From the time Adam and Jacob were young boys, they have always been interested in gardening. They have been very successful growing pumpkins, carrots, green peppers, and cucumbers as well as jarring their own pickles. Wanting their mitzvah project to benefit either United Hebrew Congregation or the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry, the twin boys decided to put their gardening skills to use and benefit both.

“We didn’t just want to participate in a day-long project and call it a mitzvah project,” they said. “We felt that gardening through the whole season meant more to us and helped us learn to take care of a larger garden, too.”

Sons of Teri and Kenneth Ring of Chesterfield, Adam and Jacob planted, weeded, watered and cared for the Mitzvah Garden at UH. At the end of the season they donated several grocery bags full of tomatoes, squash, melons, and eggplants to the Jewish Food Pantry. It was important to them to give food other than canned and boxed goods.

Adam and Jacob remarked that they worked weekly for four months during the spring and summer and learned a lot about gardening and helping others during this process. “We hope to help again in the years to come. We have had great success with our gardens at home and wanted to help others in this way for our mitzvah project,” they said. Jacob added, “I want to work on the UH garden again next year because I really like to grow food. Helping the Jewish Food Pantry in this way was fun for me and great for them.”

Another project for the Crestview Middle School students has been purchasing new card and board games throughout this past year. They were used as centerpieces at their b’nai mitzvah party and then donated to Cardinal Glennon and St. Louis Children’s Hospitals. Adam said, “It feels good to help other people by giving kids a bunch of fun games, that me and my brother really enjoy.”