[PHOTO LINK BELOW] A few thousand residents of Boro Park crowded into a large warehouse on Monday to receive food for Pesach at no cost. Large and needy families were able to obtain cases of eggs, potatoes, onions, carrots, matzos, children’s nosh, grapefruits and oranges. Also available on the second floor of the warehouse was brand-new quality clothing and shoes at prices that were cut by 90% or at no cost at all.

This effort was undertaken by the newly established sub-division of the Bikur Cholim of Boro Park, Olam Hachesed.  Reb Naftali Teitlebaum, the noted askan and Director of Olam Hachesed, worked with tremendous mesiras nefesh over the last 10 days to obtain large quantities of food and new quality clothing from local vendors. Vouchers were distributed to over 100 representatives of kehillos who comprise Olam Hachesed, for those in their kehillos with BL”H large families and who need assistance in preparing for Pesach.

When word got out that this effort was underway, the Bikur Cholim office was flooded with requests for vouchers; and all requests were met. Thousands of vouchers were distributed.

The heimishe olam in Boro Park has been galvanized by the Olam Hachesed initiative and is tremendously supportive of this undertaking.

Local politicians and choshuva Rabbonim who visited the warehouse on Sunday were mesmerized at the amount and quality of clothing and food that was available. Various Dayanim and Admorim stopped by late Sunday and expressed amazement at the large quantity of shoes, dresses and other clothing that were being made available to the kehillos at discounts of 90%, or totally free of charge. This, along with the free food, they said, would be a huge benefit to many needy families in our community.

Councilman Brad Lander was so touched by what he saw that he promised to see whether government assistance might be available for future endeavors of this sort.

“People came over to me with tears in their eyes, thanking Bikur Cholim for making their lives a little easier for Yom Tov”, said Chaim Schoenblum, President.

Bikur Cholim of Boro Park would like to thank the many vendors that contributed to this effort and to those who sold to us at discounted prices.  Your generosity has made a lot of needy families extremely happy this Yom Tov.

YWN PHOTO LINK: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/photos.php?albumid=5451903406287728913

(YWN Desk – NYC)