Community Service Activities
Attitudes & Attire
Attitudes & Attire offers workshops developing self- esteem and work ethics to economically disadvantaged women. NCJW volunteers act as image consultant to help select professional clothing and accessories for the workplace.
Eating Well is a SNAP!
Chairs: Marlene, Cohen, Kyra Effren
Under the umbrella of Food + Fit = Fun, this program is geared towards senior adults. EWS! is an interactive, bilingual program that provides information on eating well on a limited budget, food resources, and senior services. Volunteer opportunities include teaching and assisting with this program at such places as residential living facilities, libraries, and recreation and Senior Centers in Dallas County.
Food + Fit = Fun
Chairs: Sharan Goldstein, Robin Zweig, Liz Cooper
This bilingual program helps low-income parents prepare their preschool children for academic success and a healthy overall lifestyle. Partnering with HIPPY in DISD, IISD, and RISD, Food + Fit = Fun teaches the importance of good nutritional habits and regular physical activities. Volunteer opportunities include teaching the healthy eating curriculum to parents of many different cultures, facilitating fun exercise demonstrations, and leading grocery store tours.
Connect with the Food + Fit = Fun Facebook page
Hello Israel
Chairs: Denise Bookatz, Jo Reingold
This educational enrichment program utilizes NCJW volunteers to introduce 6th graders to the country of Israel – its culture, people, history, geography, economy, and government, both ancient and modern. Volunteers work in pairs, giving classroom presentations lasting for 60-90 minutes. The program promotes mutual understanding and greater respect for diverse cultures.
HIPPY – Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters
Chairs: Syl Benenson, Carol Tobias
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is a parent involvement, school readiness program that helps parents prepare their 3-, 4-, and 5-year old children for success in school and beyond. Throughout the year, NCJW volunteers assist the families with culturally appropriate field trips to the DMA, Nasher, Perot and the Arboretum, encouraging them to tap into and explore their creativity.
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Blog Story about about a HIPPY trip to the Perot Museum click here >>
Kids in Court
Chair: Judy Hoffman
This program assists the Dallas District Attorney’s office in preparing children who are potential witnesses in felony child abuse cases. NCJW volunteers assist in making the courtroom and its procedures familiar to these children and their families.
Know Your Rights
In conjunction with Temple Emanu-El and SMU Law School, attorneys help immigrant families in Dallas learn how to deal with the new world of concern of deportation and impact on their families as well as family preparedness in case of detention or deportation. NCJW volunteers provide materials and time to help occupy the children while their parents attend these presentations, thus reducing the concern of the safety of their children. In addition, volunteers who are bilingual, attorneys, or notaries are needed to assist at these presentations and family preparedness workshops.
Literacy Achieves (Formerly Vickery Meadow Learning Center)
Chair: Julie Lowenberg
Volunteers participate as teachers in an adult literacy program, offered through this Center, which is dedicated to improving the communication and life skills of non-English speaking adults so they may function more productively in American society.
Meal Delivery
Chairs: Bonnie Grossfield, Marilyn Fiedelman
Kosher Home Delivered Meals – Jewish Family Service (JFS); Meals on Qheels – visiting Nurses Association (VNA)
Volunteers deliver kosher meals through JFS and non-kosher meals through VNA, providing a daily hot, nutritious noontime meal personal to disabled, ill and frail homebound clients. NCJW volunteers are the eyes and ears of those clients, while sometimes being their only personal contact.
Meyerson Symphony Center Docents (Emeritus Project)
The Meyerson Symphony Center hosts the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and houses the Herman W. and Amelia H. Lay Family Concert Organ. NCJW volunteer docents provide public and private tours of the Center as needed.
Mitzvah Moments
Various one-time, short term volunteer projects throughout the year, assisting in the community outside our standing projects.
Suitcase Program
Chairs: Sherilyn Bird, Nonie Schwartz
Under the umbrella of WACHS, “The Suitcase Project” volunteers help women and children coming out of domestic violence or trafficking situations meet minimal, modest material needs enabling them to start their new lives with a sense of dignity, NCJW volunteers help women and children live a more stable and secure life.
Vickery Meadow Food Pantry and Clothes Closet
Chair: Cheryl Pollman
Volunteers assist in all aspects of running this collaborative Food Pantry and Clothes Closet, including assisting clients in their selection of food and clothing, stocking the shelves, and management responsibilities. In addition, funds from our Minnie Hexter Milk Fund help provide for the purchase of shelf stable milk and other healthy food items.
WACHS (Womens Access to Comprehensive Health Services)
Chairs: Susie Wolbe, Pamela Reiter, Jane Lachman
This program helps women and children gain access to both physical as well as psychological health services through teaching the healthy relationship, healthy decision-making curriculum created by NCJW, Dallas, and the financial literacy component; updating and distributing the Wallet Cards with necessary agency information for young women in need; and educating agencies and the community about the need for greater access to comprehensive health services.
West Dallas Back to School Kids Closet and Back to School Fair
Chairs: Renee Karp, Janine Pulman
NCJW volunteers help the children of West Dallas return to school with a sense of dignity and pride. Volunteers purchase or solicit school uniforms, socks, underwear, shoes and jackets, as well as backpacks and back to school supplies, help distribute on the day of the event, and work with schools to determine the families who are in need of our services. NCJW will be partnering with other agencies in the community to help the West Dallas neighborhood take pride in what they are doing to take care of their children