We recently heard from a proud Mitzvah Mom in Parkland, Florida about her son’s Mitzvah Project. Gavin Krooks will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah this August, but his Military Mitzvah Project and Website are well underway! We asked Gavin to share some information about what he is doing:
MM: Can you give us details of your Mitzvah Project?
GK: For my Mitzvah project, I “adopted” the United States 82nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron (82 EASOS).
MM: Why did you decide to take on this particular project/charity?
GK: It is hard for us to understand exactly what it is that they do over in Iraq. What we can understand is that they are fighting for our freedom, they are very far away from home and in their down time, they like to sit back and relax like the rest of us! I am in contact with Lt. Col. Mark Jablow, currently stationed in Iraq. He has 35 men and women directly under his command and they work in a headquarters manned by approximately 1,000 personnel. My project was to send his squadron and the soldiers they work with some personal items that are hard to get over in Iraq.
Gavin at the US Post Office ready to mail his packages to the troops
The boxes are filled with items requested by the men and women
LT. Col Mark Jablow receiving some of Gavin’s supplies!
MM: In your own words, what does it mean to you to do a Mitzvah Project for your Bar Mitzvah?
GK: To me, becoming a Bar Mitzvah is not only about the Jewish ritual. As Jews, we are also supposed to fulfill the Mitzvah of tzedukah (charity) and tikkun olam, (fixing the world).
MM: If it involves a donation, what are you doing to spreading the word?
GK: My Website A Little Goes A Long Way has all the information.
MM: Anything else we need to know about your Mitzvah Project?
GK: We collected almost $1,000 and were able to send over 14 boxes filled to the brim with lots of great stuff! Some of the packages have already been received in Iraq and as luck would have it, they handed out the goodies at a Memorial Day Celebration for the troops. I am also buying phone cards in bulk and sending them over. Some of the items that the soldiers are requesting are frisbees, novels, magazines and chocolates and the female personnel are asking for scented lotions, shampoos, conditioners and soaps.
If you have any of these items to donate or would like to make a cash donation please send an email to [email protected] or go to the Website at alittlethanksgoesalongway.com for more information.
We would like to thank Gavin’s Mom Robin for sharing her son’s amazing project with our Mitzvah Market readers.
