What we choose to wear is about more than just the clothing we have on. Our clothes speak to our status, our tastes and our dignity.
Jessica Katz, the director of Yad Leah, understands how our clothing affects how we hold ourselves and how we perceive others. The goal of her organization is to help those in Israel who are living in poverty and are in need of more clothing options. She and her staff collect gently used clothing in the U.S. and send and distribute them to gemachim (similar to thrift stores) in Israel where they are sold at costs of approximately one to 25 shekel depending on the season. Yad Leah is currently in 25 locations in Israel.
“Instead of throwing clothing away or having it sit in a closet, there’s an option to donate it to someone in need,” Katz said. “If a brother or sister nearby won’t use it, a brother or sister thousands of miles away might be able to.”
In order to help raise money and spread awareness of this chesed effort, Yad Leah is hosting a fundraiser on Sunday, Nov. 10. Both runners and non-runners alike are invited to Overpeck County Park in Ridgefield to take part in Yad Leah’s second annual 5K run, Dash for Dignity. There will also be a 1-mile family walk for any non-runners or parents with children, and a special kids dash for younger children interested in running on their own. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the first run begins at 9:30.
This run is a USA Track and Field certified race.
“We try to create an event for everyone to allow people to get involved in chesed,” Katz said. “It’s a fun and exciting way to be a part of something meaningful.”
There will also be music, a victory breakfast, cotton candy, face painting, inflatables and many other exciting activities for families and runners to enjoy.
An awards ceremony will be held following the run to honor winners of the race and to acknowledge the individuals and schools that have fundraised the most for the organization.
Katz hears feedback from the gemachim about how the organization helps enhance the lives of people in Israel. One woman came to visit the gemach because she needed to find professional attire for her job—a job that helped her afford to put food on the table and keep her home. She was able to purchase outfits that helped her look fit for work.
“We’re helping a woman keep her job, feed her family and create in her a sense of dignity and pride,” Katz said. “It’s not just the clothing, but everything the clothing allows a person to do.”
Last year, 450 people registered for the run, and Katz hopes to beat that number this year. Anyone interested in registering should visit yadleah.org/dash. The early-bird deadline is Thursday evening, Oct. 31. People can register as individuals or as part of a new or existing team. Many local schools and shuls have registered as teams for the race, and teams of 30 or more people are allowed to skip the check-in process and are provided with a VIP tent.
There will also be a drop-off station for people who are interested in bringing clothes to donate.
By Elizabeth Zakaim
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