Your generosity turns visions into reality and keeps our initiatives alive. JCCGCI is an extremely efficient nonprofit organization–according to our auditors, 92 cents of each dollar we receive goes directly to services for the frail elderly, the vocationally disadvantaged poor, underprivileged immigrants and educationally at-risk youth. Your donation has the power to empower communities and bring critical relief to individuals and families in need.
Why is my help needed?
Why Your Help Is Urgent
Dear Friend,
“We’re really poor this year,” writes Naomi.* “We’re still trying to catch up from being out of work during COVID. We had flooding. And there’s no room on our credit cards. Can you help with summer camp tuition?”
This is just one of the many letters, calls, and emails we’ve received from anxious parents who have no safe place for their children while they’re at work after the school year ends.
“This winter I was in the hospital and couldn’t work. I was in critical condition. I’m thankful that I recovered, but now we’re really behind paying expenses. There are 6 children here. Summer camp has been a blessing in previous years, but I can’t afford it now. Can you help?”
We want to help because we know that summer camp is NOT a luxury for many families: it’s their only solution when the school year ends and the adults need to be at their jobs.
“My grandson has a challenging home life. His twin brother has severe autism and his mother isn’t emotionally well. Last year Isaac* thrived at summer camp – but this year I don’t have the money to help with summer camp fees.”
For all too many other people who reach out to us, summer camp is the respite – the safe, happy environment – that children with difficult home lives need.
In past years, we’ve arranged for help with summer camp for children with a parent who’s very ill, children with a parent or sibling who has died, and children facing health issues of their own.When the school year ends, many parents in our neighborhoods express a terrible challenge:
“How can I work if I have nowhere safe to send my children?”
Fortunately, there’s an answer that you can help with: tuition assistance for summer camp.
Mothers like Etta* and Eliana* — who don’t have the money for summer camp – have considered leaving their children home alone while they work. But they know summer camp is a safer option – an option that provides adult supervision, nutritious food, and companionship. Other mothers are sick at heart because they have to deny their children what so many other children have.
A 10-year-old boy heard about a biking camp and a drama camp! He was so excited to ask his mother if he could go … and so disappointed when his mother explained that they couldn’t afford it.
“We’re always trying to catch up financially. We work all the hours we can get, but it’s just not enough!”
If you have ever experienced having too little money for something that was truly needed, I hope you’ll take a moment to make a contribution to our Camp Scholarship Fund. Because the simple truth is, the more money we can raise, the more children we can help.
On behalf of the vulnerable families who will be the beneficiaries of your generosity, I thank you.
Rabbi Moshe Wiener
Executive Director
* As always, I’ve changed the names to protect the privacy of the people we help through the generosity of people like you. Your donation, no matter its size, combined with the donations of others, will go a long way to help families in need this summer when the school year ends in June. Thank you in advance!