Improving the lives of their neighbors

Since 2006, the Russian Division at the JCC of the Greater Five Towns has helped older immigrant Russians in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway celebrate that most American of holidays, Thanksgiving.

Helped by an annual donation from the Inwood Charities group of the Inwood Country Club, the event that includes traditional dishes such as turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce, takes place in the recreational hall at North Woodmere County Park. This year’s Thanksgiving get together is on Nov. 26.

“We bring six groups to the park,” said Raynee Blum, an accounts receivable employee at the JCC, who helps coordinate the event. “Though they don’t speak much English, they are Americanized and know what they’re celebrating.”

The JCC provides educational and medical services, as well as acquaints the Russian population it serves with government services,

Blum said. “They feel very blessed to have come to this country,” she said.

Russian Division Director Irina Vainblat said the event is an opportunity for them to give thanks. “The Russian people can say

‘thank you’ because of what the United States did for them is unbelievable,” she said, referring to the opportunity to live in this

country. “They’re very happy to be with their family and friends.”

The Inwood Country Club, Blum said, reached out to the JCC seven years ago looking to contribute to one of the organization’s

groups who was most in need. “We have so many needy groups but we felt this was one that really deserved it,” she said.

Andrew Shevins, president of Inwood Charities at Inwood Country Club, said supporting the Russian Thanksgiving event is important to the membership. “We try in every way to help families in need in this

neighborhood,” he said. “We hope that the JCC is able to give them a better holiday than they would have without community support.”

Shevins, a Woodmere resident, added that the membership supports several organizations. “We consider ourselves very fortunate

to have the wherewithal to belong to a country club and feel that the neighborhood surrounding the club needs help at various times,” he said. “We feel that because we are in position to help, it’s our obligation to improve the lives of the people in our community."