Chanukah was a lot brighter for 37 local Jewish children from the Greater Hartford area thanks to gifts they received from the Jewish Children’s Service Organization (JCSO), an all-volunteer organization that helps local families in crisis. The group of volunteers shopped, wrapped and delivered the gifts, selected especially for the children, ages 22 months and up. Funds for the gifts were provided by JCSO, as well as by students from Solomon Schecter Day School, Emanuel Synagogue and JTConnect. In addition to providing Chanukah gifts annually, JCSO also awards funds to families in crisis to help provide children with food, clothing, medical care, day care, and back-to-school backpacks; as well as college and camp scholarships. For more information, visit www.jcsohartford.org.

CAP: JCSO volunteers who got together to wrap the cdhildren’s Chanukah gifts the group purchased included: (front row, l – r) Sharon Budkofsky, Miriam Chaiklin, Sandy Rudnicki, Sheila Frankel, JCSO President Debra Mehlman, Bea Mitlak; (back row, l – r) Debra Feldman, Marsha Kaimins, Marcia Nozik, Mickey Libbin, Joyce Libbin, Sandy Needleman, Avra Novarr  and Linda Stein. Not pictured: Joanne Pasternack, co-chair Chanukah gifts project.