Sundays are often lonely for 87-year-old Elaine Routbort.
After her weekly phone conversation with her son and grandchildren, all of whom live in other states, she finds herself more conscious than ever of how deeply she misses being near family.
This past Sunday, however, was brighter than most.
Midway through the morning, as the first big rain of the season saturated the city, four young volunteers rang Routbort’s doorbell in San Francisco’s Sunset District with a Chanukah basket compiled by Jewish Family and Children’s Services as part of the agency’s annual Chanukah drive.
After presenting her with a bag stuffed with cookies, chocolate, Chanukah candles, specialty tea and applesauce, volunteers stayed part of the morning, listening to Routbort’s stories of growing up in San Francisco and looking at pictures of her family.
“I felt like crying; it was just lovely having young people in the house,” Routbort said. “They were so interesting. They all kissed me goodbye. One of them kissed me when he came in. It was a feeling like family.”
Routbort is among at least 1,000 isolated seniors, emigres, disabled, ill and needy Jews who will receive Chanukah baskets, money and gifts as part of JFCS’ annual Chanukah drive.
This year, the agency seeks donations of menorot, candles, toys, warm clothing, canned foods and small gifts such as notepads, pens and picture frames to distribute during the holiday season. JFCS also seeks cash donations, which will be used to buy food vouchers and provide shelter for the homeless.
“Being remembered at this time of year can make a big difference in people’s lives,” noted Debbi Goodman, JFCS volunteer coordinator.
Though Chanukah starts Dec. 5., this year’s drive got off to an early start. Sunday, two dozen volunteers from YAD, the Young Adults Division of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, met at JFCS to pick up Chanukah baskets, then fanned out into the city to deliver them to recipients such as Routbort.
Delivering the baskets “was just amazing,” said Pam Minden, YAD’s social action co-chair. “It just touches their day so much. You just can tell. Their faces light up.”
After delivering baskets to six homes, Minden observed that what touched the recipients “was more the visit than the actual basket.”
That was certainly the case for Routbort. Still, the contents of the basket gave her day a decisive boost.
“I ate a couple of cookies and they were just delicious,” she said. “It was kind of fun because I don’t usually have desserts and stuff around.”
Donations for JFCS’ Chanukah drive can be delivered to the following offices: San Francisco JFCS, 423 Presidio Ave.; Belmont JFCS, 490 El Camino Real; Palo Alto JFCS, 480 California Ave., or at the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center, 655 Arastradero Rd; San Rafael JFCS, 1330 Lincoln Ave., or at the Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road; Santa Rosa JFCS, 320 College Ave. In addition, JFCS of the East Bay is also collecting gifts at 2484 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.
For more information about the Chanukah drive, call (415) 567-8860.