Teen members of JTConnect, an after-school program for Jewish teens in the Hartford area, put the Jewish values they’ve been learning about into action one recent Sunday afternoon when they got together to make Thanksgiving happier for the homeless and others in need. More than 50 JTConnect teen volunteers baked 134 pumpkin pies that were then donated to four different homeless shelters and soup kitchens in time to serve as dessert for the holiday dinner.

Pictured here organizing the baked pies are (l to r) JTConnect teens Ryan Steremberg (left) and Katie Kartsen (right), helped out by JTConnect staff person Sara Calvert (back).