The Kindness Hub’s first large-scale community initiative, The Box of Kindness, brought dozens of volunteers together to prepare and deliver homemade Shabbos meals to single-parent families across Crown Heights.

Over the course of the project, 37 volunteers ranging in age from 15 to 68 dedicated more than 120 volunteer hours to preparing a four-course gourmet Shabbos dinner for 14 families – serving an estimated 55 adults, teens, and children. Volunteers gathered over multiple sessions to prep, cook, package, and hand-deliver the boxes, which included challah, dips, soup, chicken, meat, kugel, side dishes and desserts – all prepared with warmth and care.

Organizers say the initiative was never only about food. “The goal of The Kindness Hub is to create meaningful opportunities for people to connect through giving,” says Goldie Avtzon, one of the event organizers. “The meals mattered deeply, and so did the experience of volunteers coming together, meeting new people, and feeling part of something purposeful.”

Recipients of the Boxes of Kindness shared emotional feedback following the deliveries:
“This was so helpful for me and my family, who struggle with getting food daily. This really means a lot. It was very much appreciated.”
“The box was packed so intentionally that it made receiving this box feel special as opposed to feeling needy.”
“This box feels like a hug.”

Volunteers described the experience as equally impactful.
“The Kindness Hub is filling a void that exists in Crown Heights,” one participant shared. “There is nothing like cooking with friends, especially when you know it is going to feed families in your own community.”

Another volunteer wrote:
“It was a great opportunity to socialize, meet new people, and connect through kindness.”

Organizers hope this will be the first of many future projects. They say continued programming will require modest financial support from the community. Each Box of Kindness event costs approximately $2,500 to cover ingredients, supplies, equipment, and packaging. “We saw firsthand how much this project meant both to recipients and volunteers,” says S. Yarmush, an active participant. “With community support, we hope to continue creating opportunities that bring kindness into action.”

The Kindness Hub is already organizing another set of events after Shavuos to give single-parent families some more relief. It includes a Challah Bake on June 4 followed by another Box of Kindness production during the week of June 7-11. Stay tuned for details.

Those interested in volunteering, partnering, or helping sponsor future events can contact The Kindness Hub at:
Whatsapp: 718-581-7383
Email: [email protected]
Website: kindnesshubch.org