Motivational Monday: Mia Bachrach Holds Clothing Drives

by Anna Siegel, SSLI '29, and Shir Levenson, SSLI '26

Editor’s Note: For this article, PPN is highlighting senior Mia Bachrach and her volunteer work.

For the past three years, senior Mia Bachrach has been the leader of her Great Neck chapter of Hoodies for Homeless and Healing. Throughout the year, Bachrach holds fundraisers and donation drives, collecting clothing from friends, family, and community members.

Zach Rosner, a teen in New Jersey, founded the organization after seeing homeless people in Washington, DC, and realizing the amount of sweatshirts he had from Bar and Bat Mizvahs that could go to a better place. Today, Hoodies for Homeless has over 40 chapters in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

The organization originally began with the goal of collecting sweatshirts, but today, they welcome any type of clothing all year round. Bachrach said that the goal for this organization is “to collect warm clothes for the less fortunate.” She explained that since the weather is getting colder, it’s especially important to start donating now so people in need are supported.

The hoodies that Mia Bachrach collected last winter. (M. Bachrach)

Bachrach also said this is a good way for “people who want to get rid of Bar/Bat mitzvah hoodies” to donate them to those who need warm clothing. She said that many teenagers go to parties where merchandise is distributed, and too often it ends up sitting in someone’s closet.

Bachrach found this organization through her mom, who has been involved since the beginning. Her mother helps with the organization of the shipments, which are sent to the Chesed Center and the Waxman Youth House. Once they are shipped there, they are distributed to people in need of the clothing.

Each year when she collects the clothing and brings it to the center for donation, Bachrach feels that this makes a huge impact not only on the people in need but on herself, too. She said, “Helping people in need who can’t afford clothing to keep them warm is one of the little things that gives people spirit.”

If you are interested in joining or donating to support this cause, you can check out the website here or find Mia in the halls.

Anna Siegel is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since October 2025. Anna is currently a freshman at Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: asiegel29@schechterli.org.