In this Issue:

• Fall Mitzvah Mania Projects Need Your Help!

• NECHAMA Volunteers Needed

• JUF TOV Literacy Volunteers Needed

• Volunteers Needed for JCFS Foster Care Program

• Volunteer to Sort Donation at Luggage for Freedom

• TOV MTV Monthly Teen Volunteer Opportunity!

• My Thoughts on Camp TOV

The JUF TOV Volunteer Network is thrilled to present its annual Fall Mitzvah Mania Program, a calendar of one-time volunteer opportunities that runs through October 11. Do something good this fall! Serve a meal, sort food donations, visit with the elderly and so much more!

In conjunction with Fall Mitzvah Mania, TOV will be collecting new toys, new travel-size toiletries and new winter outerwear to benefit the clients of local social service agencies.

Below are just a few projects needing volunteers! There are many more for individuals and groups of all ages. For more information or to sign up, visit www.juf.org/tov or call the TOV hotline at (312) 357-4762.

Bottomless Closet
Sort clothing inventory into categories: designer, professional, and unsuitable.
Date: Tuesday, September 15
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: 445 N. Wells St., Chicago
Ages: 18+

Chicago Chesed Fund
Organize, clean, and restock the shelves at the CCF warehouse.
Date: Sunday, September 13
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: CCF Food Warehouse
7045 N. Ridgeway, Lincolnwood
Ages: 12+

CJE The Friend Center for Early Alzheimer’s Care
Escort residents to and from the synagogue and assist during Rosh Hashana services.
Date: Friday, September 18
(Erev Rosh Hoshana)
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Date: Saturday, September 19
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Escort residents to and from the synagogue and assist during Yom Kippur services.
Date: Sunday, September 27
(Kol Nidre service)
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Date: Monday, September 28
(Yiskor service)
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Ages: 12+
Location: 1601 Lake Cook, Deerfield

CJE Lieberman Geriatric Health Centre
Escort residents to and from synagogue and assist during Rosh Hashanah services.
Dates: Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20

Escort residents to and from synagogue and assist during Yom Kippur services.
Date: Monday, September 28

Escort residents to and from synagogue and assist during Sukkot services.
Dates: Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4

Escort residents to and from synagogue and assist during Shemini Atzeret services.
Dates: Saturday, October 10

Escort residents to and from synagogue and assist during Simchat Torah services.
Date: Sunday, October 11

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: 9700 Gross Point, Skokie
Ages: 13+

Sign up for Fall Mitzvah Mania »

NECHAMA (Hebrew for comfort) is the Jewish community's disaster response organization. Based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, NECHAMA has deployed thousands of volunteers to help communities clean-up after floods, tornados, and other natural disasters.

NECHAMA is staying in Louisville for the next few weeks to help with over 1300 home owners who have been affected by the floods. Please come and volunteer for 1 day or 1 week. Contact Amy acytron@nechama.org for more information.

Learn more about NECHAMA »

Reading and writing are the building blocks to a child’s future. Take some time out of your busy schedule to make a difference in the life of a child.

The JUF TOV Volunteer Network is recruiting volunteers for the JUF TOV Literacy Project 2009-2010 school year. All face-to-face and online tutoring happens during the school day. TOV places tutors at 10 schools throughout Chicago and the suburbs for face-to-face tutoring. In addition, online tutors can tutor their students, first graders at George Manierre School, from their home or office computers for 30 minutes per week.

For more information or to sign up to be a tutor, please contact Rachel Friedman at (312) 357-4762 or via email at tov@juf.org.

JCFS needs volunteers to spend time with foster children while parents attend a training session on September 29th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at 30 S. Wells, Chicago. The children range in age from babies to teens. Volunteers will lead craft projects, assist with homework, and play games with the kids. To sign up to volunteer, please contact Katya Seligman at (773) 467-3746.

Learn more about JCFS »

Luggage for Freedom, a project of the National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore Section, provides gently used luggage packed with essentials and backpacks filled with books and stuffed animals to women and children leaving local domestic violence shelters.

Volunteers are needed for the organization's next Pack & Delivery Day on Sunday, October 25th at the West Ridge Center at 636 Ridge Rd. in Highland Park . Volunteers are needed to pack suitcases and backpacks between 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and deliver donations beginning at noon to local domestic violence shelters. All ages welcome. To volunteer, please contact luggageforfreedom@ncjwcns.org or (847) 853-8889.

Join teens from around Chicago for an October hands-on volunteer group project.

Save the date for JCFS’s Target Coat Shopping! We will be shopping for winter coats, boots, gloves, hats and scarves for clients of Jewish Child & Family Services. No need to bring your own money, as each 'shopper' will be allotted a certain amount of money to spend. All coats will be purchased by JCFS using funding from grants, individuals and community groups; we simply need shoppers to pick out the right color, size and matching accessories.

When: Sunday, October 25
Where: Target at 2241 Willow Rd., Glenview
*We will be meeting in the Food Court area
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Space is limited! To register for a project, receive the monthly teen volunteer opportunity brochure or if you have any questions, please contact Sophie Aronowitz, Program Coordinator, Teen Volunteer Initiatives at (312) 444-2867 or teens@juf.org.

If you are active in a youth group or work as a youth group advisor, special TOV MTV programs can be coordinated for your group!

Learn more about JUF teen programs »

My name is Ariella Tavor and I am 15 years old.This is my second year at Camp TOV. Camp TOV is an experience I will never forget. It lets us reach out to a variety of different people who have different backgrounds. Over a week’s time, we learn many things which are all done through volunteering: like who we are, what our religion means to us as individuals and how not to judge anyone before we meet them. Before we go to a new place, there are activities to assist us for the day ahead. We talk about our feelings and our worries, and by the end of the day all of our fears from the morning are gone. Now all that’s left is excitement for the new day to come.

I went to Camp TOV this year knowing five people. I have met 35 new people and I know that these friendships will last a long time. We bonded together over sing-a-longs with the elderly, while we were helping individuals with disabilities at the CARC or even working at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. We learned many lessons and each lesson is something that will definitely help us in the future. It’s so rewarding to a part of something that you know is bigger than you, and it’s even more rewarding when you have an amazing time doing it!

What other teens said about Camp TOV 2009…

“I never knew there were so many great organizations helping people and the environment.”

"I did not think volunteering with the elderly would be fun but it turned out to be my favorite part of the week.”

“I learned I can help anyone if I put my mind to it.”

“At Camp TOV you can make friends, help people out and have fun all at the same time!”

“This was a fun summer activity!”

“It was great to be surrounded by Jewish teens around my age and give back.”

Camp TOV, offered each year in August, is a week long, fun, interactive service oriented program on wheels. Each day brings a new volunteer project and service-learning experience focusing on: poverty, hunger, homelessness, environmental concerns, caring for the elderly, leadership skills and more. Seventh through tenth grade teens from throughout the city and suburbs of Chicago come together for what promises to be a memorable summer learning experience!

Camp TOV 2009 concluded on August 21st. Ninety-two teens participated in the program this summer. For more information on Camp TOV 2010, monthly volunteer opportunities or to receive promotional materials, please contact Brett Klugman at 312-357-4928 or teens@juf.org.

Learn more about JUF teen programs »