These days it is quite common for b’nai mitzvahs to give away part of their gift money to charity. But Sam Lyon has taken the practice one step further; he is giving up all the money he takes in — so far, an estimated $3,000 — to help 10 homeless families get back on their feet.
“I had the option of donating a part of my gifts, but it didn’t seem right,” said the Berkeley resident.
The 13-year-old member of Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley celebrated his bar mitzvah on Saturday.
A seventh-grader at El Cerrito’s Tehiyah Day School, Lyon enjoys computers and, according to his mother, Desmid Lyon, “reading everything he can get his hands on.”
He was looking for an opportunity to extend good will and feel personally involved and fulfilled. In doing research, Lyon and his mother stumbled upon Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency, or BOSS. The Berkeley nonprofit aims to help the poor, homeless and disabled achieve self-sufficiency.
Lyon wanted a hands-on tzedakah project, but he also wanted to work with an organization that had an established reputation. BOSS provided that.
“To me, it seemed great to find. I had no idea that this kind of program existed,” he said.
Rosie Kaplan, community resources coordinator at BOSS, met Sam in the fall and worked with him to develop his program.
“He started out by asking, ‘What do people really need?'” said Kaplan. “For a lot of people, they need the household goods, especially if they’re coming out of a shelter or out of prison. He took right to the idea. He’s a bright young man and very organized, he’s really delightful.”
Kaplan said it was exciting to see the Jewish community still involved in BOSS, since it was members of this community who started the organization in 1971, with its headquarters in Berkeley Hillel’s basement.
Lyon also complimented the Jewish community for the warm reception it has given his project. “People have been really, really, supportive,” he said. “I made an announcement at services and right afterward people came up [to me], saying what a good idea it was, and how they wanted to help.
“I’m working on the actual stage where the things are happening. With other programs you give money, but you don’t know if or how you’re helping. It’s cool to know that I’ll be helping these people and being active.”
Lyon’s bar mitzvah money will be used to purchase household items for families in the BOSS shelter program that have completed the necessary job training and are ready to move into their own homes.
Their wish-lists include everyday items such as blankets, towels and cooking equipment.
Lyon will accept donatons until Sunday, and then he will buy the items the families need. Any checks received after Sunday will be converted to gift certificates and given to the 10 families for any extra items they may need.
With the money he has raised, Lyon feels like he is helping families move from the homeless shelter to a home of their own.
Desmid Lyon is most proud of her son’s accomplishments and his humility. “The whole time he’s been [saying that] it’s not about [himself],” she said. “He wants to be involved and make a difference, but he wants to be in the background.
“When he started, he intended to do this as a separate project, he made up flyers and was successful. The idea to make his gifts donations came later.”
Checks should be made out to Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency with “Sam Lyon mitzvah project” written in the memo line. Checks should be sent to Sam Lyon, 1808 Sacramento St., Berkeley, CA 94702.