Service

BBYO has allowed me to participate in numerous community service programs. Most notably, my local BBYO chapter Merrimack Valley BBYO, has been volunteering at Neighbors in Need in Lawrence since 2022. We began volunteering at Neighbors in Need for our annual J-Serve program. J-Serve (The International Day of Jewish Youth Service) "has provided teens with a unique opportunity to band together through service as a united global network committed to fulfilling the Jewish values of gemilut chasidim, acts of loving kindness, tzedakah, just and charitable giving, and tikkun olam, the responsibility to repair the world." By the end of our first time volunteering at Neighbors in Need, we knew this was a special organization that we wanted to keep helping. Together, in two short hours, we made 260 food bags and organized produce. Since then, we have been back to volunteer at their pantry 3 times and even got to volunteer with their partner, the Giving Garden, in North Andover. 

This service aligns with the second Global Goal or Zero Hunger. I hope I can continue to help working towards this important goal!

Through BBYO I have also been able to serve my community in many other ways. This includes leading a Hospital Cheer campaign where we crafted greeting cards for Lawrence General Hospital patients during the pandemic. Another part was assembling 80 care packages with stuffed animals, journals, coloring sheets, crayons, and cards for pediatric cancer patients at Boston Children’s Hospital. I also had the privilege of participating in The North Shore Community's annual For Goodness Bake Teen Service Day where I helped make pies and card for non-profits providing meal services. 

The Hospital Cheer campaign worked toward the third goal of Good Health and Well-Being. We hoped to provide smiles to children fighting tough battles of cancer.