Kayla Kroopnick and her parents at Yad Sarah in Jerusalem

When Kayla Kroopnick was ready to choose a charity to support in honor of her Bat Mitzvah, Yad Sarah “was a clear match.”
The Kroopnick family of New Haven has a long history with Yad Sarah, an Israeli organization designed to support the efforts of families caring for the elderly, the homebound, the ill and injured, and people with disabilities. The Kroopnick family is especially connected to Yad Sarah’s Play Center, where families play together with professional guidance to advance the development of a child with special needs.
On a recent vacation in Israel, Kayla, her parents and other family members, visited Yad Sarah headquarters in Jerusalem where they had an introductory tour of Yad Sarah and a thorough tour of the Play Center facilities. Kayla also got a chance to look through the many picture books that were donated in memory of her grandmother, Shirley. Kayla’s aunt, Chaya Kushnir, was involved in the creation of the original Toy Library, and Kayla’s grandparents were longtime donors to the Play Center.
The tour was followed by a birthday cake celebration and the presentation of a special certificate honoring Kayla’s gift. Director Jeannie Gadish explained how the Play Center changes the lives of children with special needs. “This is truly one of the happiest, smiliest places I’ve ever seen,” she told Kayla. Chaya supplemented that with some Kroopnick family history: “This was a place Bubbe and Zaydie cared about,” she reminded Kayla and her cousins. “They donated money and toys.”
Finally came the highlight of the afternoon: the ribbon cutting ceremony. Kayla’s generosity enabled Yad Sarah to purchase a large netted trampoline, four small cars and motorcycles, three scooters, and three pedalos — a coordination/balance contraption that Kayla enthusiastically mastered by the end of the celebration.
Yad Sarah brought assistance to more than 420,000 people last year – including Kayla’s aunt, Chaya, whose family lives in Israel. She borrowed baby cribs when each of her children was born, borrowed a wheelchair for her elderly mother-in-law, and borrowed crutches when her daughter Nomi was injured. Chaya’s children have also given gifts in honor of their grandmother, and now Kayla has joined the family tradition.
Said Kayla’s father, Jay Kroopnick, “It was important to my mother, and we’re following in her footsteps.”

For more information on Yad Sarah visit friendsofyadsarah.org or facebook.com/yadsarahfriends.