“Lo alecha hamlacha ligmor, v’lo atah ben chorin l’hibateil mimenah.”
“You are not obligated to finish the work [of tikkun olam], but neither are you free to abstain from it.” —Rabbi Tarfon, Pirkei Avot 2:21
Every year, Mitzvah Weekend endeavors to raise awareness on a particular issue, advocate for those who need help, and take action to affect change. This year’s Mitzvah Day, rain and wind didn’t stop over 600 adults and children joining together to participate in a day of action. As a group we:
Honored our seniors at the New Jewish Home;
Shared our resources with donated books and clothing, Birthday in a Bag kits, and reusable feminine hygiene kits;
Fed the hungry by packing meals, serving meals at St. Xavier’s soup kitchen, delivering meals to homebound families, and bringing breakfast to the homeless;
Created beauty in our community with various arts and crafts; and
Served the community at a Halloween Party for the kids at Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center.
Thank you to all those who helped us achieve these amazing things for our community:
- 35+ project leaders running 23 projects at CRS and out in the community
- 600+ volunteer participants
- 50 pints of blood collected for the New York Blood Center
- 1,000 lunches packed and delivered to the homeless
- 90+ adults and children cheered up seniors at Jewish Home Lifecare including Room-to-Room Singing, a Talent Show, and 12 dogs in the Pet Visit
- Alongside about 8 JHLC Seniors, we packed 100 “Soup in a Bag”s that will be delivered to food-insecure people in NYC
- 50 Birthday Bags for kids, distributed by Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger
- Several bags of clothing and boxes of books to be delivered to various charities
- 1 Halloween Party for underprivileged kids at Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center
- About 30 centerpieces, filled with paper flowers, decorated to grace the tables of the HUC Soup Kitchen
- 1 Breakfast Run with CRuSTY kids, providing breakfast and clothing to the homeless
- 250 holiday cards written to be sent to soldiers in the US Armed Forces
- 80 meals delivered to the elderly with City Meals-on-Wheels
- 200 sandwiches made and stocked at New York Common Pantry
- Dozens of sustainable feminine hygiene kits with Days for Girls, sponsored by Sisterhood
- 10 dozen cookies baked to be sent to Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center for after-school snack
- 90 fleece hats created for children, to be distributed by Afya Foundation
- 45 heating pads made to be used by skaters at Figure Skating in Harlem
- 2 large boxes of hurricane relief supplies collected, packed, and delivered to an NYPD collection point for Puerto Rico, including batteries, diapers, wipes, toiletries and feminine hygiene products
- 45 “Stars of Hope” painted by children and parents the Jewish community in hard-hit Houston
- Healthcare Advocacy guidance
- Tours of the CRS Men’s Shelter
- Promotion of E-Advocacy
A huge and sincere “todah rabah” to all who came out and participated. Mazel tov on making the world a better place!
