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We became Chicken Soupers volunteers around the time we became a family in 1988. At that time, I became engaged to Marshall, who has two daughters, 6-year-old Emma and 2-year-old Sarah. At first I baked, then Marshall made deliveries to our clients, Jewish folks with AIDS. After a time we, along with two others, were running Chicken Soupers.

Every month Marshall would take the girls to help pack goodies. In 1991, our son Avi came along, eventually helping to decorate the letters we sent with the food.

It would have been easier to write a check. Or to take turns cooking the meals or making deliveries. But we chose to teach our children by example about tzedakah and gemilut hasadim (acts of lovingkindness) instead.

When the children were small, their "work" was limited. As they grew, so did their help. Eventually Emma could assist the cooks and Sarah could pack bags.

Time flew by. In 1997 our son Heshy was born. Then in 1998 we heard we were to be honored as 10-year volunteers. Emma was asked to speak at the volunteer appreciation brunch on behalf of our family.

I can't remember Emma's words exactly, but she was able to understand how the work she did for Chicken Soupers was largely make-work when she was 7. Over time she learned an important lesson from us — everyone in the community has an obligation to be a volunteer.

Now Emma is a freshman at U.C. Berkeley and still volunteering for worthy causes. And we are still Chicken Soupers, behind-the-scenes workers who just get the job done.