The COVID-19 pandemic was an unfortunate and seminal moment in the lives of all who lived through it, although there were small silver linings for some folks.
For the Kappa Guild, a Baltimore charity that raises money for children’s health needs, the pandemic spurred a fundraiser that they have held repeatedly since and are expanding this winter, said President Sheila Mentz.
“‘Shabbat To Go’ started during COVID. We had to find ways to raise money. I didn’t want the organization to fold, and we came up with an idea of having a Shabbat To Go where people would order food and stay in their cars and we would take the boxes or bags and put it in the trunk,” Mentz said.
Shabbat To Go continues to this day, although precautions like N95 masks and plastic gloves have been dropped. It has remained so successful that the Kappa Guild decided to try something similar but new. Hence, ‘Chanukah To Go.’
More than 80 folks have signed up for the inaugural event thus far, with more expected.
The Kappa Guild sees the event as a chance to help busy Jews enjoy the holiday without the stress of hitting the kitchen while also raising money for youth health initiatives.
“These are children and infants that need us. That’s our mission, to help children in need,” Mentz said.
The Kappa Guild Chanukah To Go has a different menu than the typical Shabbat, as they wanted to switch things up and offer a full spread for the annual holiday.
The menu includes an array of options: barbecue chicken, spaghetti and meatballs or salmon with dill sauce for the main courses, with sides of vegetable soup, homemade potato latkes, grilled vegetables, butternut squash souffle, rolls, sufganiyot and chocolate coins.
The meal comes from the kitchen of Catering by Shula in Owings Mills. Mentz said that working with a kosher Jewish cook brings another element of community collaboration into play.
“It’s absolutely delicious. You can’t go wrong with her,” Mentz said.
While the “To Go” program has expanded to include Chanukah, Mentz said that by no means is it meant to replace the magic that is cooking with your loved ones. Passover, she said, is unlikely to be added to the group’s offerings.
“That’s more up to the synagogues and families. Our members cook their own Passover meals,” she said. “I don’t think that’s in our future.”
The Chanukah To Go pickup will take place on Sunday, Dec. 21, from noon to 1 p.m. at Beth Tfiloh Congregation, although orders need to be placed by Monday, Dec. 15.
The Kappa Guild, founded in Baltimore in 1955, has a proud tradition of helping all children in the Baltimore area. In fact, Mentz said that the Chanukah event, despite its name, isn’t just for Jews — just like the charity work the organization does.
“I send it out to the hospitals that we work with, so they’re not all Jewish. You know, food is food,” Mentz said. “We don’t only do it for Jewish people — the children in the hospitals that we buy equipment for, we don’t care who they are.”
Mentz is proud to help serve the community and help children who need it most. A simple idea that came about during the pandemic has blossomed into a program that has made celebrating Jewish life easier for dozens of families in the greater Baltimore area.
“I said, ‘You know what? Let’s do something different and see how it goes over. Let’s do a Chanukah To Go and see if people will grab onto that idea, because it’s something different,” she said.
Contact Sheila Mentz at 410-484-8215 or [email protected] to sign up.
