Zane Lantzman of Livingston, New Jersey, is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah which will take place on April 19, 2015.
On November 22, 2014, the Lantzman family rescued dog, Oakley, from the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Hanover, New Jersey. He saw that there were so many dogs and cats looking for new homes.
He dedicated his Bar Mitzvah project to helping the shelter by collecting a much needed supply, paper towels.
His goal was to collect 180 rolls of paper towels to donate to the shelter and he reached it!
Please read more about this great Mitzvah project.
MM: Can you give us details of your Mitzvah Project?
ZL: My goal was to collect 180 paper towel rolls to donate to the shelter (18 is “chai” in Hebrew which means life). They are the number one item needed at the shelter.
MM: Why did you decide to take on this particular project?
ZL: We rescued our dog Oakley from the shelter and when I visited the animal shelter to meet and play with Oakley, I saw that there were many dogs and cats there looking for new homes, and I witnessed the great care that the volunteers at the shelter gave to these animals. The amazing volunteers cannot do their work alone. They need help wherever they can find it, which is why I decided to dedicate my Bar Mitzvah project to helping the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter.
MM: Does your project have a start and end date, if so what are they?
ZL: My project is over but the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter is constantly in need of donations.
MM: In your own words, what does it mean to you to do a Mitzvah Project for your Bat Mitzvah?
ZL: It means to become a man and to have the honor of reading from the torah. It means to help people and animals. It also made me feel great.
Zane, with best friend Oakley, and all the paper towels he collected ready to be donated
MM: If it involved a donation, how did you spread the word?
ZL: We sent out fliers through the synagogue and religious school and posted requests on Facebook multiple times. Fliers were also directly e-mailed to friends, family, teammates and colleagues.
MM: Anything else we need to know about your Mitzvah Project?
ZL: Our family has provided Oakley with continued life, and now I want to make sure that all the other animals in the shelter are also given a chance to find their forever families. To adopt an animal or make a donation please contact the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter. Here are some items that the shelter always needs:
Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter’s Top 10 Wish List:
1. Paper Towels
2. Bleach (non-scented)
3. Non-clumping cat litter
4. Gift cards (Staples, PetSmart, Target, Gas, etc.)
5. Liquid laundry detergent
6. Garbage bags (40 gallon)
7. Wet & dry puppy food*
8. Wet & dry dog food*
9. Wet & dry kitten food*
10. Wet & dry cat food*
* Preferred brands of food are Natural Balance, Nutro, Pro-Plan and Kirkland.
Other items needed: Toilet paper, cat toys, postage stamps, Nyla bones, Martingale collars, plastic basket wrap & bags, brooms & dust pans, Betadine, mop heads, sponges, Pet Safe Ice Melt, Brillo pads, and cat furniture.
We thank Zane and his family for sharing this amazing Bar Mitzvah project with our readers and wish him good luck with his upcoming Bar Mitzvah.
