Washing Cars For Charity

Instead of spending their summer break traveling, relaxing, or taking a seasonal job, the teens at Chabad of Orange County’s CTeen are using their free time to give back. In tribute to Adi Wolff, a friend and active member of their CTeen chapter who tragically passed away earlier this year at the age of 14, teens in the area took time off from their vacations for a week of community service.

One day in the week of kindness saw the teens washing cars to raise funds for gifts and care packages for pediatric cancer patients—which the teens personally shopped for, wrapped and delivered. A basketball game brought in donations for the local Chabad Cares program which provides comfort and assistance to community members in need.

“The greatest gift we can give our teens is giving,” says Chana Burston, who leads the CTeen program and directs Chabad of Orange County with her husband, Rabbi Pesach. “Empowering teenagers that they can make a difference is an essential part of their growth and future success.” And make a difference they did. The week ended off with the teens cooking up a giant pot of matzah ball soup and delivering containers of the ‘Jewish penicillin’ to community members recovering from illness. “My soup and homemade challah from CTeen Cares was delicious and made me feel great!” wrote Sherri Eccelston when she received her package.

“It felt so good and right to do mitzvahs in Adi’s honor,” says CTeen leader, Shaina Steir, “We know that is what he would have wanted.”

For more information on Chabad of Orange County, visit www.ChabadOrange.com.

The Saphire Adult Home “hanging out” with the Orange County CTeen crew