By Stephanie Smartschan
JFLV Director of Marketing

Heroes united on Super Sunday to raise money for the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

Four teams engaged in a friendly competition to see who could bring in the most money. After a hard-fought battle, the blue team came out on top, and had the opportunity to allocate $1,000 to the campaign beneficiaries of their choice. The team chose to allocate $250 to Muhlenberg Hillel for a student program and $750 to the Lehigh Valley Jewish Clergy Group for a collaborative community event.

New this year, all new gifts and increases were matched dollar for dollar, thanks to the generosity of Lewis and Roberta Gaines. The match served as great motivation for those making the calls and those receiving them.

Volunteers enjoyed breakfast and snacks courtesy of Giant and Whole Foods Market and delicious macaroni and cheese for dinner donated by Boscov’s.

In the afternoon, the first group of mitzvah project volunteers arrived to prepare kosher meals for older adults in the JCC kitchen, in partnership with Jewish Family Service. The volunteers made a Shabbat chicken dish along with green beans and a carrot soufflé, with the help of ingredients donated by Whole Foods, Wegmans and Costco.

Later, a second mitzvah project crew came to package and deliver the meals in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. They bagged the chicken, carrots and green beans with minestrone soup made by the Jewish Day School, rice salad from Congregation Brith Sholom and challah from Congregation Keneseth Israel. They also included bags of chocolate chip cookies baked by the PJ Library children that morning.

The PJ Library kids also had the chance to do crafts, decorate cookies and enjoy story time with IronPigs mascot FeRROUS.

State Reps. Mike Schlossberg, Zach Mako and Ryan Mackenzie and Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski stopped by to help and offer encouragement to volunteers.

Brian Ford, who co-chaired the event with his wife Emily, had the chance to talk to WFMZ about the great work of volunteers. The Fords were supported this year by the young leaders from Israel Next Dor.

Super Sunday sponsor Patient First offered free blood pressure checks throughout the morning.