Teen volunteers enjoy conversation with residents of the Jewish Federation Plaza as part of the Kids, Concerts ‘n Cookies program.
April 17, 2008
Over 300 Jewish youth in MetroWest participated in a day of community service and improvement projects April 13 as part of J-Serve, a national day of volunteerism and engagement.
Teens visited with seniors at all five locations of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation, performed repair work at the Turtle Back Zoo, donated hametz to a food pantry, and raised funds and awareness about domestic abuse.
The activities marked the fourth National Day of Jewish Youth Service, designated by J-Serve, which is supported by a coalition of national groups and foundations. Locally, The Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life coordinated more than 20 projects for teen participants.
Participants came from the BBYO regional convention, the Iris Teen Tzedakah Program, The Diller Teen Fellows (together with their Israeli cohort), the Jewish Civics Initiative at Central Hebrew High School, SOS: Save Our Soldiers, Help Darfur Now, Temple B’nai Abraham, Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center, Congregation Etz Chaim, and others who heard about the event on Facebook.
Visitors to the senior centers performed seder songs and conversed with the residents as part of the “Kids, Concerts ‘n Cookies” program developed by incoming JCHC chair Eric Barr, who was on hand to participate in the program.
The Diller Teen Fellows, members of a leadership training program that included visiting Israeli participants, helped repair the cougar habitat at the Turtle Back Zoo and performed impromptu concerts for seniors in JCHC housing. Teens from B’nai Abraham made care packages and wrote letters to “lone soldiers” currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces.
Volunteers from Etz Chaim donated food to the Bobrow Kosher Food Pantry. Members of Suburban Torah and SOS: Save Our Soldiers ran car washes, and members of the Iris and Diller programs prepared for the annual model seder at JESPY House.
Teens at Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston prepare care packages for “lone soldiers” of North American descent serving in the IDF. Photo courtesy Adam Oded
The Jewish Civics Initiative at Central Hebrew High School ran a voter registration drive at the Livingston Mall.
“We think it’s important since it’s an election year,” said Keren Baruch, a junior from West Orange, who organized the JCI project.
As part of Global Day for Darfur, activists from Help Darfur Now participated in a torch walk and rally for Darfur in Montclair. In support of the Rachel Coalition’s annual Run for Rachel, members of the Iris Teen Tzedakah program organized a team to raise funds and awareness about domestic abuse.
A delegation from Congregation Beth Hatikvah, visiting New Orleans, joined local teens in rebuilding homes in St. Bernard Parish.
The campaign department of the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ held a phonathon, or miniature version of Super Sunday; J-Serve volunteers helped raise over $12,000.
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