Jewish service event makes sandwiches for local soup kitchen, Someone Cares
Repair the World, an organization that mobilizes Jews and their communities to take action to pursue a just world, igniting a lifelong commitment to service, has expanded its work into Orange County, in partnership with Hillel OC and the Merage JCC. On Tuesday, June 23, Repair the World held its first local service event in partnership with University Synagogue. More than 36 volunteers participated, making 150 cheese sandwiches for local soup kitchen, Someone Cares OC.
“Being the first on the ground employee for Repair’s newest expansion to Orange County is nothing short of a dream come true,” said Lou James, Senior Program Associate, Orange County, Repair the World. “Orange County is beautiful, and we do a great job at keeping our struggles under the radar. As I have come into my own as a Jewish adult, I have been exposed to the real needs of Orange County. One in three Orange County households don’t earn enough to cover the true cost of housing, food, health care, and transportation here, according to a 2023 Orange County United Way study. Beyond the material needs of housing, food, and resources is the need to give individuals the opportunity to give back. I am beyond excited to be that gateway for my community to find their passion and purpose in giving back to their neighbors, all while building a deeper connection to their Jewish Identity and forming authentic relationships across differences.”
James reflected on one participant who told her that after her divorce, she raised five kids alone, with no child support. A simple cheese sandwich would have meant so much to her family in those hardest years.
“She was sharing this in immense gratitude, grateful to be on the other side of that season, and grateful to now be the one giving back to people who are living it today” added James. “As it says in Exodus (23:9), ‘You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.’ The firsthand knowledge of hardship that she has becomes more than just her memory– it is her mandate to act for others still facing challenges.
Whether or not we’ve lived the same hardships as the people we serve, service gives us common ground—a way to bridge our differences and unite as neighbors. And when we find that purpose together, our community gets stronger. This is just the beginning of the Jewish service movement in the OC, and I can’t wait to see the vibrant Jewish community we build together.” 