Members of the Monmouth County Jewish community collect food donations at ShopRite in Marlboro during Mitzvah Day 2007.
Photos courtesy Shelley Feingold
Mitzvah Day partners
Institutions taking part in Mitzvah Day include the JCC of Western Monmouth County in Manalapan; the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County; the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization of New Jersey; Congregation Ahavat Achim in Howell; Congregation B’nai Israel in Rumson; Congregation Brothers of Israel in Long Branch; Congregation Kol Am in Freehold; Temple Rodeph Torah in Marlboro; the Freehold Jewish Center/Congregation Agudath Achim; Marlboro Jewish Center/Congregation Ohev Shalom; the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Monmouth County; Young Israel, Temple Beth Ahm, and Temple Shalom, all in Aberdeen; Temple Beth Miriam in Elberon; Temple Beth El in Oakhurst; Congregation Sons of Israel and Temple Beth Shalom, both in Manalapan; Monmouth Reform Temple in Tinton Falls; Temple Beth Torah in Ocean; the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County in Marlboro; and the Ruth Hyman JCC in Deal.
October 7, 2008
Hundreds of volunteers from the Monmouth County Jewish community will be part of the eighth annual Mitzvah Day 2008, sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of Western Monmouth County in Manalapan, on Sunday, Oct. 26.
Shelley Feingold of Marlboro, operations and outreach director of the JCC, has been coordinating the annual “day of caring” since it began in 2000. Feingold and the more than 300 volunteers will collect a variety of items throughout the county from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“The state of our economy has been reflected in how desperately food banks and other organizations need donations,” Feingold said. “The need is much more critical this year because of the country’s economic crisis.
“But we’re a caring community, and that’s why our volunteers are eager to help.”
The Mitzvah Day volunteers are associated with a long list of participating organizations (see box).
Blood drive locations include Temple Beth Ahm in Aberdeen, Temple Rodeph Torah in Marlboro, and Temple Beth Torah in Ocean, while Monmouth Reform Temple and Beth Ahm will provide Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation information booklets (bone marrow test kits will not be available this year).
Drop-off locations for the Mitzvah Day clothing drive are Congregation Ahavat Achim in Howell, Congregation Sons of Israel in Manalapan, the Marlboro Jewish Center/Congregation Ohev Shalom, Monmouth Reform Temple in Tinton Falls, the Ruth Hyman JCC in Deal, Temple Beth Ahm, and Temple Beth Shalom in Manalapan. The collected items will be distributed to a variety of local nonprofit agencies.
The day’s toy drive will benefit the Emmanuel Children’s Cancer Foundation in Neptune, the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, Matawan United Methodist Church, Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Monmouth County, and Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch. New or gently used books, board games, videos, and video games may be dropped off at Monmouth Reform Temple, Temple Beth Ahm, Temple Rodeph Torah, the Ruth Hyman JCC, and Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County.
Young volunteers collect food donations at ShopRite in West Long Branch during Mitzvah Day 2007.
In conjunction with the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation’s gift drive for teens with cancer, Congregation Brothers of Israel in Long Branch will conduct a month-long drive in October for items that appeal to teens who are battling the disease.
Mitzvah Day volunteers will accept nonperishable food items at the Marlboro Jewish Center’s Chai Building, Young Israel in Aberdeen, and Temple Beth Miriam in Elberon.
Volunteers will also be stationed at the A&P in East Brunswick and Marlboro, Foodtown in Oakhurst and Red Bank; ShopRite in Aberdeen, Freehold, Neptune, and West Long Branch; Acme in Shrewsbury; and Pathmark in Howell. The food items will be donated to the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and JF&CS.
Comfort packages consisting of travel-size personal health and beauty items for American military forces stationed in Iraq will be collected at Ahavat Achim, Rodeph Torah, and Temple Shalom in Aberdeen.
A detailed list of collectible items is posted on www.supportarms.org.
Mitzvah Day volunteers also will entertain senior citizens. The adult and children’s choirs of Temple Beth Miriam will perform at the Atria Assisted Living Facility in Tinton Falls, and members of Rodeph Torah will present a talent show at Sunrise Assisted Living in Marlboro.
The success of past Mitzvah Day efforts is the direct result of the volunteers and donors who represent their synagogues, schools, and agencies during the eight months of preparation and planning, Feingold said.
All the planning has resulted in successful outcomes. In 2007, for example, volunteers collected 5,000 pounds of food items, several hundred bags of clothing, 100 bags of toys, and several hundred items for American military personnel in Iraq. In addition, 48 pints of blood were donated to the Central Jersey Blood Center in Shrewsbury.
The scope of Mitzvah Day reflects the community’s desire to support agencies and organizations that are dedicated to helping people in need, Feingold said.
“It’s tikun olam that motivates the volunteers year after year,” she said. “Adults and young people really want to be involved in Mitzvah Day and they’re always eager to help. They take their generosity into the community, and donors respond to their spirit.”
Additional information about Mitzvah Day activities and collection times is available from the Western Monmouth JCC at 732-683-9300.
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