Our Shomrei Community

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Mesh FernThe Shomrei Community does many things we should be proud of, but I would like to focus on two particular programs; IHN and MESH. For those of you who do not know, IHN(Interfaith Hospitality Network) is a program in Essex County where synagogues and churches, host homeless families for one week in their facility. MESH (Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless) is a Montclair program where synagogues and churches feed homeless guests in their facility one day a week throughout the school year.

The third week of August, Shomrei had the privilege of hosting four IHN families, fourteen guests in all. One family I knew very well – a mom, dad, and five kids, all under the age 12. How did I know MESH Mar 18 2015them?  They were weekly visitors to MESH, and I try to be a captain and cook as often as I can. I actually think I was there the first time they came. The mom works part time, the dad takes care of the kids. Prior to IHN, they were living in a shelter at night, and during the day Mom went to work, Dad took the kids not in school to the Montclair Library where they would stay until a MESH Café opened their doors. Mom was always late to MESH because she worked until 6:00 so could not arrive until closer to 6:45 or 7:00. Being accepted into IHN was a huge relief for them because of the safety of not having to stay in a shelter and knowing where three meals a day for their children were coming from.

This background is important. On Tuesday of IHN week, I cooked dinner for our guests. When I came downstairs to serve, I got big hugs from the kids (a familiar face) and not important, only that it made me feel good. What was important, the mom also gave me a hug and asked me what good happened to me today. Honestly, I just got back from a business trip to Australia, so very jet lagged and could not think of anything. I asked her, “What good happened to you today?.” She said three things; 1) I got a new job today (an additional part time job), 2) We were accepted for a new apartment, 3) I saw the apartment and it is beautiful.

And now for the punch line; I told this very excited and happy wife and mother, that I hope this meant I would never see her at MESH again. She told me, she will definitely see me again at MESH, as a volunteer.

MESH and IHN are two programs that need your help. For either of these programs, it is a two hour commitment. MESH begins on Tuesday September 6. Please volunteer. Most of our volunteers find after the first time, they are more than willing to volunteer again. We will be hosting IHN during Christmas week. Our guests need your help and you will find it more than rewarding.

We need to give our heart felt thanks , and help, to Dale Russakoff and Shirley Grill whom have managed IHN on behalf of Shomrei for many, many, many years. And our thanks to Lynn Kurzweil and Aileen Grossberg who have taken on the responsibility for leading Shomrei’s MESH Café.

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