Shomrim Passover Event
Each year the Nassau County branch of the Shomrim Society, a fraternal organization of Jewish law enforcement officers (police, probation officers, etc.) runs a huge Passover event to benefit needy Jews in Nassau County. Adam Scheiner and Gary Hirsch from Shomrim and Joe Sklar from Hatzilu, chair this event. They prepare for many months prior to the holiday acquiring the food/donations and coordinating volunteers to create the packages and then to deliver to the clients. This event usually takes place the Sunday before Passover.
The Shomrim Society acquires enough Passover food items to create packages and provide for over 70 households. Most families receiving these packages are those we assist throughout the year. By receiving the Passover packages, these families don’t have to face the financial burden of purchasing expensive Kosher for Passover food.
Shomrin and Hatzilu recruit volunteers who will deliver the food. Our volunteers contact potential recipients to determine their need for Pesach and to coordinate delivery time. Shomrim volunteers work very hard to ensure that each order contains at least 40 items. Each volunteer creates a package for the family/families they are delivering to based on the size and nature of the family, more food for larger families and special items for families with children. Frozen foods and refrigerated items are taken out last. Before leaving, there is an envelope with a gift card from a local supermarket for the family as well as Haggadahs placed into each package.
Each family is extremely grateful - they can celebrate the holiday with joy and not worry about the financial consequences. At their seders the deliverers will remember their mitzvah and will have achieved the symbolic open of the door when we say, ”Let all who are hungry come in and eat.”
