Humane Rescue Alliance's Blog 4 Kids, Educators and Everyone Else Who Cares About Animals!

 

Jonah with the food donations
 that were donated, at his request,
 by guests at his bar mitzvah.



Jonah visiting with
a puppy at the League.

The word mitzvah refers to a good or worthy deed.  Jonah, a local seventh grader, who recently celebrated his bar mitzvah  accomplished a MEGA -MITZVAH.   Jonah, and several religious school classmates visited the League in October 2011, a couple of months before Jonah's bar mitzvah ceremony and celebration.  It was during that tour that he decided that he wanted to share his important day with the animals.  Not just any animals.  Jonah decided to ask his bar mitzvah guests to  contribute to  the Washington Animal Rescue League's Rescuers Food Bank.  The Food Bank enables under-served members of our community to pick up dog or cat food from the League on a monthly basis.  
Since the economic down-turn several years ago, more and more animal guardians have found the Food Bank to be a tremendous help.   Many of the folks who rely on the food contribution are elderly, some are people who have fallen on hard times -- all are people who love their companion animals and want to care for them properly.  Clinic clients often tell staff that they are feeding their dogs instead of themselves -- it should not be an either/or situation. 

The Food Bank is stocked entirely by donations.   Jonah's collection will go a long way to help people and animals in Washington.  His mom's SUV was packed to the roof with bags, boxes and cans.  In addition, Jonah brought an envelope with cash and checks donated by several of his guests. 
I often show student groups through the shelter and wonder what impact their tour will have on their views concerning animal welfare.   In Jonah's case, I know -- one Sunday morning visit to the League sparked a MEGA mitzvah that will fill the bellies of many much-loved animal companions and the hearts of their devoted  guardians.