Ranchito Panaderia - sources not affected by the strike.

At Vallarta's in Valley Glen, Berman hails Miguel Moreno, the store manager, and Roberto Ramirez, a clerk. ``These guys watch out for every crumb that they can save for me,'' Berman said.

All the while, the former jeweler thinks of food lost from the strike - from eight to 10 baskets at one Ralphs, from ``dribs and drabs'' now donated from another. At the front of his mind are the roughly half a million children in Los Angeles County who go to bed hungry each night.

``The thousands of kids in the L.A. school system, who come to school, whose families can't afford to give them breakfast - as you can tell, my main concern is the children.''

For information on contributing to the Bagel Brigade, call [phone].

Dana Bartholomew, [phone]

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Herman Berman, who has helped collect bagels and other baked goods for hungry school kids and senior citizens for nearly a decade, carries out spare bagels from Solley's with deli worker Juan Antonio this week.

(2) Bagel Brigade leader Berman, 82, thanks school bus driver Luis Gomez for helping him unload baked goods at Lowman Elementary School on Wednesday morning.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer