Community Service
NCJW offers opportunities to volunteer in and contribute to the community throughout the year (see events page for current opportunities). These projects include:
Advocacy
Advocate on local and national levels in accordance with NCJW National Resolutions that support women, children, and families. (Time commitment varies throughout year.)
Back to School Store
We provide under-privileged elementary school children with backpacks, school supplies, and clothing. Volunteers shop throughout the year for goods, set up “pre-event”, and “shop the store” for each child. (Time commitment of shopping will vary. The “store” happens in late July.)
Baskets 4 Babies
Provide layette items to mothers at Operation Breakthrough or area shelters. Volunteers shop for, assemble, and deliver baskets during the year. (Time commitment varies throughout year.)
Baskets 4 Babies – Knitting Group
Baskets for Babies would love to have you knit or crochet baby hats or baby blankets to go into the baskets for new mothers. The project does approximately10 baskets a month (5 boy and 5 girl). We can see that you have patterns or you can use your own pattern. If you are interested in being a part of this project contact Ellen Dalen, edalen1017@aol.com.
Birthday Bags
Provide birthday gift bags filled with an age-appropriate book, toothbrush, and toothpaste to children in low-income Kansas schools. Assemble and deliver birthday gift bags to children (Time commitment is a couple of hours every few months throughout the school year.)
Board of Directors
Serve on Board of Directors or as a Committee Chair (Time commitment varies depending on role. Meetings are normally once a month, except during the summer when they do not meet.)
Circle of Life
Challah is given to a family when a member or members loved one passes. Volunteers bake and deliver challahs to members. (Time commitment varies throughout year.)
Fundraising
Plan fundraising activities and campaigns (Time commitment varies throughout year.)
Honey for the High Holidays
Celebrate the New Year with with honey, our largest fundraiser. Volunteers wrap, box, label and mail jars of honey (Two hour slots at the New Year.)
Lilith Group
Discuss articles from quarterly Jewish feminist magazine (Time commitment varies throughout year.)
Mother’s Day Jewelry Project
Help low income elementary school children “shop” for a Mother’s Day gift for his/her special person. Volunteers set up and staff the “store”, arrange tables, and help the children select the gift. Throughout the year, volunteers collect and sort the jewelry. (Time commitment primarily May with sorting throughout year.)
Period Project
We donate and distribute menstrual products to meet the needs of middle and high school students in our community. This program is sponsored by the Community Legacy Fund.
Scholarships
For more than 80 years, NCJW’s Greater Kansas City Section has been providing college scholarships for eligible local high school students. We fund the scholarships through endowment interest and donations made specifically to the scholarship program. Recruit and select winners of college scholarships (Time commitment is primarily May and July reviewing new and renewing applications. Mentors are also assigned to the students which touch base with them throughout school year.)
Special Events
Speakers, educational opportunities, one time community events, etc. (Time commitment will vary depending on event.)
Stacey’s Closet
Named in memory of NCJW’s beloved Stacey Bell, this program was created as an offshoot of our Back to School Store, with the objective of providing elementary school children with essentials throughout the school year. Assemble and deliver new clothing to schools (Time commitment is during the school year. Varies depending on need. We have both liaisons who collect the goods, and drivers who drop them off.)
Suitcase to Start
Help youth aging out of the foster care system by providing them with brand-new household supplies (linens, pots/pans, dishes, cleaning items, etc.) to help teens set up first home. Volunteers help shop for and organize items. (Time commitment varies based on shopping needs.)