Women’s Philanthropy Leads Good Deeds

On Sunday, March 15, 325 Jewish teens and more than 30 adult volunteers gathered at the Lawrence Family JCC to participate in J-SERVE – an international day of Jewish youth service. The effort was a major component of this year’s Good Deeds Day – an annual, worldwide event in celebration of community service and volunteerism. The Jewish Federation of San Diego County was delighted to support, partake in, and promote Good Deeds Day San Diego for a second year in a row, in supporting our mission of transforming San Diego into the most vibrant, welcoming, and connected Jewish community in the nation, and caring for all people in need – here in San Diego, in Israel, and around the world.

Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy orchestrated the planning of Good Deeds Day activities, arranged pre-event donation collections, and successfully brought the community together for this day of giving back.

The theme of this year’s local Good Deeds Day was Art From the Heart. A month prior to the event, community members were asked to drop-off art supply donations to the 8 collection sites located all throughout town. The bins, filled to the brim with art supplies, will benefit Jewish Family Service programs that offer childhood, single parent, and family development services. It’s not too late! Art supplies are being collected until March 31, and donations to purchase art supplies and fleece blankets for Ronald McDonald House are still being accepted. Click here to make a donation.

In addition to the collection of art supplies and funds raised to purchase art and blanket-making materials, Art From the Heart was incorporated into the day’s activities. Teens had the option to participate in blanket making with residents of the Vi, a local retirement community; art therapy with elderly residents of Seacrest Village, a senior housing and healthcare organization; and various arts & crafts projects at Promises2Kids, a child abuse prevention and advocacy organization for children in foster care.

“Overall, Good Deeds Day was a great success and Women’s Philanthropy is extremely thrilled by the outcome of the event,” said Samantha Cohen, Good Deeds Day co-chair. “The most touching part of my day was when an elderly woman at Seacrest Village, who was beaming in the presence of the teens, remarked to me that she had never done an art project like that and loved that even at the age of 99 she could learn something new. It touched my heart to witness multiple generations interacting.

Another Good Deeds Day co-chair, Britney Ewing, had a completely different, yet just as satisfying of an experience with her group of 45 teens at Promises2Kids (P2K). “ I was impressed by the entire group as they were not only eager to get to work, but also as they sat completely engaged while inquisitively listening to a P2K representative describe their critical work with youth,” said Britney. “Within seconds after hearing the short presentation, amazing questions were asked. The teens wanted to know what else they could do and expressed interest in becoming more involved with P2K. A few in the group brought up their upcoming bar/bat mitzvah projects, and discussed ways in which to incorporate and support P2K, which I plan to personally follow-up on with parents.”

Kol Ha’Kavod to Women’s Philanthropy and to all volunteers!