Meet Marissa Kahn
May 1, 2025 | People in Our Neighborhood
When Marissa Kahn moved to Baltimore, she set out to build community through connection, service, and shared Jewish values. As a social worker and mom of three, she founded Baltimore Mitzvah Moms to bring Jewish mothers together and give back in meaningful ways. In this interview, Marissa shares what inspired the group and how it’s creating impact. Learn how she’s inspiring kindness, connection, and the next generation of mitzvah-makers.
What made you start Baltimore Mitzvah Moms?
I started Baltimore Mitzvah Moms with the intention of building a meaningful community for Jewish mothers living in downtown Baltimore. As a social worker and someone new to Baltimore, I was looking for a way to connect with others, give back, and root myself more fully in both place and purpose.
My hope was to foster connections not only among mothers, but also between our VolunTeam and the local organizations that benefit from our volunteer efforts. I wanted to create opportunities for women to come together, build relationships, and contribute in ways that are both impactful and grounded in Jewish values.
What’s your favorite project that your group has done?
Our projects have ranged from assembling soup kits for families facing food insecurity in Baltimore to sending 3,000 items to Israeli families sheltering in safe rooms in Ashkelon.
One initiative especially close to my heart is our annual Galentine’s Day project, which addresses period poverty, defined as insufficient access to menstrual hygiene products, education, and clean facilities.
This effort brings together some of the most generous and thoughtful Jewish women I know. Among them is a friend and professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who is involved with SPARC Women’s Center, a drop-in and mobile outreach program that supports individuals engaged in street-based survival activities, including sex work, substance use, and homelessness.
Our VolunTeam gathered at my home for a social afternoon of purpose, involving painting and decorating the kits, then forming an assembly line to fill them with essential items like pads, tampons, and wipes for SPARC recipients. It’s one of my favorite projects because it meets a critical need, and there’s nothing more powerful than women supporting women with dignity and compassion.
What would you say to a parent who wants to volunteer but doesn’t know how to make it happen with their family?
The Macks Jewish Connection Network makes volunteering easy and accessible. Whether through service project kits, community events, or volunteer matching, there are countless ways to get involved.
I grew up volunteering with my parents and was eager to continue that tradition with my three children. However, doing so required intentionality. I needed to find opportunities that were both meaningful and age-appropriate.
By utilizing The Network’s service kits, my children have formed their own volunteer group, Baltimore Mitzvah Leaders. They invite friends over for playdates with purpose, where they complete a mitzvah project together. It’s a fun and fulfilling way to gather, connect, and give back.
Most recently, they participated in the Mugs of Love project, decorating mugs and filling them with treats for patients at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. Watching the next generation of volunteers in action is truly heartwarming.
How do you celebrate Mother’s Day?
It’s become a Mother’s Day tradition to go see the tulips in full bloom at Sherwood Gardens.