Spring is Almost Here! Check out our Community Service Project Updates
Check out all the ways that you can join NCJW this Spring to help with our community service drives!
SUPPLIES FOR THE HOMELESS:
Thank you to all who participated in the homeless drive. We collected about $1,500.00 as well as lots of supplies. We purchased blankets, socks, toiletries, hats, gloves, scarfs, personal hygiene products, flashlights and much more! We made 100 bags and delivered them to very appreciative people camping in front of the Good Samaritan House and The Denver Rescue Mission. Members were also able to take some of the bags to distribute to people when they encounter them on the street.
KNITTING FOR A CAUSE:
We are currently 16 in number and I would love for us to be double that amount. As you may know, we meet monthly, typically the third Thursday of the month for a couple of hours. We gather at various eating establishments so we can nosh and knit. Eating is not mandatory and if you have special dietary needs, you can bring your own vittles, We make all sorts of knitted or crocheted items and each lady makes whatever she likes. Scarves, hats, mittens, afghans, lapghans, and on occasion someone will show up with a giant full bed sized blanket, or even a baby blanket. If you don’t know how to work your fingers thusly, someone will happily show you how to do so. It’s fun, it’s relaxing, a way to be social…..talk about everything and nothing in particular. And best of all you get to meet people you may never have spoken to. Come join us, you are welcome. Please note if you cannot join in, you are still welcome to knit, just contact Hinda and she can make arrangements to collect your items. Recently we delivered our knitting to The Gathering Place where the women were very excited to have beautiful handmade items to keep them warm during this winter. If you are interested in becoming a NCJW knitter, please contact Hinda Buchbinder at buchbinderh@aol.com or 303-548-1121.
SNACKS FOR MIGRANTS:
Help NCJW provide ongoing snacks for immigrants who have recently left the Aurora ICE facility and are on their way to their final US destination. Once a guest is ready to depart Casa, they are provided with a baggie of snacks to eat while waiting at the airport for their flight to depart, or while on their hours-long bus trip. They greatly appreciate any type of snacks allowable by T.S.A. (https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/food), such as peanuts, fresh or dried fruit, fruit snacks, granola bars, snack-size chips, etc. You can drop them off at Tracey’s 5381 S. Geneva Way, Englewood 80111. If you have questions, please contact Tracey at tkdouglas@comcast.net or (720) 244-9063.
TUTORING:
News outlets recently reported that US students lost an average of one third of a year of learning during pandemic lockdowns and remote learning. Students from low income and non-native English speaking families lost even more learning over the last few years. Students at our adopted school, Sunset Ridge Elementary in Westminster, need lots of learning support to catch up to grade level standards and you can help. If you have one morning available, two times a month, please consider joining our volunteer tutoring program. Contact Cathy Breig at cathybreig@gmail.com for details.
ENRICHMENT PRORAM: SUNSET RIDGE STARS ON STAGE
To broaden our relationship with our adopted school, Sunset Ridge in Westminster, NCJW Colorado began an after-school enrichment program with students with an inaugural theatre program! Michelle Reiff, current President-Elect, and her company GreasePaint Script House (greasepaintscripthouse.com) donated her musical, The Story of Red Riding Hood – The Girl Who Saved the Neighborhood, complete with original songs and script by Michelle. Every Thursday, beginning in January, between 20 and 30 students gather to learn an abridged version of the musical to be performed for students and parents in May 2023. Two hour-long sessions into the relatively short rehearsal period, the students have already learned the ensemble parts to 4 songs. They are a dedicated, enthusiastic, talented, and very delightful group of actors and singers! With the assistance of Sunset Ridge’s music teacher, Keri Corso, and the encouragement from principal, Roger Vadeen, the program and performance will prove to be not only a wonderful theatre experience for the students involved, but also a great kick-off to future NCJW Colorado enrichment programs!
If you would like to participate or learn more, please contact Michelle Reiff at michellegkr@comcast.net