A New Year is a time for fresh starts — but for many in the community who don’t have family near or the means to celebrate the Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashana can be difficult to face alone.

Enter the annual Milk & Honey Mitzvah Morning event. Some 200 volunteers from Jewish Community Services of South Florida plan to fan out across Miami-Dade to deliver 500 kosher food baskets to seniors and others in need on Sept. 12.

The timing is just right.

“What a wonderful gift to be able to bring a light into someone else’s life,” said Shelley Niceley Groff, JCS board chairwoman. “There is such a wonderful feeling of compassion and good energy that is in that room when the community gathers together and people go out to deliver the basket,” said Groff, who lives in Miami Beach. “Especially at this time of the year as the Jewish community is welcoming in the New Year.”

The JCS annually assists about 35,000 people in Miami-Dade through various programs. The need is especially great during High Holy Days.

“I would emphasize it’s not about the food but it’s about the visit,” says Marian Mendelsohn, senior campaign associate for the JCS. “It’s food for the soul and it’s about spending time. That’s the magic of this.”

Event co-chairman Mark Stein, an attorney and father of three who lives in Miami Beach, agrees. The idea stemmed from a similar event the JCS was doing for many years during Passover.

Stein, like many volunteers, makes a point of bringing his own children along.

“You end up going to give food to people who are indigent or living in difficult conditions and they are so happy to see the children,” said Stein, who this year will be accompanied by his children, ages 14, 12 and 10.

“It’s great for the kids to have interaction with the elderly because it’s a segment of the population they don’t interact with,” he said.

The experience underscores the importance of service, especially during the holidays.

“Children learn more by what they see us do than what we tell them,” Groff said. “When we bring them, they see and experience firsthand what it means to brighten someone’s day.”

Volunteers deliver free kosher food baskets to seniors and others throughout Miami-Dade on Sept. 12. For information on participating or donating, call 305-403-6539 or go to www.jcsfl.org.