BOCA RATON, Fla. -- This Thanksgiving Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services teamed up with Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center to serve more than just food.
Hundreds showed up to the Jewish Community Center in Boca Raton for the music and smiles. It was packed with people serving a purpose.
“Every year we bring together over 700 primarily seniors in our community who would have no where else to spend Thanksgiving,” Danielle Hartman, President Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services said.
Whether you were of Jewish faith or just needed a warm meal the doors were open Thursday. And sprinkled in this crowd was a special group of people.
“There’s a lot of Holocaust survivors with us today,” Hartman said.
Earlier in the week Hartman told WPTV how more survivors of the Holocaust were coming forward in need of basic services. This Thanksgiving they made sure to provide plenty of food and a listening ear.
“They are more prone to having issues of loneliness and depression because they would have nowhere else to go for Thanksgiving. So it’s super important that they can come some where and feel safe and nurtured and loved,” she said.
For Agnes Glick it’s a warm welcome she’s waited decades for.
“Here in the United States everyone helping everybody,” Glick said.
The 90-year-old says she spent most of her teens in Auschwitz. She spent her days working in the fields with limited food to eat.
“One day, one slice of bread,” she recalled.
This Thanksgiving her plate is full with love and hope for the future.