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Making calls on Super Sunday isn't just about raising money for the annual campaign of United Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks, said Debbie Freedman of Monmouth Junction. It's about making connections.

"It's very rewarding, because even though it is soliciting, it is a way of connecting," said Freedman, Women's Campaign liaison for Super Sunday. "You get to connect with people, and that humanizes it. It's a wonderful community day, and wonderful seeing the kids helping out."

Volunteers will staff phone banks and call prospective donors on Dec. 2 for the federation's biggest fund-raising day of the year.

This year, the federation hopes to raise some $225,000 on Super Sunday toward the overall goal of $2.3 million for the annual campaign, which supports the Jewish community at home, in Israel, and throughout the world, according to federation executive director Andrew Frank.

"Super Sunday is a crucial indicator of how well we're going to meet the needs of our campaign," said Frank. "The lay leadership is energized and creative, and they're going to lead us to new heights this year. We think this is going to be a banner year for federation and all the agencies we serve."

Super Sunday is a community-building day, Frank said. "People walk out that day feeling like they're part of something bigger than themselves."

Lisa Smukler, the federation's vice president for the annual campaign, knows that feeling well. "When I'm there, I enjoy making phone calls," she said. "You just get such a feeling of satisfaction when people say, 'Thank you for calling.' And we also get kids and teens involved in philanthropic work, which bodes well for our future."

Super Sunday is especially important this year, in light of last year's disappointing campaign, said associate campaign chair Emily Josephson.

"There are much-needed dollars we have to raise," she said. "Last year, we didn't raise what we had hoped, but we've been re-energized this year.… We have a wonderful new executive committee, and I think it's all positive and headed in the right direction for the future."

Linda Cohen, associate executive director/campaign, said she sees participating in Super Sunday as a way to get to know the face of federation. "It's nice to see the synergy that happens between the age groups," Cohen said. "Super Sunday is an opportunity to have people from the community come and meet us and participate in calling."

Another source of synergy, according to Josephson, is the team of volunteers she is heading up. "It was actually Linda's great idea to have a large committee," she said. "I think it's wonderful, because it's really nice to get more people involved. It gives them a better understanding of what federation does."

Several of the volunteers attending a planning meeting at Josephson's West Windsor home recently were newcomers to the planning side of Super Sunday. They included Ellen Calman of West Windsor, a former board member at Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction; Amy Vogel of West Windsor, cochair of federation's Young Women's Division and a member of The Jewish Center in Princeton; and Laurie Bershad of West Windsor, a board member of both Beth El Synagogue in East Windsor and the Princeton Tikvat Ha'Atid chapter of Hadassah.

Penny Pierce of Plainsboro said it was her second year of involvement in the event. "I ran the hospitality table, and I thought it was a great opportunity to show my children that it's important to be involved," said Pierce, who is fund-raising vice president for the sisterhood at Beth El Synagogue in East Windsor and a member and former fund-raising vice president of the Princeton Hadassah chapter. "Give back as much as you can and wherever you can. Be involved wherever you can, and set a good example."