On February 26, volunteers of all ages joined together across Los Angeles for a day of meaningful service as part of our Community Service Days.
Volunteers participated in five different projects throughout the city. They helped with a day of fun at the Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Festival, painted canvases with seniors at Aegis of Granada Hills, as well as with teens at Aviva Family and Children’s Services, provided meals for and painted with residents of the Ronald McDonald House, and together with Beit T’shuvah residents, provided personal care items and meals for the needy. We asked Michael Menachem, a participant in the Ronald McDonald House project, what drove him to get involved in this project:
“I moved to Los Angeles less than two months ago to advance my career, and the transition from the east coast has been amazing, but it’s been mostly all about me. I’m a really giving person, but I don’t always feel like I have enough time to give back. However, it’s very important for me to carve out this time. The few hours I spent not looking at my phone or doing errands or work allowed me to focus on helping people and working alongside fellow Jews who were all on board for the same goal. The day was fulfilling on so many levels, not just because I was able to make multiple children and families smile, but also because I felt valued and did it all while making new friends and connections in L.A. within the Jewish community.”
“Any chance to help children, especially those suffering who may need some light in their day, is something I will gladly sign up for. It’s easy to take so many things for granted, but once you connect with kids and families and realize you are the same in numerous ways, you empathize and realize this kind of program would cheer you up as well.”
“Helping to mix colors while the kids were painting on canvases was the best part of my day. I could tell the kids trusted us to help them with the activity, and to watch their creativity pour out was really inspiring.”
Thank you to Michael for joining us, and thank you to the rest of our many volunteers who took time out of their busy schedules to make a difference!
The Federation’s next Community Service Day is on April 2nd as part of Good Deeds Day. Projects range from refurbishing wildlife enclosures to baking challah with Holocaust survivors. Read more here! Also, be sure to look out for more information about Gear Up for Camp Day on May 21!
For more information about upcoming Community Service Days, please contact Melissa York at MYork@JewishLA.org.
