Over the past 20 years, Harold Miller, a Principal in the Accounting and Tax Group at Meyers, Harrison & Pia, LLC, has helped to organize and coordinate Project H.O.P.E., an annual program sponsored by B’nai B’rith.  Project H.O.P.E. (Help Our People Everywhere) is a community action project whose major goal is the collection and distribution of food packages to poor and elderly Jews during Passover. 

Many families who cannot afford special holiday foods depend on B’nai B’rith members to provide Passover staples. Project H.O.P.E. works with various local Jewish Family Services organizations, B’nai B’rith members, and local volunteers. The organizations provide the number of packages needed, and then volunteers assemble the packages which are picked up and delivered to the families in need.

Each year Harold Miller coordinates the effort in Connecticut, handling everything from mailings, collecting food donations, acting as the contact for all of the agencies, and organizing the logistics of packing and delivery.  On March 17, 2013, volunteers gathered to put together 320 packages for families, which were then picked up by the various local Jewish Family Services organizations and distributed to needy families in Connecticut.

“Obviously people need food at all times of the year,” Miller said.  “At least for now, we can help people celebrate the holiday.  With all good kosher for Passover food, the food is even more expensive during Passover as far as what people can afford.  We have a tremendous Russian immigrant population here and around the state, who really can’t afford the holiday or have a very difficult time.  So the event has proven to be tremendously successful.”

Harold Miller has been involved with B’nai B’rith for more than 40 years.  He is active with the organization in several positions, including as a Member of the International Board of Governors, President Elect of the MetroNorth Region, and President of B’nai B’rith Housing of New Haven, Inc.