Two 15-year-old brothers from Roslyn are spending their free time during the pandemic raising money to feed Parker Jewish Institute’s dedicated health-care workers.
Matthew and Michael Granoff are 10th-grade twins who attend Roslyn High School.
But while school is conducted through online learning during COVID-19, the boys are learning all about effective communication and philanthropy by raising money for Parker’s “Meal Train.” The Meal Train is an online platform through which the community can purchase meals for Parker’s nurses, doctors, therapists and other essential employees during their shift.
The platform enables volunteers to schedule donations for particular shifts and floors at Parker, so that every meal is efficiently distributed, and there is no waste.
So far, the Granoff twins have raised more than $4,000, allowing them to feed entire floors of doctors, nurses, therapists and essential workers at Parker.
The twins had planned to volunteer at Parker to see first-hand what it means to be a patient. But those plans fell through because of the pandemic.
So they wrote letters to family and friends, seeking to raise money for Parker’s essential workers, and explaining why the Institute was so meaningful to them.
“Parker Jewish Institute is near and dear to our hearts because our family has had a longstanding relationship there,” they wrote. “Our great-grandparents received care and services at Parker, and our grandfather presently serves on their Board of Trustees. Parker has been there to serve the needs of our community and it would be a great way to say thank you to their staff by providing food while they are at work.”
The teens say they are appreciative of all donations, large and small.
“It makes me feel good to know that I’m helping and saying thank-you to front-line workers,” Matthew said.
“I felt like the people needed extra support, and I wanted to help them out,” Michael said.
Their grandfather, Gary Granoff, is currently a member of the executive committee of Parker’s Board of Trustees, on which he has served since 2000.
In many ways, giving back to Parker is a family affair.
The twin’s mother, Nancy Granoff, has pitched in to coordinate the donations and the meals, delivered from Umberto’s Pizza and Ivarone Bros., both in New Hyde Park. And plans are in the works for candy trays from The Sweet Spot Shoppe in Plainview.
“It’s rewarding when we raise money to give back to people that are giving to us,” Nancy said.
In a difficult time, such generosity makes a great impact for those on the frontline.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Granoff family,” said Michael N. Rosenblut, Parker’s president and CEO. “Their generosity has improved the lives of so many at Parker, and now we extend our heartfelt thanks to Michael and Matthew in providing meals to our diligent health-care workers, making their shifts in this unprecedented time a little easier.”
To donate meals to Parker’s essential workers, visit the Institute’s Meal Train page at https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/2yq1m8.
