by Sally Capone

Matthew Bennett, 14, of Hunter Drive, an eighth grader at the Madison Junior School, will honor the diverse heritage of his parents when he travels to Cuba next month to complete his Bar Mitzvah charity project.

Matt, whose mother Inez Bennett hails from Cuba and whose father Andrew Bennett is Jewish, decided to collect donations for over-the-counter medical supplies, which he will take with him to Cuba accompanied by his family and volunteers from Hillel, the Foundation for Campus Life chapter at Drew University in Madison. In addition to the medical supplies, Matt has collected $1,200 in cash to buy more supplies such as pain relievers, toothpaste, multi-vitamins, bandages and antihistamines.

Matt will deliver the supplies to El Patronato at Beth Shalom Synagogue in Havana, which operates a pharmacy where the B’nai B’rith Cuban Jewish Relief Project keeps the shelves well stocked with medical supplies…more.