This year, my work with JVC became much more compartmentalized, as Benjie and I shared the responsibility of Tzedek programming.
My work focused mainly on large-scale events, and on recognition/evaluation programs.
Fall 2003: Sukkot Days of Action
Working with a committee of students, we created a week long calendar of community service projects that each corresponded to a theme of the holiday of Sukkot. With the theme of "Feeding the Hungry" as an overaching framework for the project, the week was marked with a food drive for Second Harvest. Daily events included a Magen David Adom letter writing campaign, inviting Beth Israel Ctr. 4th graders to our Sukkah for an educational program designed by Brooke Haro, a trip to the Second Harvest Kids Kafe, an after-school program in a low-income neighborhood, as well as a gardening project headed up by WEJI. All in all- a great success. Sukkots' themes of feeding the hungry, welcome the stranger, opening our homes to other provides a great framework for Tzedek programming.
Spring 2004: Do The Deed
This year, Do The Deed took place over the course of the entire month of April, rather than on just one day. This model was relatively effective, though I think it was difficult for the students to gain a sense of momentum. I would recommend that Do The Deed go back to the temple Mitzvah Day model so that there can be a sense of community and excitement amongst the volunteers.
The JVC started as the idea of one student, and grew into a great framework for a variety of community service projects and events. This year, students volunteered as literacy tutors at local elementary schools, raised money for a literacy program at the local schools, and spent monthly Shabbat afternoons with residents at Meriter Retirement Center. So many students express interest in volunteering and I think one strategy we might try for the 2003-2004 year is to set up regular volunteer opportunities with organizations who hosted our students for Do The Deed.
Do The Deed teamed up with Community Plunge this year. Community Plunge is an identical program led by the Wisconsin Union Directorates’ Community Service Committee. Our student chair, and I worked closely with the student leadership from the CSC to plan a day of community service that would reach out to the entire campus community. The partnership was useful in that it allowed us to work at volunteer sites without overlapping with a competing event. Further, we were able to make use of the transportation that the CSC had budgeted for. On our end of the partnership, we provided publicity, and graphic design. Our six student site leaders organized and populated their sites with enthusiastic volunteers--- all in all, the day was a success!
Contact Info/Partner Groups Contact Info
Literacy Tutoring at Midvale and Lincoln Elem. Schools: call Anya Milhans 204-4941
Meriter (Kathy Turner/Laurie O’Reilly)
JSS (Stacey Shiff)
WUD Community Service Committee
Comments & Suggestions
Set the schedule for Senior Shabbat for the entire year, ahead of time!!!
Spread our strengths! I’d love to see more of the students who participated this year step up and really develop volunteer programming of their own to be able to offer greater choices to students who want to volunteer.
