They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But many of us rush off to work without it. We may grab a snack on the way to work, or perhaps during a morning break. Some of us fuel up on enough coffee to get us through to lunch, when we finally take time for a good meal. But Ira Riklis knows that not all of us have those options. Many homeless people, including those who work at low-paying jobs but still can’t afford a decent breakfast, start their day hungry.
The Central Synagogue Caring Committee was formed twenty-five years ago to help meet the needs of these working poor. Each week on Thursday and Friday mornings, they serve hot meals and sack lunches to all who come to be served. But their morning hours were meant to fill a void—no other group in the area serves meals at that time—and provide a boost to people heading off to work, or to look for work, between 5:30 and 8:15. And if you show up to help, you’ll find Ira Riklis there on many a Friday morning, just as he’s been doing for years, lending his hand to the effort.