East Rockaway resident's annual charity event in Oceanside draws hundreds

For more than a decade, East Rockaway resident Renee Klein has hosted an annual charity event in Oceanside in honor of her late husband, Bernard, which has raised thousands of dollars for more than 40 charities.

This year, hundreds of people attended the annual Bernard Klein Charity Fundraiser at Oceanside Jewish Center on Sept. 15.

“The community is great,” said Klein, 82. “The people were great and we just had a wonderful time.”

Though she had help from her children and grandchildren, Klein largely organized the annual event single-handedly. She walks door-to-door collecting donations from residents and businesses. The fundraiser began 12 years ago with 75 people and has grown to more than 200. Klein made 125 baskets of goods that were donated by dozens of local businesses. She said she had yet to tally how much money was raised at press time.

Proceeds from this year’s fundraiser benefitted Camp Anchor and Shriners Hospitals for Children, two organizations whose mission Klein said resonated with her.

Klein, was named Lynbrook/East Rockaway’s Person of the Year in 2018 for her efforts in going above and beyond for her community. She said that being involved gives her fulfillment. “It’s part of my life,” she said. “I love what I do.”