NCJW, Cleveland Section's Community Services

Dignity and More

Library Project Helping Children To Build Their Own Library

As a part of the Dignity and More Project, NCJW, CS, has set up libraries in three Community Centers throughout Northeast Ohio. Children not only enjoy these books while they visit these Community Center Libraries, they also are welcome to take books home for themselves and their siblings. Through the generosity of donated books by our members, we have lots of books to share. This project welcomes your book contributions.

This pleasant library invites children to take books to their homes.		Children spend much time examining the books.		Excitement surrounds the new library as volunteers restock the books often!
These children are very excited with their new library!		Linda Stavis helps to shelve the many, many books now available to the children!		Displaying favorite books especially for child appeal!

"Dignity And More" Project Thanks Special Volunteers

Mrs. Lapine's Class from Orange School donated beautiful new backpacks filled with new school supplies.		The children served by NCJW, Cleveland Section's Dignity Project will be thrilled to receive these backbacks. Thank you, Mrs. Lapine's Class!
Eight year old Lindsay Berlin arrived at the NCJW, CLeveland Section office with 20 gift bags, each containing warm gloves, scarves, new toothbrush sets, teddy bears, and other goodies that would make any child happy. She knew that children who receive supplies from NCJW's Dignity and More Project don't have much "sunshine' in their lives. She did this in honor of her Uncle Denny, who passed away from Cancer this year. Thank You Lindsay!		Thank you so much to students from the Baldwin Wallace Office of Community Outreach who volunteered to sort and box hundreds of donated books, toys, and games. All of their hard work will benefit our Dignity Project so that foster and kinship care families in Cuyahoga County will have just a little bit more!
Elana Herbst donated all of the books that she had read and loved since she was nine years old. This was Elana's Mitzvah Project during her Bat Mitzvah year.		Temple Emanuel supports the Dignity Project at their MITZVAH day fair. Kate Milgrom, incoming Education director helps pick out a nice backpack into which school supplies can be held.
Alex Kohn collected many books for his Bar Mitzvah Project. Our Partners in Reading Programs have benefited from his generous gift and many of the books were also used in our Dignitty Libraries. Thank you Alex.

Ladies Night Out 2011

Children and Caregivers learned to "Finger Knit"		Everyone learned to "Finger-Knit"		Children made handprints and pledged never to touch guns.
Dinner is served!		Children modeled clothing from The Thriftique Showroom		Gifts of handmade knitted scarves and hats were given to the ladies.

Partners In Reading

Volunteers encourage a love for reading with three projects – The G.R.A.D.S program for high school expectant and new parents, a Lunch Bunch program book discussion group with fifth grade girls and boys, and a program that builds school readiness for children ages 3-5.

The "love of reading" became stronger for these girls!		The girls enjoy lunch and talking about their books.		Principal, Sherry Miller, of Gearity school comes in to congratulate the girls.
Throughout the school year (2010-2011) the girls have read and discussed 10 books.		The girls really enjoy their Book Club Lunch Bunch and have become "lifetime readers" because of it!		Lunch Bunch for boys at Gearity School -Nate and Jerry lead these boys to pizza and a love of reading!

Partners In Reading Offers Volunteer Opportunities with Invest In Children

Would you like to make a difference in school readiness for children ages 3-5 years?  

Partners In Reading (PIR) has taken on a new volunteer project with Invest in Children,  an early childhood literacy enrichment program under the auspices of the Center for Families and Children.   Invest in Children received the Roslyn Z. Wolf Award at the NCJW/CS major meeting in May.
 
PIR  volunteers are able to bond as they  work one-on-one with preschool children at The McMillan Child Care Preschool Center located in the Cedar-Taylor area.  Days and times are flexible.  The volunteer tutors use highly motivating literacy kits provided by the agency.  Volunteers need to complete paper work and attend one training session at the Center.  Tutoring will begin in September, allowing interested members two months to obtain the necessary credentials. 
 
Call or email now to be ready for fall! 
 
For further information contact PIR Invest in Children liaisons:
Elaine Sherman
440-349-1524
momsherm@sbcglobal.net
 
Lenore Cohn
440-449-6585
Lenore5@ameritech.net

Done In A Day Projects

NCJW, Cleveland Section, provides opportunities for volunteers to choose from projects that are completed in one day, usually from 2-4 hours. This allows volunteers to decide what community service opportunities will fit into their schedule and in which they would like to participate.

A recent Done In A Day Project was a "Clean Up Day" at Camp Ho Mita Koda, the overnight summer camp for children living with diabetes.

Penny Levine and Ilene Nolish organize the markers in the Arts and Crafts Cabin.	Sue Forman had quite a lot of beads to organize!	Linda Stavis and Linda Zaret helped to label and unpack life jackets.	All volunteers learned a lot about Camp Ho Mita Koda and what a wonderful experience it provides for children with Diabetes.

"Done In A Day" Project Puts Lots of Love Into Warm, Cuddly Blankets That Will Be Taken To Providence House in October

Done In A  Day Project – Chanukah at the Weils

Volunteers made sizzling latkes for the residents of The Weils and served them along with the traditional applesauce and sour cream. Residents enjoyed the festive treat. Shelly Friedman spoke about the Chanukah Holiday with the residents.

Beth Simon fries up the latkes.		Sue Stanton and Ilene Nolish serve the applesauce.		Shelly Friedman talks with the residents about Chanukah.

NCJW, Cleveland Section Supports Bellefaire Biathlon

Darcy Edelman with daughter, Hannah at Bellefaire Biathlon. Fran Steinbock, Ethel Schultz and NCJW Bellefaire liaison Susan Saltzman

Imagination Express

Volunteers bring storytelling, drama, art projects, and songs to New Life Community, a transitional housing facility for homeless families who are rebuilding their lives.

The children listen to the story.	Wearing their costumes, they are ready to act out their story.	NCJW volunteers take pleasure in watching the children have such an enjoyable evening!	The children enjoy a craft related to the story.	The performers for the evening!

Reader's Theater

Volunteers participate in a drama/literacy technique, which teaches fourth grade students to present a play by using only a script. Volunteers work with children in three one-hour sessions in a classroom setting to bring a production to performance.

Laurel Kest starts with the first reading of the script as the children all read along to become familiar with the story.	Jean Weitman celebrates a Super performance with the students	Shelly Friedman rehearses with students	Maude Shafron coaches one of our actors

Activation

Activation is one of NCJW, Cleveland Section's newest Community Service Projects. Using our imaginations is fun at any age! The residents of Council Gardens with the NCJW volunteers had a wonderful evening acting out short skits and enjoying each other's company.

Judaic Outreach

Volunteers meet six Fridays a year and bring holiday cheer to clients with chronic mental illness at the Jewish Family Service Association. Volunteers plan programs with Jewish themes and “serve” fellowship friendship and refreshments.

Judaic Outreach Chanukah Party, December, 2010

Shelley Friedman, Hostess with one of the guests		My new scarf knitted by the women of DigKnitty		Judy Simkoff, Ilene Nolish, and Marilyn Bennett hand out presents
Lighting the Chanukah candles!		Marilyn Bennett makes everyone feel so welcome!		New scarves and hats for everyone!

Hello Israel

Hello Israel is a program that teaches middle school students about Israel. Attending these programs are students from schools that generally have a low enrollment of Jewish students.

Preparing the students for the topics about Israel that will be discussed.		Most classes where Hello Israel is presented have a low Jewish enrollment.		After the presentation, the students understand many facets of the state of Israel and its people.

Focus on Israel is a program about Israel's diversity and progress of adult audiences of non-Jewish groups.

Traditions In The Kitchen Project Launches
at The Kosher Rib Burn Off

Mark and Susan Ringel , Margo Vinney, Nancy Whitman, Kurt Bloch skewered, marinated, grilled, and served delicious vegetables!		Judy Eigenfeld and Shelli Zasa – What a start for our new project, Traditions In The Kitchen – Watch for more activity from this group!
A Kugel Bake-Off at Montefiore Home -Good Tastes for Everyone!

Traditions In The Kitchen also held a "Kugel Bake-Off" at Montefoire Home. Seven members of the committee each baked a kugel and the resident judges determined the winner, who was Rosean Schmidt. Here is the winning kugel recipe: Cherry Kugel California Kosher Enjoy!!

Share What You Wear 2011: A Great Success!

Originally created by Zoe Baris and Samantha Zabell, and this year coordinated by Ally Zabell and her fabulous group of friends, Share What You Wear has grown and went beyond all expectations for this year!  Feeling that they could share what they no longer wear with children who may need some clothing to begin the school year was the impetus for this project. This year they collected, folded, boxed, inventoried and helped children select over 6500 items! Fifty families came to "shop" with over 200 children benefitting from their time and efforts.

We also are so very grateful to Adrienne Goldberg and her late Mom, Pearl Metz, for their generous donation that helped us to give out 90 book bags that were filled with school supplies.

Volunteer Sign Up

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