Men's Club President Shops and Cooks for Others

“If you’re able to help, you help.” That’s Pete Moss’ philosophy on giving. 

As president of the Men’s Club at Temple Beth El on Liberty in Aliso Viejo, Moss surrounds himself with others who feel the same way about giving.  The members of the Men’s Club get together for softball, poker, a monthly breakfast at Coco’s, hiking and golfing, but “the main purpose is to do charitable work,” Moss said.

Through private donations and an annual golf tournament, the Men’s Club raises money to help others.  Its charitable activities range from collecting used eyeglasses for the Lions Club to donating a computer to a family that can’t afford one. 

“If we hear of a need, we do our best to take care of it,” Moss says.

When Moss heard about the families that lost their homes in the San Bernardino fires, he sent out an e-mail on a Friday afternoon to ask his congregation for clothing donations.  By Monday, he had to send another e-mail to stop the donations, because he had already received two truckloads of clothing and a check for the families.

 Some families are assisted with groceries by the Men’s Club on a regular basis.  Moss does much of the shopping himself, keeping an eye out for items he knows the families like and stretches the funds as far as he can by buying only “when the price is low.”

Moss doesn’t just shop.  He cooks for others, too.  Recently, he, wife Jane, daughter Angie and Jeff Greer, the Men’s Club treasurer, had a Passover seder for Marine recruits who were not allowed to leave boot camp.   For the recruits who were Jewish or had some Jewish affiliation, they brought Elijah’s cup, the seder plate and Moss’ homemade chicken soup with matzo balls.  For dessert: macaroons and cookies that Moss baked himself.

“It was as close to a typical Passover dinner as possible,” Moss said.  “The only thing they didn’t have was wine, and that’s because they weren’t allowed to.”

After the dinner, Moss received many requests for them to help next year.

“None of the charitable things could be done without the help of the members of Temple Beth El,” Moss said.

Moss grew up in 1940s Philadelphia in a family that didn’t have much money, but his grandmother donated to charity, and Moss would contribute a few pennies whenever he could.

When Moss was 11, his parents bought a luncheonette that provided his family with a comfortable living.  Moss never forgot what it was like to be poor, but that’s not why he spends so much time giving.

Moss helps others because “there’s something wrong with a world where kids go to bed hungry and not everyone has health care.”

“I can’t save the world,” Moss said.

But he sure is trying.