2,400 Sandwiches and Counting: How Lorenn Kassel Is Building Community in a Chaotic World

As many people wrestle with how to respond to a fractured world, Lorenn (she/her) found her answer in something simple: show up, and start with what’s in front of you.

In her role at the JCC San Francisco, Lorenn spent years helping young adults find their way into Jewish community. Again and again, she pointed them toward service. But it wasn’t until stepping into a new role, and joining Tzedek: Jewish Service Learning Cohort, that she moved from connector to practitioner. 

A partnership between Repair the World and JCC Association of North America, Tzedek equips JCC professionals with the training, tools, and confidence to lead Jewish service and learning in their own communities. For Lorenn, it meant joining a national cohort of peers, learning how to design programs that meet real needs, and experiencing firsthand how Jewish learning can deepen and elevate service. “We wanted to focus more on tikkun olam projects, so when we found out about Tzedek, it seemed like a great opportunity,” shared Lorenn. 

Lorenn leads volunteers during The Lunch Club’s Jewish service program

Through Tzedek, Lorenn joined a cohort of JCC professionals from across the country—people in similar roles, wrestling with similar questions about how to make Jewish service feel accessible and impactful. They met monthly for virtual training sessions, then gathered in New York for a four-day in-person intensive, putting everything into practice with a service project for a local partner.

“I love the way [Tzedek] made the Jewish education piece really approachable and integrated into the service…. I’m not a Jewish educator, but I have those tools now, which have been really awesome.”

With that foundation, Lorenn launched the Lunch Club. Every third Tuesday of the month, Lorenn gathers 20 young adults to pack 200 bagged lunches, turkey sandwiches or PB&Js, and deliver them to St. Vincent de Paul Society, which serves people experiencing food and housing insecurity, as well as survivors of domestic abuse. The organization provides breakfast and dinner for their clients, but lunch depends on partners like the Lunch Club to fill the gap.

A volunteer packs sandwiches at The Lunch Club

One year and 2,400 sandwiches later, the program has become something Lorenn didn’t fully anticipate: a place that fosters real connection. “It’s created this beautiful community. Half the participants are returning volunteers, often bringing someone new with them.” At a recent session, a young woman new to San Francisco shared, “’I’m actually making friends and finding a community here.” Lorenn smiled recalling that moment. “We’re not only making a difference for the folks receiving these sandwiches, but we’re also making a big difference for the volunteers coming in.” At the close of every session, Lorenn does a one-word pulse check with the group. What she hears keeps her going: “We’re creating a grounding space where people feel they can make a difference and create change. Seeing that people have this sense of control in a world that feels really chaotic, that’s really meaningful and powerful.”

At a time that feels particularly broken, Lorenn finds solace in the simplest unit of change.

“This one sandwich is going into the hands of a person, and that person’s day is going to be shifted. Multiply that by 200, then by 2,000, and you start to recognize the type of difference you’re making. These small touch points certainly add up.”

Lorenn’s dedication to service comes from knowing that real impact starts with simple, tangible acts. “When people feel like there’s not much they can do, there’s actually a lot you can do,” Lorenn shared. 

Volunteers pack sandwiches at The Lunch Club’s One Year Anniversary program

Tzedek didn’t just provide a one-time leadership opportunity, it empowered Lorenn to shape the future of Jewish service at her organization. “Tzedek gave me the power and the tools to take the lead, which is what made the Lunch Club possible. It showed the organization that I was equipped to move this concept forward.” Now, when service opportunities arise at the JCCSF, Lorenn is the point person – and she’s just getting started.

Across the country, JCC professionals like Lorenn are turning small acts into lasting impact, emerging as the Jewish service leaders their communities need.

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