In honor of International Youth Day recently, MacaroniKid of Port Washington celebrates Port Washington resident and Schreiber High School Senior, Jonathan “Jojo” Gold, and his work supporting families in need.
Jojo and his brother, David Gold, a Syracuse University student, founded the giving movement: “Can You Help, Too.” Together with Max Kabot, a Schreiber Junior, they collect canned goods, non perishable food, baby formula and diapers to recipient sites. The Parent Resource Center in Port Washington and its Stepping Stones program, which serves Port families in need, is one of them. The other is Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Manorhaven and their community food pantry.
Jojo and his team have created partnerships around Port Washington where donations are accepted. Once a month, or more, they pickup donations and drop them off.
The idea to facilitate giving began during the pandemic when the Gold family noticed many families needed basic essentials, that they had thankfully been able to obtain ahead of time. They checked with Our Lady of Fatima and learned that the pantry was empty. People stopped donating things during this time, but families needed help now more than ever. At first, Jojo and his family looked within their own reserves to meet this need. But then in the Fall of 2020 they began to organize the Port Washington community giving movement and this gave birth to “Can You Help, Too.”
Can You Help, Too continue to expand. Donation locations continue to grow with the following sites now participating in Port Washington: Parent Resource Center, Carlos’ Pizza, Smusht, Beautyfluff, The Cooking Lab, The Sands Point Preserve, Bach to Rock and Long Island School of the Gifted in Huntington. Jojo has also made a valuable partnership with The Nicolas Center in Port Washington for help with donation pickups around town and been featured in their weekly podcast. Jojo serves as leader for the teenage team for Plant a Row for the Hungry.
Now in his Senior year, Jojo has considered what will happen to "Can You Help, Too" once he goes to college. He is grateful his friend and fellow volunteer Max Kabot has stepped up to take the reigns and that the Nicolas Center will help assist with the "Can You Help, Too's" pickup and delivery needs.
You can learn more about "Can You Help, Too," through their website at canyouhelptoo.org. You can also follow them on their Facebook and Instagram page at @canyouhelptooPW. Visit Smusht to take a loo at the "Can You Help, Too" display outlining all the work and impact made around our community to date.
