JCC
Association’s Day of Caring/Day of Sharing Program for
Summer Camps is a Huge Success!
This summer, thanks to the generosity of The Coca-Cola Company,
campers from 16 JCC resident and day camps had the opportunity
to participate in the JCC Association/Coca-Cola Day of Caring/Day
of Sharing Program and make a difference in their communities.
Patterned on the Day of Caring/Day of Sharing projects at
the JCC Maccabi Games each August, camps who were awarded
Coca-Cola grants spent a day working on a wide variety of
service activities that contributed to the welfare of their
communities.
Camp directors organized a variety of activities and programs
in order to include as many campers as possible. For
example, Pinemere Camp (Stroudsburg, PA) developed its first
comprehensive recycling program. They kicked off the
program with their younger units, boys and girls between the
ages of 7-11, with the “Garbage Show.” This
interactive, educational experience coordinated by the camp’s
Jewish Environmental Fellow introduced over 150 campers and
staff to the concepts of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Following the program, each bunk made recycling boxes
to be used throughout the summer. “Through our recycling
program campers were able to ‘put into practice’
the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world). "I
think we were able to raise awareness and instill a stronger
respect for the environment in which we live. As a result
of our efforts this summer, recycling will now be a permanent
part of our camp community”, said Rachel Levine, assistant
camp director, Camp Pinmere.
Andrea Weikert, director of the Harrisburg JCC day camp, was
very excited about their JCC Association/Coca-Cola Day of
Caring/Day of Sharing program. “Our camp was very
thankful that we were awarded the grant. The day of
caring and sharing and entire week beforehand was a wonderful,
successful and meaningful time.”
Weikert and the Harrisburg JCC coordinated their JCC Association/Coca-Cola
Day of Caring/Day of Sharing program with the Josh Klein Bikkur
Cholim Society, founded in memory of a 16-year old member
of the JCC in Harrisburg, in order to continue Josh’s
legacy of community service. They took a very creative
approach to the program by decorating activity bags filled
with puzzles and coloring books, which were delivered to children
at the local hospital. The children also decorated canvas
bags for senior residents to hang on their walkers, made teddy
bears and puppets to be delivered hospitals for use in hospitals,
and made personalized pillows for residents at the Jewish
Home and children in the emergency room. Many children
in the program also visited the local hospital and the Jewish
Home to present their items to the children and senior residents.
“I have never been involved in such a rewarding
experience”, said Weikert.
Charlene Wendell, camping consultant for JCC Association was
happy to share her Day of Caring/Day of Sharing experience.
“It is extremely meaningful to be able to help
both our day and resident camps, educate our youth, and create
and implement hands on activities revolving around tikkun
olam and benefiting the community. As I traveled to some of
our camps for their Day of Caring/Day of Sharing programs,
I was able to see first hand the joy and excitement in the
campers faces that comes from helping others. All of our camps
have expressed how beneficial and rewarding their programs
were to the campers, staff, and community.” Day of Caring/Day
of Sharing was successful in its goal to inspire Jewish educational
programs within the community. The program also taught the
importance of Jewish values upon which caring and sharing
are based. JCC Association and The Coca-Cola Company
look forward to continuing the program with even more success
in the future.
JCC Association and The Coca-Cola Company have had a long-standing
and very positive relationship.The Coca-Cola Company has been
a continental sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for over 13
years. JCC Association is very proud of Coca-Cola's support,
and is particularly pleased to be able to add this meaningful
dimension to the camping experience. The Coca-Cola Company
has committed funds for the camp program for five years.
JCC Association is the leadership network of,
and central agency for the Jewish Community Center Movement,
which is comprised of more than 275 JCCs, YM-YWHAs and camps
in the U. S. and Canada. JCC Association offers a wide range
of services and resources to strengthen the capacity of its
affiliates to provide educational, cultural, social, Jewish
identity-building, and recreational programs to enhance the
lives of North American Jews of all ages and backgrounds.
Additionally, the movement fosters and strengthens connections
between North American Jews and Israel as well as with world
Jewry. JCC Association is also the only U.S. government accredited
agency for serving the religious and social needs of Jewish
military personnel, their families, and patients in VA hospitals
through JWB Jewish Chaplains Council.
Rachel
Friedman
Marketing Associate
JCC Association
phone: 212-786-5096
fax: 212-481-4174
send an e-mail
www.jccmaccabi.org
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