Hudson young professionals prepare meals for the less fortunate
Chabad Young Professionals of Hoboken & Jersey City honored the life and legacy of Jonathan Ellis, its beloved 28-year-old committee member, who died in April. They renamed the group called the Giving Kitchen as Johnny’s Giving Kitchen at an inaugural event in his memory. Dozens of young professionals cooked, assembled, and packaged 100+ homemade meals to people in need at the Hoboken Shelter.
Johnny’s Giving Kitchen is a Chabad Young Professionals of Hoboken & Jersey City community service program that prepares meals for people who need them in Hudson County. Volunteers cooked, assembled, and packaged meals for distribution to the Hoboken Shelter, serving individuals and families experiencing hunger throughout Hudson County.
“Johnny had a remarkable way of bringing people together and inspiring those around him to care for others,” Rabbi Shmully Levitin of Chabad Young Professionals of Hoboken & Jersey City said. “Johnny’s Giving Kitchen allows us to honor his memory in a way that reflects who he was, by turning compassion into action. Seeing so many young professionals come together to prepare meals for our neighbors was incredibly meaningful, and we know that every meal served carries a little piece of Johnny’s generous spirit with it.”
The program is part of CYPcares, Chabad Young Professionals of Hoboken & Jersey City’s community service initiative, and built upon CYP’s Giving Kitchen program, which regularly brings together volunteers to prepare homemade meals for neighbors in need.
Through CYPcares and future Johnny’s Giving Kitchen events, CYP plans to create regular opportunities for young professionals to serve their neighbors, make community connections, and carry forward Mr. Ellis’s legacy of compassion and generosity.
Anyone interested in participating in an upcoming Johnny’s Giving Kitchen session or supporting the initiative through a donation can learn more at ChabadYoungHJC.com/jgk
Groups, companies, and individuals are also invited to fill out the interest form to host private volunteer cooking events. Organizations serving the needy are invited to contact the group to request meals for their constituents.