A sea of people, festive music, bright banners, and high spirits met the eyes of motorists driving past Airport Road this week Sunday and Monday. The crowd of Chai Lifeline families, volunteers, and lay leaders enjoyed an elaborate Pre-Pesach barbecue dinner and carnival, which kept hundreds of children entertained, well-fed, and far from the Chometz-free zones in their homes.
Families battling illness were relieved to have the opportunity to feed their children a nutritious supper in the hectic pre-Pesach days, while their cars were cleaned to a shine.
Announcing the Dedication of The Herzka Children and Family Services Center Dedicated by Ralph and Yenny Herzka and Chuny and Chavi Herzka in Memory of Their Parents/ Grandparents
Chai Lifeline New Jersey, serving more than 1,000 families in the Lakewood area facing illness and crisis, has just closed on a 4-acre property. A 50,000 square foot, state-of-the-art home for children and families is set to be constructed on the site. The transformational new center will serve as the heart of all current Chai Lifeline New Jersey services as well as host an array of vital new programs and services.
With the opening of CHOP King of Prussia, a new branch of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Chai Lifeline opened a new, fully-stocked Kosher Pantry to meet the needs of families in the hospital. On the day the King of Prussia hospital first opened its doors, the kosher pantry was ready and inviting with an assortment of delicious food, drinks, and other amenities, to ensure that families have everything they need during their stay in the hospital.
“Plans for the King of Prussia pantry were in motion for months,” said Rabbi Aharon Koslowitz, Director of Chai Lifeline NJ/PA Community Services. “The careful thought that was put into the food options, additional items, and layout of the pantry has resulted in a true haven for families in the hospital. “
Dozens of families have already benefitted from the comfortable and inviting room, taking advantage of the oasis of calm in the hectic hospital setting to eat a wholesome meal and recharge for a short while before returning to their children’s bedside.
“Positive feedback from community members who have visited CHOP King of Prussia has been pouring in,” said Mrs. Nataly Weiss, Chai Lifeline Director of Leadership Development. “They’re grateful to know that no matter the CHOP location, they can always rely on Chai Lifeline’s kosher pantry for nourishment.”
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Main Campus Kosher Pantry and the CHOP King of Prussia Kosher Pantry are both fully stocked and available to all families in the hospital requiring kosher food. For any questions about the pantry, sponsorship opportunities, or to get in touch with a CHOP case manager for other services available in the hospital, please email nj@chailifeline.org or call 732-719-1700.
Rabbanim and communities across Lakewood and its surrounding areas opened their homes and hearts for Chai Lifeline’s children, spreading joy and hope in the face of medical challenges and loss. It’s the consistent outpouring of communal support that enables Chai Lifeline to be there for every family facing illness and crisis. Following are some recent highlights of communities uniting to be there for children in their challenging times.
CHOP case managers, under the leadership of Mrs. Naomi Gorelick, director of hospital services, have the ability to support and advocate for families in the hospital day in and day out, thanks to Chai Lifeline’s deep and longstanding relationships with hospital administrators and doctors. Chai Lifeline’s alliances with children’s hospitals across New Jersey and Pennsylvania continue to flourish as the number of families in the hospital who rely on Chai Lifeline’s support continues to grow.
Over 300 children and volunteers pass through the doors of the Chai Lifeline Art Spot, a haven of connection, friendship and support, each month. A wide array of workshops allows each child to engage in different activities, yet all leave with the same broad smiles.
