Receiving a slice of World of Giving in the Five Towns

If the charity work performed by five people, a religious institution and a community organization was drawn up like a football play it would look something like this.

Avi Lazar, from World of Giving, calls friend Pinny Ackerman, a member of Bais Tefila of Inwood, which under the leadership of Rabbi Pincus Weinberger, takes the items offered by Lazar. Ackerman then calls longtime friend Pete Sobol who has been connected with the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence for many years.

The goods given by Lazar and World of Giving are then given to Gammy’s Pantry run by Inwood resident Sasha Young at the Community Center. From there the assorted sundries will be distributed to people in need.

“During this time with coronavirus and it’s the holiday season this type of merchandise can put many smiles on people behind the mask and make people really happy,” Lazar said.

“It’s a great option to hand off the items to the Five Towns Community Center,” Ackerman said. “I’ve known Pete for many years and the Community Center is really helpful to the community.”

“I just think it’s super thing, a nice gesture,” Sobol said.

The items include clothing such as sweaters and T-shirts, diapers and toiletries such as toothpaste. 

World of Giving was founded after Hurricane Sandy by Rabbi Mordechai Roizman and his wife, Meechal. As volunteers during the relief effort, the couple was inspired and learned that major corporations donated excess merchandise to charities who distributed the items to families in need.

What they also learned is that the Jewish community was not making use of those resources. To take part, an infrastructure to receive a large number of goods was needed and it did not exist. The Roizmans used their own money and sought support and guidance from the Afikim Foundation. They founded the National Council of Jewish Charities, now known as Olam Chesed. The group collaborates with socially responsible partners to source highly needed goods and distribute them to people in need.

For more on World of Giving, go to worldofgiving.org.