By: Chani Vogel
One of the crowning glories that Crown Heights has to offer is our Bikur Cholim organization. From visiting people that are homebound, to driving people to hospitals, to cooking suppers for families, and everything in between, this volunteer organization has got to be an incredible source of nachas to Hashem and the Rebbe.
In the last few years, the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Bikur Cholim (RCMBC) has gotten an influx of ‘young blood’ volunteers, and therefore is constantly adding to their incredible peulos.
The latest drive is called ‘Chai Friends’, bringing friendship to CHildren Affected by Illness. They literally work at giving children back their childhood, when the family is dealing with illness.
75 families have been helped this past Chanukah through a committee that was formed to customize all the gifts so that every single present was age, and personality appropriate.
Included in every package was a $2 bill, insuring that every child got Chanukah Gelt and felt the special Chanukah light too. To date they have provided activities to make these precious children feel yom tov just like my boys, and your kids.
To mark the beginning of the school year, supplies were given out to kids whose moms were unable to take them shopping. They hosted a grand sukkah party this year, and from what I hear, a Melaveh Malka is in the works too, seriously, the plans are never ending!
At these parties siblings can come together and give and receive much needed chizuk from each other.
With this new division, ten new volunteers came on board, and they are constantly brainstorming to see what else they can do to make the difference. Everyone knows that illness does not discriminate.
When it strikes unfortunately, sickness affects everyone around it, from family, to friends, to neighbors. The question is can we make it any easier for those that are suffering? Some of them are orphaned after a long sickness, and some have to deal with lost siblings. Chai Friends seeks to make a difference, one child at a time.
Of course without all the volunteers that put hours into making these projects work, we would be nowhere. We have to date 100 high school and post high school girls, and over 150 married volunteers who are committed on a weekly or monthly basis.
I call myself fortunate to be on the giving-end of this wonderful organization. Imagine my precious yingeleh walking into the kitchen, and saying to his brother, “There is so much food mommy must be cooking for Bikur Cholim again.” How beautiful is that? I don’t have to be a chinuch expert to know that I am modeling empathy, and that is the best investment I can make in my boys future.
See what I was saying about making Hashem and the Rebbe proud? Now all we need is Moshiach, when we will live with health and happiness and our volunteers will be able to fill their time, saying tehillim, not for a refuah sheleima, but just because they want to sing Hashem’s praises.
Credit is really due to the devoted board and many volunteers who quietly offer their time and many services day in and day out.they do not look for any accolades of appreciation. Each week over 25 volunteers are cooking meals for families, driving and visiting patients, raising and giving necessary funds, organizing a bris or offering household help, dispatching services, giving support and much more. in addition to the nearly ten women who are involved with chai friends, credit is also due to rivka krinsky, grunie grossman,and sara deren who have put in so much effort into the formation of… Read more »
This project could not have been done with over a months work, and hours of planning with:
Rivka Krinsky, Nechama Gross, Shaina Rotter, Malky Lang, Brochie Stern, Gittel Hershkowitz, Shani Pinson, Rochie Korolitzky, Chavi Palace and Baily Wilshanski!!
Thank you!!
As the mother of a child who is ill, and has been for over 4 years now, all I can say is thank you. The gifts for both of my children were perfect. It was great that they both got, so that the one who is healthy did not feel left out. It is a hard road to travel but I feel the community here in CH has been so amazing. I don’t know what we would do with out them.
Go Shaina, Nechama, Malky and Rivkah this could not have been done without you!!!!!!!!
Go online to http://www.bikurcholimch.org and give them your hands and your heart, this donation can be from “Maser” every dollar adds a lot!!!!
Should be zoche to the geola hamitis now!
Bikur Cholim your doing Avodas kodesh!!!
Yeshar Coach!!!!
1. You rock.
2. I know it sounds silly – but we are dating ourselves. Over the past few years I’ve had $2 bills refused at stores sometimes because the young clerks don’t believe they are real! I hope all the families that received them DO realize they are real money.
Never one to publish her name or look for credit, and while not from the young mothers who joined Bikur Cholim, Esther is the driving force behind this and many other new initiatives at Bikur Cholim.
Hats off to you Mrs Blau. You’re wonderful!
THANK U ROZY TZIVIN U ROCK AND THE REST OF THE VOLUNTEERS N DIRECTORS!!
Love ur cuz MICHLI