(Courtesy of Chabad of Teaneck) Teaneck’s My Extended Family program, supporting children from single-parent families, under the auspices of Friends of Lubavitch of Bergen County, had its inaugural club meeting this past Tuesday evening.

Fifty children between the ages of 5 and 12 were paired up with “big brothers” and “big sisters” (teens from many of the Bergen County high schools) who enjoyed an enjoyable evening consisting of dinner, fun activities and exciting prizes.

The boys division, led by program director Rabbi Avi Rosalimsky and program coordinator Elisha Markovitz, meets at Heichal HaTorah. The boys went swimming and played a combination of basketball, football, ping pong and various board games. Additionally, each boy received an officially licensed sports (MLB, NHL, NBA, or NFL) jersey to bring home. The girls division, led by program director Avigayil Kaminetsky and program coordinator Rivka Lynn, meets at the Teaneck Chabad House. The girls enjoyed doing art projects, playing ping-pong, playing card and board games, culminating with a grand game of “getting to know you.”

Both programs enjoyed a fresh supper of hot pizza and french fries by Benjy’s Pizza of Fair Lawn.

Club meetings take place every Tuesday evening, with exciting activities or trips planned for each week. Both divisions benefit from the guidance of our branch clinician, Amy Birman, LCSW.

A huge thank you to Rabbi Aryeh Stechler and Heichal HaTorah as well as Omer Ginzburski and Zion Sports Academy for their partnership with this program.

For more information or to sign up for the program, go to myef.org. (Please note that there is currently a waiting list, but more applications will be accepted in the coming weeks.)

For sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, please email [email protected].