With open hearts and helping hands, families from The Heights School and East Hills Elementary School in Roslyn gathered at Sid Jacobson JCC’s Nikki Schwartz Memorial Community Needs Bank on Saturday, March 1 for Spread Your Love, a grassroots initiative teaching children the importance of giving back.
Twenty-five families from Roslyn Schools, led by class parents Joshua Brookstein and Sonia Gupta Anand, donated supplies and assembled 100 snack bags for individuals facing food insecurity, reinforcing the power of community-driven action.
“As a parent of a kindergartener and a first grader, we wanted to instill the joy and purpose of ‘doing good together’ in our children at a young age,” Brookstein said. “The opportunity to partner with SJJCC and engage with so many families was inspirational, and we can’t wait to continue this vital work.”
“It’s so important for us to build values in our children about giving back to the community,” Anand continued. “We are lucky that these children have so much, and we want them to understand how to support those around them, regardless of anyone’s circumstances.”
As children filled snack bags and wrote heartfelt messages for food pantry recipients, they also learned about the impact of Sid Jacobson JCC’s Community Needs Bank, which provides weekly food deliveries to those in need.
“Seeing so many families come together to make a difference is always inspiring,” Susan Berman, Associate Executive Director, Community Engagement, reflected. “Everyone was touched by how this project turned out, and it was heartwarming to witness parents and their children actively engage in meaningful service together.”
Berman then added: “Our Center for Community Engagement thrives each day because of generous community members like Josh and Sonia, and the unwavering dedication of team members like Nathalia Melo and Danny Capps. Nathalia and Danny continue to bring initiatives like Spread the Love to life, providing opportunities for the community to learn, connect, and take action in addressing local needs.”
To learn more about volunteer opportunities with our Center for Community Engagement, please visit sjjcc.org/cce.
About Sid Jacobson JCC
Sid Jacobson JCC (sjjcc.org) in East Hills provides a full range of cutting-edge recreational, health, fitness, educational, cultural arts, and social service programs. SJJCC promotes Jewish identity and provides a comprehensive program based on Jewish values, traditions, heritage, and culture, and is committed to enriching the lives of all individuals and families in its community. Where life flourishes.
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Sid Jacobson JCC is a beneficiary agency of the UJA Federation of New York.