Scarsdale Women Make 500 Sandwiches for Those in Need, UJA Awards Grants

Forty Scarsdale women came together to make 500 sandwiches to feed those who might otherwise go hungry at the JCC of Mid-Westchester in Scarsdale on February 24, 2016. The sandwiches, made by UJA-Federation of New York's Scarsdale Women's Philanthropy, will be distributed to clients of the Bronx Jewish Community Council (BJCC), a UJA-Federation beneficiary agency. BJCC's food pantry, which serves anyone in need, is the third-largest in the borough, serving more than 3,700 meals per month, with demand increasing each year.

"Sandwiches: part of our daily routine, right? A simple meal that we take for granted," said Event Chair Liz Brucker of Scarsdale. "But did you know that by making sandwiches for the food pantry at Bronx Jewish Community Council, we are feeding the hungry and saving lives?"

"This event allows us, as a community, to fight hunger and food insecurity in New York and around the world, a major priority at UJA-Federation and right in line with its mission," explained Brooke Fina of Scarsdale, who also served as an event chair. "UJA supports nearly 100 health, human-service, educational, and community nonprofits that improve people's lives. One hundred nonprofits that help 4.5 million people each and every year. Think about that for a minute. Everyone in this room is a part of creating that change."

UJA Grants:
UJA announced that it is awarding grants in excess of $10,000 to local synagogues that use Baby Boomer volunteers in local outreach projects for those in our community who are most in need.

These grants are part of a pilot program of UJA-Federation of New York's Engage Jewish Service Corps, whose mission it is for Boomers and beyond to effect powerful change within the community through hands-on activities. Engage Westchester is involved with curating and linking people with organizations who need help with hundreds of projects in Westchester. The recipients and projects of these grants cover a wide array of activities and represent various geographic communities throughout Westchester. The recipients and projects awarded are:

Larchmont Temple - Activities focused on arts and crafts, dance, music and the environment with children living at The Coachman in White Plains

Congregation Sons of Israel (Briarcliff Manor) - 1st project - Monthly community Ha Mishpacha luncheons in which both Engage and CSI volunteers will bake and serve food for the elderly and participate in a June sing-along under the direction of Engage in Song; 2nd project - Soup in a Jar project for the Ossining Food Pantry

Temple Israel of New Rochelle - 1st project – March, sorting and packing for The Sharing Shelf teen girl clothing event which will be taking place in April; 2nd project -volunteers participate in a June cooking class with New Rochelle restaurateur while preparing food for Community Services Associates

Shaaray Tefila/Greenburgh Hebrew Center/Temple Beth Abraham (Tarrytown)/Congregation Emanu-El (Rye) - May 22nd Needlecrafts Mitzvah Day of knitting, crocheting and quilting to benefit vulnerable children, teens and adults in Israel.

Upon hearing that her synagogue was one of the recipients, Judy Boehr, Social Action chair at CSI Briarcliff said, "... Receiving this money will make a big difference for two groups of people in need: Our monthly "Hamishpacha" luncheon program for seniors... Our guests look forward to this program as a way of socializing and learning each month. Because of this generous grant, we will also be able to provide "soup in a jar" to families who use the Ossining Food Pantry. Each week needy members of our community come to the Pantry to select groceries. Being able to provide the ingredients for a nutritious pot of soup will definitely help them feed their families. We are happy to be able to add project to our ongoing work with the Pantry. Thank you, Engage." Deborah Blatt, Social Action Chair at Temple Israel of New Rochelle added, " ... we are already working to build opportunities for our empty-nesters. We are excited that this grant will allow us to pair our synagogue's community service work with these opportunities." For more information on Engage Service Corp please contact engage@rosnethaljcc.org or call Maida Silver at (914)741-0333 ext. 48.