This past Tuesday, BPY celebrated its annual Chana Poupko, a”h, Chessed Day on Lag B’Omer. The Poupko family has so kindly and generously dedicated this day of chesed for the entire BPY community in memory of their dear daughter Chana, a”h, as a living tribute to her wonderful spirit, meant to inspire all of us toward a life of giving. Grades one through eight had the invaluable opportunity to work on a unique project designed to share love, hope, caring and kindness with others.

Kindergarten students also enjoyed celebrating Lag B’Omer! First grade students made and packaged chocolate covered pretzels to be donated to the walk-in dinner program at The Family Promise of Bergen County, serving those in need in Hackensack and Paramus. Second grade students made pizzas and cookie dough to freeze and be donated to the Fairlawn gemach. Third grade students traveled to the Jewish Family Services food pantry in Passaic, and assisted in packing boxes and stocking shelves in order to get it ready for the weekly free shopping for Jewish families in need in Passaic and Clifton. Fourth grade students traveled to the Jewish Home at Rockleigh, played outdoor Lag B’Omer field games with the residents, as well as performed their own Heritage Fair songs Fifth grade students traveled to Chesed 24/7 in Spring Valley to help label and pack food packages destined for bikur cholim rooms in hospitals. Sixth grade students visited the Bergen Family Center in Englewood where they learned about the programs and brought donations of diapers, baby wipes, baby shampoo and liquid laundry detergent. Seventh grade students went to Yachad NJ to assist in packing first-day-of-camp care packages for the Yachad campers attending sleepaway camps this summer. Finally, eighth grade students went to Yad Leah’s warehouse in Passaic to help sort, organize and pack clothing donations to be sent to Israel. A special thank you to Daniel Rothner at Areyvut for helping to identify many local chesed organizations. What a special day for all!