Purim at OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services started over a month ago at OHEL Bais Ezra’s Day Hab Programs.
Together with their staff, OHEL individuals made and packaged almost 1000 mishloach manot. This was part of OHEL’s Gifts@Work Program, an initiative aimed at providing employment training and independent living skills to adults with disabilities.
Purchasing mishloach manot from OHEL provided a helping hand to OHEL’s individuals, including them in the workforce and Jewish community at large. It was hard work, but everyone had a lot of fun!
Purim festivities started with a lively pre-Purim party for individuals with mental illness who attend OHEL’s Kadimah PROS program. In a relaxed and fun environment, individuals socialized, enjoying great food and good conversation.
The fun at OHEL Bais Ezra’s Day Hab programs continued with Purim lunches on Friday and Monday as everyone gathered together in costumes to share in the Purim joy.
On Purim night, across many OHEL residences in Brooklyn and Long Island, the Megilla was read and residents celebrated the Purim miracles with their friends and families. We were finally ready for Purim Day!
The diversity of OHEL individuals served was reflected in the assortment of different Purim costumes seen! From penguins and clowns, to a bottle of mustard—OHEL’s individuals fulfilled all of Purim’s special mitzvot. Mishloach manot were delivered, matanot l’evyonim were given and delicious Purim feasts were enjoyed with staff, families and friends.
And the fun didn’t stop on Shushan Purim!
While most people had already finished their delivery of mishloach manot and had started to clean for Pesach, OHEL’s Adult Mental Health program was just getting started with an amazing Purim party!
This was no slapdash affair—the food was a catered meal from a generous sponsor, with dancing, music and an OHEL trivia game! Awards and prizes were given out for best costume and best dancer as the night culminated in a sumptuous dessert.
Says Yitz Ellman, OHEL’s Director of AMHS, “While we measure the progress our clients make via their goals on treatment plan, this Purim party is another area where progress is witnessed in action. It gives us tremendous nachas to see the relative ease within which clients are able to fully participate in this event. If you just walk in to this party off the street, it feels just like any other simcha…the way it should be.”
Since 1969 OHEL has served as a dependable haven of individual and family support, helping people of all ages surmount disability, everyday challenges, heal from trauma, and manage with strength and dignity during times of crises. OHEL serves thousands in need every day in communities in New York, New Jersey, California and worldwide. Individuals interested in the many programs that OHEL offers should contact OHEL at 800-603-OHEL (6435). Like us on Facebook at OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services, follow us on Instagram @ohelfamily or visit us at www.ohelfamily.org.
