Backpack project this Sunday at South Shore yeshiva

Volunteers ranging from elementary school students to grandparents will hunker down at Yeshiva of South Shore (Yeshiva Toras Chaim) in Hewlett this Sunday morning, Aug. 16, to fill backpacks as part of the Supplies for Success program, which donates school items to more than 500 children in the Five Towns and throughout Long Island.

Supplies for Success, a program of the UJA-Federation of New York, is in its 14th year, and the Tov B’Yachad program to help disadvantaged Orthodox Jewish children began at Young Israel of Woodmere in 2009. Tov B’Yachad is a UJA-Federation initiative created to strengthen the connection with the Orthodox community.

The two-hour event will be held at the yeshiva at 170 William Street.

“It started out small, and as more people became aware of the project, it has grown and grown,” said Tammy Kornfeld, UJA’s marketing director.

“This is a year-round effort. UJA purchases items at a huge discount and adds to what is donated.” 

“It is a combination of purchased and donated items from individuals and many different synagogues,” said Irwin Gershon, the UJA Supplies for Success coordinator for the Orthodox community. “We are focusing on working closer with shuls and yeshivas.” 

Ten synagogues were involved in donating and helping to collect the needed items, including Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence, Irving Place Minyan in Woodmere, Young Israel of Hewlett, Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Young Israel of North Woodmere, Young Israel of Woodmere, Young Israel of Oceanside, Congregation Kenseth Israel in Far Rockaway (the White Shul), Congregation Bais Ephraim Yitzchok in Woodmere, and Congregation Anshei Chesed in Hewlett.

Lawrence resident Joshua Wanderer, this year’s Tov B’Yachad chairman, is responsible for “making sure all the work that needs to get done, gets done,” he said. “Supplies for Success is important for the good that it does,” said Wanderer, who has been involved with this project for four years.

“UJA does a great deal for the Five Towns”