Thirty volunteers from Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens’ Mishpacha volunteer network came together last month for a Light Up PBG gathering. In just a few hours, they packed 200 Chanukah gift bags, each one prepared with care and the simple goal of bringing a little light and joy to someone else’s holiday. These bags were meant for Jewish individuals and families in our community who may not yet feel connected to Jewish life — letting them know they’re thought of and that they belong.
The afternoon was filled with Chanukah music, conversation, and plenty of latkes and donuts as the men and women put each bag together with intention. Once everything was packed, community members took the bags to share with friends, neighbors, co-workers, and acquaintances. In doing so, they became true ambassadors of light. Many people who received the bags were genuinely moved — some emotional, many deeply appreciative — and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
What stayed with the volunteers most wasn’t the number of bags packed, but the conversations that followed — the texts, phone calls, and quiet moments of appreciation that came back to them. It was a reminder that simple gestures, offered sincerely, can open doors and create connection in ways that feel deeply human.
