B'nai B'rith San Francisco Operation Warm-up

The San Francisco Lodge held its annual “Operation Warm-up” in November, collecting  coats and clothing  for the community.

Volunteers included: Irving Abramowitz, Irv Golden, Emil Knopf, Natasha and Yuri Kneller and Len Gallant.

The donation was made to St. Anthony’s Distribution Center.
 
In the photo -  B’nai B’rith Senior Vice President Chuck Kaufman (right) visiting the area learns about the community service programming from Irving Abramowitz.
 
Total: 35 hours were added to the BBRAVo count–up of volunteer hours.

Sub-total:  71,976 hours

B'nai B'rith and AEPi Support Operation Gratitude

The Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity gathered for its 100th convention in New York City in August.

The Jewish fraternity’s agenda included a  community service project that was a salute to the armed forces serving around the world.  More than 700 AEPi brothers and alumni packed care packages that would be delivered by Operation Gratitude, which is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that annually sends 100,000 care packages to U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions, to their children left behind and to Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Warriors and their Care Givers.
 
Included in each care package was a personal letter from the brothers who were at the convention.
 
Total: 700 service hours were added by 700 volunteers in this special service event.

Sub-total:  71,941 hours

Project H.O.P.E. Chanukah Distribution in the Bronx

This project was coordinated by the Bronx Jewish Community Council.  Brad Silver, Executive Vice President, reports that over 432 packages assisted 475 individuals in need through-out the
Bronx.  Packing and distribution took place at the Adelstein –Project H.O.P.E. B'nai B'rith House.

Total:  Over 210 volunteers were involved in all phases of preparation, packing and delivery in November 2013 - adding 500 hours of service for the program.

Sub-total:  71,241 hours

Volunteering in a Kosher Food Bank

We salute dedicated volunteers, Rae and Manny Schane of  the B'nai B'rith Tucker, Grant, Zager Stone Unit in the Great Lakes Region.  Together they have logged 292 hours volunteering at Yad Ezra, a Kosher food bank in their community that supplements food for needy Jewish families.

Total:  292 hours
Sub-total:  70,741 hours

B'nai B'rith Denver and the Christmas Mitzvah Project

For over twenty years, the Christmas Mitzvah Project has sent Jewish volunteers to hospitals, homeless shelters, and retirement communities on Christmas so that their Christian employees can spend time with their families.  The Denver Lodge sponsored this project as part of their "Rocky Mountain Mitzvah League" initiative.

The Denver Lodge Rocky Mountain Mitzvah League spent time with elderly residents making crafts, baking cookies, and singing karaoke. Said JoyAnn Ruscha, VP of Programming, "This was a great opportunity to broaden interfaith relations, participate in a mitzvah, and strengthen our Denver Jewish community. Plus, I had an excuse to dress up as a Christmas elf."  In a show of holiday spirit, B'nai B’rith also sponsored kosher-filled treat bags for all of the volunteers to Holly Creek Retirement Community.

Pictured are JoyAnn Ruscha and her son Judah (in costumes); Bill Berger, President of the B’nai B’rith Denver Unit; and other B'nai B'rith volunteers.

Total:  72 hours of service by 18 volunteers
Sub-total:  70,449 hours

Chicago Volunteers Distribute B'nai B'rith Buddy Bears

The B'nai B'rith Chai Unit, in Chicago, Illinois – participates in several annual volunteer projects in their community.   This includes distributing B’nai B’rith teddy bears and socks to those in need. Their unit also participates in the annual distribution of Maos Chittim in their community twice a year with 25 volunteers participating for all of the projects.

Total:  213 hours of service by 25 volunteers
Sub-total:  70,377 hours

B’nai B’rith Community Service at the VA Hospital in West haven, Conn.

Chairman Harold Miller (Santa), from the B'nai B'rith Horeb Lodge, coordinates the visit of 50 community volunteers for a three hour Christmas eve party for 150 patients and 30 nursing staff.

150 hours at the event and hours of preparation for donated gifts and coordination for volunteers with the hospital.  The program has been a gift from B’nai B’rith to the hospital for 60+ years.  Posed with Harold is his son Steven. 

Total:  150 hours of service at the event
Sub-total:  70,264 hours

"B'nai B'rith Buddies" Teach Special Needs Children in Michigan

Volunteers in the Great Lakes Region, led by B’nai B’rith‘s Center for Community Action chair, Lila Zorn, spend time as “B'NAI B’RITH BUDDIES” at THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE in their community. From 9:30 – 12:00 the team "staff'" the village when schools of special needs children come to learn life lessons like crossing on the green light, shopping at a drugstore, going to the library, etc. 

Volunteers choose what they would to be...a doctor, banker, manicurist, etc. and spend 2-1/2 hours meeting some of the most delightful children in the world.

Total:  This year the volunteers clocked two visits each month X 2 ½ hours by 24 volunteers X  9 = 540
Sub-total:  70,114 hours

One Year Later:  Sandy Day of Service

On November 10, 2013, the B'nai B'rith Young Leadership Network-New York, in partnership with the Alpha Epsilon Pi alumni club of NYC, held a "One Year Later: Sandy Day of Service" community program.

Volunteers drywalled and insulated a basement flooded by the storm in Canarsie, Brooklyn.

Total:  There were 16 participants – The B’nai B’rith Young Leadership Network in New York, alumni from the h AEPi Fraternity  alumni, and alumni from the AEPhi sorority - who volunteered 80 hours of service.
Sub-total:  69,574 hours