Orlando's Jewish seniors turn to KCOA for Passover meals

The Kinneret Council on Aging, a nonprofit agency that provides ongoing programs and services to residents of Kinneret Apartments, provided Kosher for Passover meals to limited income Jewish seniors in the community. While it's an annual tradition at Kinneret to hold a communal Seder, stretching back over 50 years, this year it was not permitted due to Covid-19. Instead, Seders were brought directly to our residents and community while they were staying safe at home.

Keeping things upbeat and positive is more of a challenge than usual due to these restrictions. Kinneret wasn't able to provide its usual communal Seder, thus underscoring even more the sense of loneliness and isolation that its residents are experiencing during this crisis.

"What doesn't change is our ability to continue with KCOA's Holiday Meal Distribution program," said Carol Feuerman. Kosher for Passover meals were prepared by Sage Catering who prepared a delicious matzah ball soup, a main course of chicken and roasted vegetables and of course dessert.

"Passover is a time of redemption and hope" said Sharon Weil, executive director of KCOA. "In these challenging times, perhaps more than ever before, we are bringing this to our residents by ensuring that age old traditions like the Seder can still continue, even under different circumstances."

In the spirit of creating new traditions, each recipient received a bag of goodies which included the traditional, matzah, grape juice and gefilte fish as well as a large print Haggadah and beautiful Passover cards created by Jewish teens in the community.

An amazing array of dedicated volunteers made phone calls and delivered meals; of course, not making face-to-face house calls but still "checking" that the recipients are safe. 

It's certainly not the usual holiday activity at Kinneret, but they are making new traditions, and everyone is adjusting just fine.

Kinneret Apartments, located in downtown Orlando, provides subsidized housing to 300 independent seniors. For information on the facility or to find out how you can donate to KCOA, please go to http://www.kinneretliving.org or contact Sharon Weil at sweil@kinneretcouncil.org or 407-425-4537, ext. 211.