Posted by Jon Federman

Maimonides Chanukkah BagsTwenty adults with disabilities who live in JF&CS supported housing joined almost 50 Maimonides Lower School children and parents in Brookline on Sunday, December 4 for Maimonides' fourth annual Yom Chesed, a community day of service. The event, which took place at the school, enabled the participants to work together to prepare more than 100 Chanukkah bags for clients who receive food from JF&CS Family Table, the largest kosher food pantry in New England.

Each bag contained Chanukkah candles, chocolate Chanukkah gelt, a blessing sheet for the holiday, and a colorful card handmade that day. The bags will be included in larger packages containing potato latke mix, applesauce, and frying oil especially for Chanukkah. Following the project, participants joined together for a delicious lunch.

Ten Maimonides families also went to work packing and delivering bags of non-perishables and perishables, including fresh produce, as part of the monthly Sunday Family Table distributions.

"It was heartwarming to see the two groups working in partnership together," says Ava Harder, JF&CS Manager of Volunteer Services. "One of the children could not tie the ribbon on the top of the bag, so he handed it to one of the JF&CS residents for help. It was a nice opportunity for everyone to connect."

"We are so pleased that the residents and Maimonides families came together to add a personalized festive touch to the Chanukkah bags our clients receive," adds Lisa Katz, JF&CS Family Table Volunteer Coordinator. "These volunteers, including the Maimonides families that delivered groceries to our clients, fulfilled the Family Table mission to provide nutritious foods and spiritual sustenance. Their efforts and creativity will give our clients a personal miracle: the chance to enjoy the joy, light, and sweetness of Chanukkah."

Jon Federman Jon Federman is the JF&CS Staff Writer. A practicing attorney for more than 15 years, he is thrilled to bring his legal and persuasive writing skills to the JF&CS Marketing Communications department. Jon has a BA from Tufts University and a JD from Boston College Law School. In his spare time he is an exhibiting photographer and an award-winning cartoonist. Jon lived in London, England for five years before returning to Boston in 2011.