[COMMUNICATED CONTENT]

By: L. Halevi

A few weeks back, the staff at the Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society (RCCS) was surprised to receive a manila envelope stuffed with handwritten letters from the third grade class of Yeshiva Mevakshei Hashem, an elementary school in Brooklyn, NY. The boys wrote to RCCS that their school was about to launch a write-a-thon, a project where students choose an organization they wish to raise funds for, and that their class chose RCCS as their tzeddakah.

In the weeks that followed, the class went to work writing letters to their family and friends in an effort to solicit funds for the organization. They also created an exhibit showing scenes of bikur cholim to show their parents at PTA, all part of the effort to inspire them to donate.

About one week ago, RCCS received the following message from the schools Menahel, Rabbi Gartenhaus: “I just wanted to update you on the amazing success our write-a-thon program had and the excitement it generated. When we began, we assumed the class would raise a few hundred dollars for your organization; after all, these are young students, not seasoned fundraisers! We were shocked with the amazing feedback, and are proud to let you know that our third grade class has raised close to $4,000!”

Shortly thereafter, the class of 29 students paid a visit to the main RCCS office and presented the staff with an oversized check in the amount that was raised thus far. The staff in the office was visibly touched and appreciative of the gesture, which gave them all Chizuk to keep on going in their valiant efforts to provide for Cholei Yisroel.

To recognize their contribution and to further encourage the children to get involved in helping one another, Rabbi Aaron Steier, New Jersey Regional Director for RCCS, spoke to the children and thanked them for their remarkable Mitzvah. He then presented each boy with a Tehilim personalized with their name on it as a commemoration of this wonderful accomplishment. Rabbi Steier told the boys how happy our “Tatteh in Himmel” is when He sees His Kinderlach doing their part to help fellow Yidden in need. The office staff also presented the class with a Lucite box filled with shredded insurance bills of an 8 year old cancer patient, which was now able to be paid with the money they raised from the write-a-thon.

The boys were then given a tour of the office where they saw first-hand the buzzing activity that takes place at RCCS to fulfill the near-impossible mission of caring for thousands of Cholei Yisroel around the globe.

Mi K’Amcha Yisroel!!

Should your school be interested in doing a write-a-thon or similar project, please contact the RCCS office at 718-722-2002 ext. 601