Michael Feuerstein Rudin has been the starting goalie at the Torah Academy of Bergen County for the past four year. Although Michael has many on the field accomplishments, we are proud to present him with this week’s award because of his work as the chair of the TABC Chessed Committee, and point man for the Midnight Run.

The Midnight run, is an organization that provides meals and supplies to the homeless in New York. Until November of 1989, Midnight Run used the facilities of South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry as a base of operations, including the storing of food, clothing and supplies. Later that year, Midnight Run was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization, and a generous contribution by a Westchester corporation enabled them to rent their first headquarters at 97 Main Street in Dobbs Ferry. There, they were able to collect, sort and store clothes; prepare food; and coordinate the donations and the thousands of volunteers it takes to make Midnight Run a reality.

Midnight Run has been contagious and, without a grand master plan, the program has grown from the original tiny group to a collaboration of more than 150 community organizations. Most of the runs are done by local colleges, yeshiva participants include: Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy (SAR) and TABC (for the third year in a row). Michael told the JLBC that “participating in midnight run gives us a better appreciation for all what we have and makes us more sensitive to others misfortune”.

The run collects basic necessities for the homeless: Clothing and toiletry items like: socks, hats, gloves, jackets, pants, shirts/sweaters, underwear (new or used) as well as unopened toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, deodorant, and soap. Food items that can be used are hot chocolate packets, coffee packets, granola/breakfast bars, canned fruit (pull tab tops), instant oatmeal packets. They will be feeding the homeless and monetary donations to help defray the cost of food are welcome. Supplies can be dropped off at TABC (1600 Queen Anne Rd in Teaneck) or at the home of Michael Feuerstein – Rudin (370 Rutland Ave in Teaneck). The boys of TABC will be making their distribution run to the homeless of NYC on December 5^th and need all donations by November 27, 2013