Recently, OHEL Bais Ezra individuals joined Elisheva Friedman and Shirah Abrahams and friends for a unique Bat Mitzvah celebration. Elisheva and Shirah are cousins whose bat mitzvahs are both on 24 Adar and they wanted to a special chessed project that included individuals with disabilities. They and several of their friends together with OHEL Bais Ezra’s individuals with developmental disabilities spent Sunday morning packaging over 100 mishloach manot. Everyone was excited to do their part in packing bags with great gifts and snacks. The packaging party and Bat Mitzvah celebrations are part of OHEL’s newest program “Gifts @ Work” which allows community members to join with OHEL individuals and package gift bags for year round use.

The OHEL Gifts@Work program operates out of OHEL’s Day Hab programs, and it provides skill building, job training and a stipend for individuals with disabilities. Mishloach manos are packaged individually based on orders from community members who purchase a great Purim package to share with family and friends. The program offers a sense of dignity and accomplishment to OHEL’s individuals. It is a fun program that employs individuals with disabilities while at the same time allowing community members to visit the OHEL Day Hab Center, learn about OHEL’s programs, jointly package the mishloach manos and then purchase meaningful gifts for family and friends.

The Gifts @ Work Program can engage children and adults of all ages including community members and corporations. The OHEL Day Hab has proudly hosted students from DRS, and staff members from the Mutual of America and Investors bank.

For more information about OHEL’s Gifts @ Work program or to order last minute mishloach manos, please visit www.ohelgiftsatwork.org or call 718-972-9338.