Among the volunteers from Temple Beth Shalom in Manalapan who gathered items for the Mitzvah Day 2008 clothing drive are, from left, Morgan Citron, Melanie Cotton, Andrew Bern, and Jordan Schlesinger, all from Manalapan.
Photo courtesy Shelley Feingold
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November 4, 2008
Despite the economic crisis, donors in Monmouth County made Mitzvah Day 2008, the eighth annual “day of caring” on Oct. 26, the most successful outing since its inception.
“I think the problems in the economy worked for us, rather than against,” said Shelley Feingold, operations and outreach director of the Jewish Community Center of Western Monmouth in Manalapan, which has sponsored each Mitzvah Day. “People seemed glad to have a chance to do something that would help others during this difficult time.”
More than 300 volunteers from Monmouth County’s Jewish community signed on for Mitzvah Day and collected a nonstop stream of donations. Volunteers loaded hundreds of bags of clothing onto trucks from Goodwill of New Jersey, while 6,000 pounds of food items were collected for the food pantry of the Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Monmouth County in Asbury Park and the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties in Neptune. Volunteers were stationed at area supermarkets to collect food donations.
In addition, 200 bags of toys and books, games, bicycles, DVDs, CDs, videos, and video games benefited the Emmanuel Children’s Cancer Foundation in Neptune, the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, Matawan United Methodist Church, JF&CS, Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch, and a Monmouth County shelter for victims of domestic abuse.
More than 63 pints of blood were collected for the Central Jersey Blood Center in Shrewsbury from donors at participating synagogues, while at others, Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation information booklets were distributed.
The adults’ and children’s choirs of Temple Beth Miriam in Elberon performed at the Atria Assisted Living Facility in Tinton Falls, and members of Temple Rodeph Torah in Marlboro staged a talent show at Sunrise Assisted Living in Marlboro.
America’s military forces stationed in Iraq were not forgotten, as volunteers collected more than 600 travel-size health and beauty items to send to service personnel.
For Feingold, a Marlboro resident who has coordinated the event since 2000, a spirit of camaraderie has been part of every Mitzvah Day.
“Donors who show the spirit of giving have always been there for us,” she said.
Mitzvah Day partners
Mitzvah Day 2008 volunteers were associated with the following organizations:
Jewish Community Center of Western
Monmouth, Manalapan
Jewish Federation of Monmouth County
Ruth Hyman JCC, Deal
Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Monmouth County, Asbury Park
B’nai B’rith Youth Organization
Congregation Ahavat Achim, Howell
Congregation B’nai Israel, Rumson
Congregation Brothers of Israel, Long Branch
Congregation Kol Am, Freehold
Congregation Sons of Israel, Manalapan
Freehold Jewish Center/Congregation Agudath Achim
Marlboro Jewish Center/Congregation
Ohev Shalom
Monmouth Reform Temple, Tinton Falls
Temple Beth Ahm, Aberdeen
Temple Beth El, Oakhurst
Temple Beth Miriam, Elberon
Temple Beth Shalom, Manalapan
Temple Beth Torah, Ocean
Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro
Temple Shaari Emeth, Manalapan
Temple Shalom, Aberdeen
Young Israel, Aberdeen
Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater
Monmouth County, Marlboro
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