I love camp because it is an amazing way to create friendships that will last forever. My camp friends and I are not friends, we are family. Camp is my second home and I enjoy it so much! I want to give this opportunity to another kid who cannot afford it because they should not miss out on the many great memories and the personal growth that happens at camp.

I am incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to go to sleepaway camp every summer. When I was looking for an idea for my mitzvah project, I knew I had to do something relating to camp. I can’t think of a better “Mitzvah” (meaning good deed) than to give camp to someone who otherwise would not have the opportunity.

I saw that my camp was posting about a non-profit organization called, SCOPE USA. Scope USA sends kids to summer camp in return for their commitment to stay in school.  I did some research and decided this was perfect! One of my favorite parts of camp is canteen, where we go to bond with friends and get treats for the night like candy and slushies. Ironically, my bar mitzvah is the celebration of my becoming a man in the eye of juidism and falls on or around your 13th birthday. 13 is the first year of your “teens”. It seemed fitting that I call this project “Can” Teen. My goal is to collect cans to recycle at $0.05 a can and raise money to send someone less fortunate than myself to sleep away camp.

I will supplement by running a few fun programs throughout the year, including carwashes and father/son soccer tournaments to help me meet my goal of $6500. Stay tuned for more information about these events.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP: 

If you live local to me and you have cans or bottles to recycle you can drop these cans at the receptacle located at

28 Stuyvesant Rd Montvale, NJ.  

After the New Year, you will also be able to find these receptacles at both Memorial Elementary School and Fieldstone Elementary School. Stay tuned for more info on when this happens.   

If you don’t live locally and you want to donate-you can recycle your own cans and bottles at your local food store and click the donate button  to send me your funds or Venmo me your funds @JT-Richman

I know not all states provide refunds for cans. Although my goal is to work for this “Mitzvah”(good deed), it is okay to just donate to my cause if you can’t recycle. 

 I understand many of you want to support me and I appreciate that too!