For the 8th year, Bilingual International Assistant Services was proud to serve as a distribution site for the Jewish and Muslim Day of Service on Dec. 25, 2018. Over 50 volunteers from the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, and our own intrepid, in-house volunteer corps gathered to package and hand-deliver holiday care packages to 97 foreign-born senior households on Christmas morning. What began as a canned food drive in 2011, has expanded under the direction of Volunteer Coordinator Ellen Sherman to include delivery of handmade quilts and scarves, non-perishable supplies, and a warm meal.
Major support for the Dec. 25 Day of Giving opportunity at Bilingual International was provided by the Will Flores Fund. Meals and food were generously provided by Cafe Nova and Bello’s Bakery. The JCRC and Bilingual In-Home Assistant Services provided the tote bags and gifts; and quilts, hats, lap blankets, and scarves were created by the Ladies of the Chilicothe and Vandalia Correctional Centers, Charity Sharity Volunteers, Brentwood Area Nextdoor Neighbors, and additional talented community members. Thank you to all of our volunteers and partners for your wonderful mitzvahs!! We have already heard back from many of the seniors you visited and want to extend their sincere thanks as well. We hope to see you all again next year!
Bilingual International volunteers loading hot meals for delivery on Dec. 25