This week was “Chesed Week” at SAR Academy in Riverdale, NY where each grade completed a chesed project in conjunction with a chesed organization. In honor of Parshas Vayeira, the students complete projects that emulate Avraham Avinu and our forefathers by giving to people in need.
The third and fourth grade classes teamed up with Chesed 24/7, a non-profit that services patients and their families in hospitals throughout the Tri State area. Chesed 24/7’s overall mission is to provide comfort and support for hospitalized patients and their families. They run 15 kosher Hospitality Rooms in hospitals such as Columbia Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Hackensack and Mount Sinai which are stocked with kosher food, snacks, cake, coffee and drinks. Chesed 24/7 also provides numerous other services such as fresh, hot meals delivered to patients, “Boost in a Bottle” pomegranate juice for cancer patients and “Shabbos in a Box” packages, distributed to patients before every Shabbos and Yom Tov.
The participating SAR classes listened to one of Chesed 24/7’s representatives describing the impact these hospital services have on patients and their loved ones. Many students volunteered their own stories and experiences of using the Chesed 24/7 Hospitality Rooms or receiving meals and Shabbos Boxes. They were excited to learn that they themselves would be assembling beautiful Shabbos Boxes for hospital distribution.
Each child collected an empty box and all of its parts for assembly: a bottle of grape juice, an silver plastic Kiddush cup, Shabbos treats such as chocolates and mints, Shabbos essentials such as electric candles, a customized tablecloth and challah covers and more. Students then added their own cards and messages, full of sweet wishes for those on the receiving end.
The energy in the room was electric as the students felt a part of something bigger than themselves. Each participant was eager to create something that would bring Shabbos into the hospital for someone dealing with an illness or medical crises, letting that person know that someone was thinking of them. Close to 100 boxes were assembled, ready to be distributed to hospitalized patients by some devoted Chesed 24/7 volunteers.
During the project, one boy mentioned that his grandfather was currently in the hospital and would be stuck there over Shabbos. He asked if he could take his box home to his family for his grandfather to have this coming weekend. He then lovingly pieced together a beautiful box full of Shabbos supplies, confident that it would give his grandfather a real boost and bring a smile to his face.
Special thanks to Ailie Schmulowitz and all the moms who pitched in to help.
To learn more about Chesed 24/7’s volunteer opportunities, please call 845-354-3233 x1123 or e-mail elibraty@chesed247.org.
Click here to see photos