Palm Beach Florida Weekly

Federation continues 8 Days, 8 Ways to help others


ABOVE: A group of young people makes Hanukkah cards for seniors as part of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Volunteer Center’s “8 Days, 8 Ways of Giving Back.” COURTESY PHOTOS

ABOVE: A group of young people makes Hanukkah cards for seniors as part of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Volunteer Center’s “8 Days, 8 Ways of Giving Back.” COURTESY PHOTOS

Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Volunteer Center’s “8 Days, 8 Ways of Giving Back” is continuing, offering people of all ages a reminder of why community service is one of the most important gifts one can give at Hanukkah time.

Now in its sixth year, 8 Days, 8 Ways, offers eight days of opportunities to do good deeds around the community while showing compassion and gratitude for others and celebrating the eight days of Hanukkah. For the most current details and how to register, visit jewishpb.org/8days.

Opportunities include a Hanukkah Celebration and donation drive for children in foster care through Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options; delivering Hanukkah meals to community members in need, in partnership with The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach and Alpert Jewish Family Service; packaging hygiene kits to be donated to Palm Beach County Safe Schools and Human Trafficking Coalition; making greeting cards for homebound seniors; and more.

Here’s a listing of upcoming and ongoing activities for 8 Days, 8 Ways.

RIGHT: Volunteers load groceries on the first day of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Volunteer Center’s “8 Days, 8 Ways of Giving Back.”

RIGHT: Volunteers load groceries on the first day of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Volunteer Center’s “8 Days, 8 Ways of Giving Back.”

For the most current details and to register, visit jewishpb.org/8days.

Make Hanukkah cards for seniors — Deliver completed cards by Monday, Dec. 12.

Bring smiles to the faces of seniors at MorseLife and recipients of meals from Kind Kitchen with this at-home volunteer opportunity. Download and print Hanukkah cards at jewishpb.org/ hanukkahcards; print as many as you’d like — and Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Volunteer Center will deliver your personalized notes to locals who could use an extra smile during the Festival of Lights. This initiative honors the Jewish value of Bikkur Holim — visiting the sick — and is in partnership with PJ Library and Federation’s Family Engagement & Outreach, Mandel JCC, Yad Hebrew School for Students with Differing Abilities, Meyer Preparatory School, community members and our synagogue partners. Mail completed cards by Monday, Dec. 12, to: Jewish Federation, 1 Harvard Circle, Suite 100, West Palm Beach, FL 33409.

Hanukkah celebration and supply collection for children in foster care — 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, The Square, 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach. A family-friendly event to celebrate the start of Hanukkah with the Mandel JCC at The Square in Downtown West Palm Beach. To honor the Jewish value of Nedivut — Being Generous, help support children in foster care through JAFCO by bringing donations of new toys, underwear, socks and pajamas to the JVC booth, which also will feature a Hanukkah card making station.

Read to children — 10-10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, Boynton Beach. Spend the morning celebrating the winter holidays by reading to children in kindergarten with the Anne & Sam Klein Literacy Program. Volunteers can embrace the Jewish idea of Kehillah — community as you read to children in small groups. A book will be given each child for their personal home library. Space is limited. RSVP to jessica.fried@jewishpalmbeach.org; school location will be provided upon registration confirmation.

Hanukkah meal packing and delivery — 8:30 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Dec. 21-Friday, Dec. 23,

The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach, 844 Prosperity Farms Road, North Palm Beach. Honor the Jewish wish for Refuah Shlema — swift and complete healing, as you fill the bellies and hearts of hundreds. Join JVC, The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach and Alpert Jewish Family Service this holiday season to safely prepare and deliver 500 healthy, festive Hanukkah meals to homebound seniors and community members struggling with illness and crisis.

Cookie decorating with seniors for local heroes — 2-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, Sunrise Senior Living, 10605 S. Jog Road, Boynton Beach. All ages are welcome to join the residents of Sunrise Senior Living as they decorate and package holiday cookies to be donated to essential workers on Christmas Day. People from the PJ Library will be on-site providing all guests with PJ Library aprons as they share the story “Hanukkah Cookies with Sprinkles” and honor the Jewish value of Kibud Zekaynim — honor senior citizens.

Help local women and men in need — 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 25, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, 1 Harvard Circle, West Palm Beach (outdoor activity). Spend the morning helping local residents by assembling 1,800 care packages filled with basic hygiene supplies to support the local Dignity Grows chapter. 8 Days, 8 Ways series of volunteer opportunities culminates with this special event that upholds the Jewish values of Tzedakah — to be righteous — and Tikkun Olam — repairing the world. Kits will be donated to Palm Beach County Safe Schools and Human Trafficking Coalition.

For more information on any of the 8 Days 8 Ways opportunities, contact volunteer@jewishpalmbeach.org, or call 561-242-6653. ¦

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