In November, JTCares’ teens baked pumpkin pies for Hands on Hartford’s Thanksgiving Dinner Baskets.

JTCares, the social action program of JTConnect — Hartford’s weekly program for Jewish teens — kicked off its 2016-2017 JTCares program in a big way.

On Sunday, Oct. 30, teens came together to learn about the issues of hunger before they hit the streets to “Scare Off Hunger” by going door to door in West Hartford collecting cans and other non-perishable food items for local food pantries. By afternoon’s end they had collected well over 100 items. Then, on Sunday, Nov. 13, they marked World Kindness Day by baking 100 pumpkin pies that they then donated to Hands on Hartford’s Thanksgiving Dinner Baskets.

A program for 7th-12th graders, JTCares meets six times during the school year to learn together and participate in various social action projects. Teens receive community service certificates at the conclusion of each program.

CAP: In October, JTCares’ teens collected non-perishable food items for local food pantries.