Westchester Volunteers Come Together on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to Feed Hungry

More than 135 volunteers spent a cold Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in service by making sandwiches and soup starters, and packing food bags for distribution to the hungry in the local area. Young volunteers decorated cards and bags to present the donations and pay tribute to King’s legacy.

“Much of what Martin Luther King, Jr., believed about doing your part in making the world a better place can be summed up by the Jewish expression tikkun olam, repairing the world. According to Jewish tradition, it’s our responsibility to care for those in need,” said Juliana Reiner of New Rochelle, who served as teen chair along with Julia Mendelsohn of Purchase and Maxine and Sydney Moses of Larchmont. “When it comes to alleviating hunger, our teachings go way, way back.”

The event, which took place at the Sally & Anthony Mann Center in Hawthorne, was one of five taking place throughout the Greater New York area as part of Feeding Our Neighbors: An Interfaith Response. The initiative, for which UJA-Federation of New York joins Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, works to tackle hunger across New York City, Westchester, and Long Island.

“Feeding Our Neighbors’ goal is pretty amazing: to collectively donate one million meals to hungry New Yorkers,” said Abbey Moses of Larchmont, who served as chair with Abby Mendelsohn of Purchase. “Thanks for being a part of that impressive goal and for taking time out of your day to work with us. We rely on volunteers like you!”

These volunteers included clients at the Mann Center who participate in intensive milieu therapy; individual, family, and group psychotherapy; pharmacotherapy; and special education and vocational training. Despite their often traumatic histories, many of these clients, who range in age from 12 to 21, are resilient, showing extreme strength in their commitment to their treatment and to bettering their lives and their future. The Center is run by the Jewish Board, an agency that receives UJA-Federation funding.

One in seven New Yorkers struggles with hunger. To help those who might otherwise go without nourishment during the bitter winter months, the packages will be distributed to clients of the Bronx Jewish Community Council (BJCC), another UJA-Federation beneficiary agency. BJCC’s food pantry, which serves anyone in need, providing more than 3,700 meals per month, with demand increasing each year.

“BJCC’s food pantry is the largest in the East Bronx, serving more than 3,000 people each month, especially seniors and especially those aging in place,” said Julia Mendelsohn. “For many of the council’s clients, our donations mean the difference between a meal or going without.”

The volunteer service was followed by a poetry slam, a poetry performance by residents of the Mann Center.

Participants tweeted at #FeedingNY throughout the event to raise awareness about hunger and share their thoughts on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy.

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[PHOTO CAPTIONS]

Photo 1:

Teen Chairs (from left) Sydney and Maxine Moses of Larchmont and Juliana Reiner of New Rochelle

Photo 2:

Volunteers from both the Mann Center and from the community make sandwiches to feed the hungry.

Photo 3:

Georgia Mann of Greenwich, Connecticut, fills a mason jar with soup ingredients at the Mann Center.

Photo 4:

DJ and Michelle Frank of Irvington decorate bags that will be filled with food.

Photo 5:

Teen Chair Julia Mendelsohn of Purchase holds a mason jar filled with soup ingredients.

About UJA-Federation of New York


For nearly 100 years, UJA-Federation has inspired New Yorkers to act on their values and invest in our community for the biggest impact. Through UJA-Federation, more than 50,000 donors address issues that matter most to them, pooling their resources to care for New Yorkers of all backgrounds and Jews everywhere, to connect people to their Jewish communities, and to respond to crises close to home and around the globe. Working with nearly 100 beneficiary agencies, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations, UJA-Federation is the world’s largest local philanthropy; our reach spans from New York to Israel to more than 70 other countries around the world, touching 4.5 million people each year. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website at www.ujafedny.org.