Soup Kitchen Volunteers Raise $10K for Pandemic Relief - 05/18/2020

Deena Albert and Isaac Alderstein met while volunteering at the Mary Brennan INN soup kitchen last summer. Quickly learning how much they had in common, they began dating. When the restrictions for the pandemic began, they were unable to continue to volunteer in person, but found another way to support the organization that brought them together.

Using the power of social media, the couple launched a Facebook fundraiser on behalf of The INN with an initial goal to raise $5,000. Within weeks, 275 of their family members and friends donated towards the cause and they doubled their goal. Their story of volunteering at the soup kitchen together, and the desire to continue to help in some way drove their online network to raise a total of $10,566! The funds will assist the Mary Brennan INN to continue with an emergency “grab and go” bag lunch program for guests while the building is closed, and regular hot meals and operations are halted. Deena and Isaac’s efforts contributed greatly to that goal, as their donated funds were able to feed over 250 guests for two weeks.  

Deena and Isaac’s story was featured in The Jewish Week publication on May 6. Click here to view the article.