The spirit and joy of the Jewish holiday of Passover were very much in evidence throughout Miami-Dade as some 600 volunteers assembled and then delivered gift baskets filled with Kosher for Passover foods to 575 Holocaust Survivors, homebound seniors and others less fortunate during Jewish Community Services’ Matzah, Mitzvah and More. JCS’ semi-annual food distribution program uniquely combines the delivery of holiday gift baskets with intergenerational visits between seniors and families – many with young children.
The baskets included nine items including Matzah, gefilte fish, chicken soup, pineapple and macaroons. They were chosen not only for their Passover significance but because they are not typically distributed as part of on-going JCS’ Meals on Wheels program to needy seniors.
Many of the volunteers represented several community-minded organizations:
• Alicia’s Project
• Bet Shira
• Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus
• Friendship Circle of Miami Beach & North Dade
• JSTAR
• Malik/Priven Team
• MITCHI of Harbor Island
• Russian Chabad Center Sunny Isles
• Skylake Synagogue
• The Shul of Bal Harbor
The youngsters also were ‘put to work.’ They assembled gift baskets under the supervision of volunteers from the PJ Library Miami and the JCS Kids for Kosher Food Bank. Each gift bag included a specially-drawn Passover greeting card prepared by students from Hochberg Preparatory and Jacobson Sinai Academy.
For the first time, the JCS food distribution initiative was augmented by gifts of toiletry items that were donated by Winn-Dixie Aventura. In addition, a delegation of store employees volunteered to create their gift bags filled with such items as tooth brushes and deodorant.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for the ‘special needs’ youngsters of Friendship Circle to participate in a significant, community-wide event,” said Rabbi Mendy Dechter, “Matzah Mitzah and More enabled them to meaningfully interact with others, and feel they were truly having an impact on others.”
For More Information, contact Larry Lentz /Jewish Community Services at 305-403-6595
