The Passover holiday was a little brighter this year, thanks to a community service project initiated by Ben Gurion University of the Negev. On April fourth, some 500 students ?descended? upon various neighborhoods in the Negev towns of Be'ersheva, Ofakim, Dimona and Yerucham, as part of their ?Spring is Here? campaign. The program, organized by the Community Action Unit of the university , included distributing food packages, organizing holiday activities for children and an all-out cleanup campaign.
Hundreds of food baskets were distributed to needy families. Students collected the contents by stationing themselves at grocery stores in Be'er-Sheva and soliciting donations from shoppers, who gave generously. Students not only organized a massive cleanup campaign along ten streets, but also painted stairwells and murals on run-down buildings and the interiors of apartments of people in need, including single-parent families, the elderly, large families and new immigrants. In addition, apparel items were sold at the nominal price of one shekel per item at second-hand bazaars held at two locations.
Students also organized activities for children, including a mock-seder with songs and food. According to Ya?akov Ayash, director of the Community Action Unit, ?it was an amazing day that left everyone feeling great.? The ?Spring is Here? campaign was organized in cooperation with the Youth Division and Welfare Division of the City of Beer-Sheva, the Jewish Agency and the neighborhood committees.
Hundreds of food baskets were distributed to needy families. Students collected the contents by stationing themselves at grocery stores in Be'er-Sheva and soliciting donations from shoppers, who gave generously. Students not only organized a massive cleanup campaign along ten streets, but also painted stairwells and murals on run-down buildings and the interiors of apartments of people in need, including single-parent families, the elderly, large families and new immigrants. In addition, apparel items were sold at the nominal price of one shekel per item at second-hand bazaars held at two locations.
Students also organized activities for children, including a mock-seder with songs and food. According to Ya?akov Ayash, director of the Community Action Unit, ?it was an amazing day that left everyone feeling great.? The ?Spring is Here? campaign was organized in cooperation with the Youth Division and Welfare Division of the City of Beer-Sheva, the Jewish Agency and the neighborhood committees.