Students at Hillel Yeshiva in Ocean were among the Monmouth County students who collected toys last year for the Chai Lifeline Honey Engel Toy Drive. The 2008 toy drive is under way.
Photo courtesy Chai Lifeline
December 2, 2008
Students from eight Monmouth County day schools and congregational religious schools are collecting toys for seriously ill children.
Last year, participating schools in New Jersey collected more than 5,000 pounds of toys for the Chai Lifeline Honey Engel Toy Drive.
Chai Lifeline, whose annual toy drive runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 22, is an international organization that offers services to children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses and their families.
“The toy drive involves children in a hesed, or kindness, activity to which they can relate and allows them to share the joy of Hanukka with others less fortunate than themselves,” said Rabbi Sruli Fried, New Jersey director of projects and services for Chai Lifeline, whose regional office is in Lakewood. “When the children see how quickly their school’s toy collection bins fill up, they understand how their contribution can make a big difference in a project as well as in the life of a sick child.”
During the month-long drive, children bring new, unwrapped toys to their schools. Chai Lifeline collects the toys, matches them to children’s ages and interests, and delivers them before Hanukka.
This year, Monmouth County toy drive participants include the religious school at Congregation Sons of Israel in Manalapan, the preschool at Marlboro Jewish Center/Congregation Ohev Shalom, Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County in Marlboro, Solomon Schechter Academy of Monmouth and Ocean Counties in Howell, the Chabad of Western Monmouth County in Manalapan, Torah Links of Ocean Township and Marlboro, Deal Yeshiva in West Long Branch, and Hillel Yeshiva in Ocean.
“The toy drive is a wonderful way to teach children about another form of tzedaka,” said Rene Kipnes, director of the Marlboro Jewish Center/Congregation Ohev Shalom preschool, which has participated in the drive for 12 years. “We want them to learn to be sensitive to the needs of others.
“The children really enjoy this project,” she continued. “Each child individually puts a toy in the collection bin so that they can feel special for doing a wonderful mitzva. They are learning to think about others besides themselves.”
Additional information about Chai Lifeline is available at www.chailifeline.org.
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