Nonprofit Brings Rosh Hashanah Care Packages To Queens Seniors

BAYSIDE, QUEENS —The nonprofit Commonpoint Queens brought more than a hundred care packages to Queens seniors in celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish new year.

Thirty volunteers joined the social services organization Sunday to deliver packages of challah, apples and honey to 124 seniors in the Queens community, according to a news release.

Each volunteer personalized the deliveries with handwritten messages for each recipient.

"Everyone who we made deliveries to was so grateful to not only receive a care package, but to have social interaction, even if it was a quick conversation," Zev, a 17-year-old volunteer, said in a statement.

Rosh Hashanah, which is one of Judaism's holiest days, begins at sunset on Sept. 18.

"It was amazing to have an in-person volunteer event, but also to be able to celebrate the upcoming holidays in this new world that we're living in" Amy Gaffney, director of volunteer services at Commonpoint Queens, said in a statement. "We danced, shared stories and had nice chats all while being socially distanced!"