Grant Bradley – Dribbling to the FutureI am collecting basketballs to donate to a community of people that is less fortunate than I am. I LOVE basketball and love how I feel when I play. I know that while I am fortunate to be able to play whenever I want, with nice equipment on nice courts, not everyone is as lucky. Some of my JCC coaches put me in touch with the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford*, which is very much in need of new basketballs. I have made it my mission to collect as many as I can to help them. I am happy I’ve found a meaningful way to combine my love of basketball with a community that needs help with new equipment. We are collecting basketballs of all sizes. If you would like to donate basketballs or money toward this collection, please email: grantbradleybball@gmail.com. * Every day more than 100,000 kids in Connecticut leave school with nowhere to go. Boys and girls in our community are often left to find their own recreation in the streets. Young children need to know that someone cares about them. The Boys and Girls Club of Stamford does this and more. |
Joshua Friedman – Lasagna LoveHi! My name is Josh Friedman, a 7th Grader at Turn of River Middle School, and I will be called to the Torah as a Bar-Mitzvah on March 23, 2024. When I thought about what would make a meaningful bar-mitzvah project, I knew I wanted to make an impact in my community and thought Lasagna Love’s mission was spot on – feed families, spread kindness, and strengthen communities. Every week, my mom and I prepare lasagnas and deliver them free of charge to the doorstep of local families who have requested a meal. Families can privately sign up to receive a meal (no questions asked!), so those who have food insecurity, are sick, or just feel overwhelmed can get a delicious dinner delivered to their house. There are many ways to support Lasagna Love whether it’s through donating money to the Ricotta Club, sponsoring a volunteer, making a lasagna in your community when possible, or letting your community (schools, hospitals, shelters) know that this is a place where all people can turn for support and a yummy meal! Please click here to learn more and help spread the love! |
Millie Avnir – Soles4SoulsI am collecting new or gently used shoes for Soles4Souls. This organization provides opportunities for people in developing countries to start and grow businesses by selling donated shoes. Soles4Souls also partners with schools across the U.S. to get new athletic shoes to children who are experiencing homelessness. This eliminates a barrier to educational and extracurricular opportunities. Lastly, Soles4Souls extends the life of shoes that might have otherwise been discarded filling up landfills. |
Hannah Zelazny – Supporting Shelter ResidentsHello. I am a 7th grader at Scofield Magnet Middle School in Stamford. For my mitzvah project, I am hoping to provide some comfort and self-confidence to adults and teens in our local shelters by collecting presents to hand out to residents at New Covenant House, Pacific House, and Franklin House/Inspirica at Temple Beth El’s annual Christmas Eve dinner and visits to these locations. I will be collecting donations of warm men’s socks, hats, scarves, and gloves to be delivered to New Covenant House and Pacific House. Together, these shelters provide for approximately 200 men. (For your convenience, you can find a list of these suggested items, by clicking here.) I will also be creating holiday beauty bags for approximately 50 women and teens at Franklin House/Inspirica and accepting donations of NEW full-size and sample-size makeup and skin care items. Beauty products include nail polish, lipstick, lip gloss, eye shadow, eye-liner, mascara, foundation, concealer, powders, blush, make-up application tools, skin creams, facial oils, and serums. (For your convenience, you can find a list of these suggested items by clicking here.) The holiday beauty bags will be put together by me and other kids in December. Donation boxes for all these items can be found outside the TBE office near the hallway to the religious school. |
Gavin Cooper – Making an Impact at RoxburyThe goal of my Bar Mitzvah project is to make a profound impact on the students at Roxbury Elementary, where I attended K – 5th grade. For the past two years, I have tutored students in various subjects and acted as their mentor. While tutoring I noticed that some students did not have the supplies needed to do homework. The challenges these students face extend far beyond the classroom – almost half of the school’s population relies on free or reduced lunch. I want to make sure every student has access to the necessary supplies for a successful academic year. I am working with the principal to ensure that every student at Roxbury Elementary has access to new backpacks filled with notebooks, pens, calculators, art materials and other related items. I hope my Bar Mitzvah project makes a difference in the lives of many. For more information on how you can help me make a difference, please click here. |
Jackson Goichman – A Little Bit of HopeFor my Bar Mitzvah Project, I wanted to offer gifts and inspiration to women with breast cancer through my mom’s practice. I wanted to remind women of their strength and encourage them to persevere through tough times. My project was influenced by my mom and her dedication to her patients. Through my project, I can show how a little bit of hope can go a long way. BRAVE–CONFIDENT–COURAGE–FIGHT–HAPPY–HOPE–LOVE–PERSEVERE–POWERFUL–SMILE–STRONG–SUPPORT–WARRIOR
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