In celebration of Purim, members of GOA’s National Honor Society (NHS) joined with eighth-grade students and the Kehillah Committee to pack more than 100 Mishloach Manot bags for community members in need.
The bags were prepared for Bridges Outreach, a nonprofit organization that supports people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity by providing them essential resources.
Working together, NHS members and eighth graders assembled the packages of food and treats, ensuring each bag would be ready for those served by the organization.
This project allowed students to fulfill the Purim mitzvah of matanot l’evyonim.
Throughout the activity, both high schoolers and middle schoolers worked side by side in an assembly line style, quickly packing and organizing the bags until more than 100 were completed.
Eighth grader Asher Herbert said, “It felt really good to help people while also celebrating Purim. Packing the bags together made the holiday feel more meaningful.”
His reflection captured the spirit of the project and truly showed how acts of kindness can bring an entire community closer together in a way many would not imagine.
NHS President Mia Eskin said, “This project reminded us that small actions can make a huge difference. By working together, the GOA community was able to help a lot of people.”
Beyond preparing the packages, the effort highlighted the values Purim and GOA represent: generosity, love for our community and Tikkun Olam.
By partnering with Bridges Outreach, GOA students turned a basic Purim tradition into something with real meaning that served a wider community.
NHS Treasurer, Morgan Sternthal, said, “It was inspiring to see students from different grades come together for one goal. Projects like this show how our school community can make a real impact when we work together.”
“Everyone was so excited to contribute; we packed almost all the bags in less than 15 minutes,” said NHS member Noah Stoch.
After the group finished packing bags, all the grades joined in a fun, lighthearted game of “Duck, Duck, Goose,” embracing the playful, joyful spirit of Purim.
Throughout this mitzvah project, GOA students not only celebrated Purim but also demonstrated the importance of kindness and generosity, a value taught in the Purim story.
