This summer, more than 1,000 Jewish teen athletes, coaches and delegation heads will travel to Kansas City for the 2026 JCC Maccabi Games.

Behind the scenes, local host families will play a vital role in making the week possible by opening their homes to visiting athletes. Among those volunteers are Cindy and Fred Bodker and Harriet and Larry Almaleh, two Kansas City couples who also welcomed athletes into their homes when the Games were last held in the city in 1997.

For both families, the experience nearly three decades ago left a lasting impression.

1997 and 2026 Maccabi Games host families Cindy and Fred Bodker.

The Bodkers had recently moved to Kansas City when they volunteered in 1997. They viewed hosting as an opportunity to become more involved in the local Jewish community and build new connections.

The Almalehs were also eager to get involved when the Games came to Kansas City in 1997. With their two children not yet old enough to participate, opening their home to visiting athletes offered a meaningful way to take part in the event and support the Maccabi experience.

As Kansas City prepares to welcome the Games again in 2026, both couples were eager to volunteer once more. The Bodkers look forward to providing athletes with a home away from home, while the Almalehs are excited to help create lasting memories for another generation of Jewish teens.

For Cindy Bodker, the connection to Maccabi began even earlier. Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, her family hosted an athlete from Mexico during the first North American JCC Maccabi Games in 1982. When Kansas City hosted the Games in 1997, she and her husband welcomed her cousin from Omaha, Nebraska, and one of his basketball teammates into their home.

Inspired by the meaningful connections and lasting memories that come from hosting, Bodker now serves as host family co-chair for the upcoming Games in Kansas City, helping recruit families to ensure visiting athletes experience the same sense of belonging that made such a lasting impact on her own family.

“It’s both enjoyable and exciting to stay in touch with Cindy’s cousin, who was one of the athletes we hosted in 1997,” Fred Bodker said. “It’s been a long time, but we still remember how much fun it was.”

For the Bodkers, the impact of the Games extends beyond sports. Cindy Bodker said the event gives people from across the community an opportunity to come together, celebrate Jewish identity and create friendships that can last a lifetime.

Hosting two teenage swimmers during the 1997 Games gave the Almalehs a firsthand look at the impact host families can have on an athlete’s Maccabi experience. Nearly three decades later, they still remember the joy of welcoming athletes into their home and sharing their Maccabi journey.

1997 and 2026 Maccabi Games host families Harriet and Larry Almaleh.

“We really got to see the diversity of all the athletes who attended the Games in 1997. It definitely showcased Kansas City, and we loved the Jewish component of what the Maccabi Games had and still have to this day. We are privileged to be a part of that, and it is one of our fondest memories as a Kansas City family,” Harriet Almaleh said.

One of the athletes they hosted from Las Vegas, Nevada, met a Kansas City athlete during the Games. Years later, the two married, and the Almalehs were invited to attend the wedding.

Hosting also had a lasting impact on their children.

“Our kids were too young to participate in the JCC Maccabi Games at the time, so it was special to watch them follow the athletes we hosted and look up to them during the games,” Larry Almaleh said.

Host families remain a cornerstone of the JCC Maccabi Games experience. Athletes travel to Kansas City from communities across the world and rely on local families for transportation, meals and a welcoming place to stay throughout the week.

While the competition takes place on courts, fields and venues throughout the metro area, much of the experience happens at the dinner table, during car rides and in conversations with host families.

Beyond providing a place to stay, host families help create the welcoming atmosphere that defines the JCC Maccabi experience. For many athletes, the relationships formed during the week become some of their strongest memories from the Games, with many staying connected to their host families long after the event concludes.

As Kansas City prepares to welcome thousands of athletes, coaches and visitors this summer, families like the Bodkers and Almalehs serve as a reminder that the spirit of the JCC Maccabi Games extends far beyond athletic competition. Through opening their homes, sharing meals and creating connections, host families help turn a weeklong event into a lifelong memory.

More information about the 2026 JCC Maccabi Games is available at jcckcmaccabi.org. Those interested in volunteering or serving as a host family can email or .