(Courtesy of Yad Leah) Cheshvan was designated as “Yad Leah Month” for Yavneh’s Chesed Team, an extracurricular club made up of 131 students from grades six to eight.

“The students were looking for ways to help Israel specifically,” said Dr. Aliza Frohlich, director of guidance for Yavneh’s Middle School and the coordinator and creator of the Chesed Team. “Working with Yad Leah, knowing it supports families affected by the war, really resonated with them.”

The Chesed Team’s efforts for Yad Leah were multifaceted. They began the month by recruiting the largest team at the annual Dash for Dignity, with over 50 participants. At school, the tzedaka committee raised money for Yad Leah, encouraging students to bring in daily tzedaka to be collected at davening. The team concluded the month with a clothing drive, followed by an after-school sorting and packing event.

Frohlich shared, “Ninety students attended our after-school packing event. Not only did we pack 3,000 pieces of gently used, quality clothing to empower individuals and families across Israel with confidence, dignity and self-respect, but we also taught our students empathy and kindness while giving them a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment from the happiness they felt in giving to others.”

For more information on how to get involved in Yad Leah, visit www.yadleah.org or email [email protected].