March 18, 2008
The JCC of Western Monmouth County in Manalapan is looking for volunteers to help expand the center’s programs.The aim: to offer more activities for children and families.
The JCC already has two cochairs of its newly created family and children’s programming committee: Mindy Grafstein and Ann Lustig, both of Morganville. (Grafstein’s husband, Allen, is a member of the JCC board of trustees.)
The cochairs hope to form two five-member committees for the children’s and family program activities. Plans are to have a bowling for kids program and a bingo for kids program up and running by May. Each activity will most likely be conducted on a weekly basis, said Shelley Feingold, the center’s operations and outreach director.
The JCC has been planning to expand its program base since last summer. Although it has presented several child- and family-friendly activities in the past, the JCC board wanted to broaden the age range for its activities and offer more frequent programming, Feingold said.
The JCC currently offers a variety of programs for adults, including an ongoing Yiddish film series, a Yiddish club, a singles’ club for three different age groups, and day trips to museums and art venues.
Past experience suggests there is an appetite for family activities as well. A Family Fun Bowling Afternoon on Christmas Day 2007 brought out 35 attendees and a Sunday basketball program for children in grades three through 12 has been in effect since 1995. Approximately 75 young athletes take part in the program. A JCC-sponsored one-week summer basketball camp is offered at the Monroe Township Recreation Center in August. The program drew 70 athletes last summer, which was the first time the program was in operation.
“The response to these programs told us that there was definite interest in programs for children and families,” said Feingold. “Now we need the volunteers who are dedicated to this type of programming, and we need community support.”
Last year, Lustig and Grafstein compiled a survey that was circulated among synagogue preschools in western Monmouth County. Respondents were consistent in voicing support for programs for young people and their families, Feingold said.
“It was very clear that the respondents were looking for programs that are fun, relaxing, and pressure-free,” she said. “The survey results also revealed that there was a lot of support for activities that were family-oriented — things that kids and parents can do together.”
Kickoff meetings will take place in early April at the JCC.
Additional information about the new committees is available from the JCC of Western Monmouth office at 732-683-9300.
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