Central Lost and Found:
· We are working on setting up a Central Lost and Found in Lakewood.
· It will be Non-for-profit.
· Our goal is to have one Central location for all the lost and found in Lakewood.
· So much money goes to waste; raincoats, hats, seforim , clothing , umbrellas, and the list goes on.
· People can email centrallostandfound@gmail with items lost ( include simonim ) or items found. Please put lost or found in subject. You can also text 917-300-8740.
· Emails and texts will be read each evening.
· Items can also be dropped off at TBD central location.
· There will be small suggested donation to claim items.
· We are looking for small storage space to start with (initially free of charge).
· Shuls , Yeshivos, schools, offices, etc. will be able to drop off all their items each month.
· Eventually , we will provide tags / stickers that can be put on belongings to facilitate process.
· We hope to create on online catalogue where people can do a search for their belongings.
· People will be able to register their emails or phone numbers so they can be contacted.
· All ideas , advice , help , are welcome. Please email Centrallostandfound@gmail.com or text 917-300-8740
· Please print this notice and post in your Shul, school, etc.
Thank you, Ksiva Vachasima Tova
Great idea
Kol ha’kavod and tizku l’mitzvos! Huge undertaking and tremendous tova for the klal. It should be a zchus for all involved. Hatzlacha raba
This is such a nice idea! You probably have to implement a time frame for discarding items that aren’t claimed or it can get very overwhhelming.
you’re going to need to rent out a convention center! Hatzlacha!
How will this conform with Halacha ?
Wow thank you!
This needs immediate rabbinic supervision.
With hashavas avaida, very quickly a mitzva can turn into a serious monetary question.
Maybe some of the $ raised can go towards providing an easy to use labeling system to be provided to loathing stores so that when someone purchases a coat, hat etc they will be encouraged to label their items and make it a lot easier to return.
Most people will not put in an effort to claim an item that has little value. It would probably work best for items having a minimum value of say $20 or so.
I agree. This is a massive mitzva and benefit to the klal… but must have full oversight and supervision by halachic authorities. You need to worry about the obligations of the folks finding items as well as storing, maintaining and returning items. What a beautiful thing if done fully k’halacha. Tizku LeMitzvos! Hatzlacha!
Also not a bad idea- for smaller items (umbrellas, scarves), perhaps after a few weeks they can be claimed by anyone in need.
This won’t be easy, but a wonderful idea for the community.