Our new Volunteer Spotlight highlights members of the BJ community who give their time and energy to live out the values of our Community Covenant through meaningful, hands-on service.

In honor of BJ’s month of anti-hunger action, we’re proud to recognize Irv Rosenthal, one of our dedicated volunteers supporting BJ’s Judith Bernstein Lunch Program. For 40 years, the Lunch Program has provided homemade meals for neighbors experiencing food insecurity, and Zabar’s generously donates leftover baked goods each week. Our volunteers use the bread to prepare sandwiches, and offer additional baked goods for our guests to take home—a favorite among many who join us.

Irv, alongside a small team of volunteers, serves as a crucial link: picking up bread from Zabar’s and delivering it to BJ. 

As Irv puts it, this “may be the fastest and easiest hands-on mitzvah you can do to help fight food insecurity. Start to finish, it takes under an hour.” And, he notes, there’s a bonus: since the donations are picked up right before closing, there are almost no lines at that time if you need anything from Zabar’s!

We’re so grateful to Irv and all our Lunch Program volunteers who help ensure that good food reaches those who need it most.