Party with a Purpose Centerpieces: One Family's Story

Determined to show her guests a good time but avoid waste, Karen Hübler of Denver came up with a refreshing alternative to flowers for the centerpieces at her son Noah’s bar mitzvah party at Temple Emanuel in July: gift baskets filled with items to be donated to the needy. When she learned about Jewish Family Service’s “Party with a Purpose” initiative, she chose the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Food Pantry to receive the items.

“I can honestly say that I came up with the idea on my own, but when Cantor Regina Heit told me JFS was already thinking along the same lines, they were the natural choice,” said Karen. “I know the Weinberg Pantry is going to put the items to good use. Also it may sound like a small thing, but JFS’s offer to come to Temple to pick up the baskets sealed the deal. With all the running around we had to do to make the bar mitzvah happen, I’m not sure the stuff would have gotten there otherwise.”

Karen, a family law attorney with Colorado Legal Services and avid needle worker, designed the baskets with a colleague. They bought wicker baskets, cellophane, and blue and brown ribbon (to match Noah’s invitations) from The Dollar Store, and filled them with canned tuna, corn, beans, and personal care items like shampoo and toothpaste from Costco. “Each basket cost around $9, contents included,” Karen said. “How many flowers could I have gotten for that price? Two? And flowers aren’t going to keep a Denver family together until the next paycheck arrives. The food just might.”

Partygoers may have been puzzled momentarily to find tuna and toothpaste on their tables, but all became clear when they saw the table tents that JFS provided reading, “The food in this centerpiece will be donated to the Weinberg Food Pantry in honor of Noah Sebastian Hübler.”

“Our guests loved it,” said Karen’s husband Eric. “Everyone knew I was laid off just a few weeks before the bar mitzvah, so they weren’t surprised to see us try and economize a bit. The fact that we could save money and make the room look nice and contribute to the food pantry helped to make the event a great success.”

Learn more about Party with a Purpose centerpieces or contact Kari Alpen at (303) 597.5000 x 340 for more information.

Thank you to Eric Hübler, former Denver Post staff writer, for writing this excerpt about his family's experience with using the Do-It-Yourself centerpiece program.