Close to 300 guests raised more than $55,000 to support Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford’s (JFS) Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry, as well as the agency’s services for its clients, at the Third Annual Helping Our Hungry Community event at the Hartford home of Marcia and Alan Lazowski. The evening also paid tribute to Holocaust survivors.

“There are many needs that are dear to our hearts, but nothing is more important to us than children in need, and children that are hungry most of all. We are in awe of the outpouring of support from our community,” said event chair Pia Rosenberg Toro, speaking on behalf of the Rosenberg family.

During the course of the evening, Philip Lazowski, rabbi emeritus of Beth Hillel Synagogue in Bloomfield, shared his compelling Holocaust experience of having survived as a young boy for two years in the woods with the help of a nearby family who fed him. He travelled back to the area not long ago and met a woman who was a member of that family.

“These donations will help tremendously in funding services to Holocaust survivors and the Kosher Food Pantry, as we more than doubled our fundraising expectations to meet basic human needs,” explained Judy and David Rosenthal, event co-chairs.

“We are honored to restore dignity to our clients through our programs and services. Because of the tremendous community support, we can all embrace possibility this holiday season,” said Anne Danaher, JFS executive director.

CAP: (l to r) Alan Lazowski, Kim Margolis, Marcia Lazowski, Mickey Toro, Pia Rosenberg Toro, Anne Danaher, Judy and David Rosenthal, Merrill and Mark Mandell.