You might wear a mask to add pizzazz to your Purim costume.
But for a yasom, that mask serves a different purpose. It masks a face contorted with pain. Loneliness. Overwhelm.
He brings mishloach manos to his Rebbiam and is the only boy without his father there. He eats the seudah by cousins and wishes he wouldn't need to be a guest all the time. He steps outside into the pulsating music and feels far removed from it all.
It's hard to pretend to be happy. Can we make him smile for real?
Project Yedid of Misaskim packages and distributes gourmet Purim seudos to 6,700 almanos and yesomim.
They don't have the means, mood, or mindset to prepare a proper Purim seudah. But with a beautiful meal delivered to their doorstep, they can host their family and friends and not have to be anyone's guests.
A day that would otherwise magnify their void can be spent at home, in the company of those who matter most.