By Alix Glasser
While Americans did not experience the terror of the earthquake that devastated south Asia, many feel for the victims of the tragedy. Members of the Friedberg Jewish Community Center, at 15 Neil Court, are quite adept at showing they care: Their mission is to heal the world.
"It doesn't matter where the world is," said Sheryl Smith, the JCC's associate executive director.
With that in mind, when the JCC heard that John Schull, a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology, along with his colleagues and students, had organized an Internet-based aid campaign called QuakeHelp.net to provide earthquake victims with new and slightly used winter camping gear, the group jumped on board. After receiving an e-mail about Schull's efforts from the Jewish Community Center Association of North America - "a collective hub of all the community centers," Smith explained -- the Friedberg JCC had just two questions: How and when could they help?
About a week ago, with the support of Arnie Preminger, executive vice president of the JCC, and under Smith's leadership, the JCC began building a local effort to "think globally and act locally." When members realized there was no local donation site in the area, they became the site, gladly opening their doors to support the relief project.
Smith and her colleagues gathered the names of various organizations in the community and made them aware of their collection effort. "The donations are mostly internal," said Smith. People coming in to take classes at the JCC or to pick up their children have been finding the time to sort through attics and scout basements for items such as sleeping bags, heavy blankets and camping gear.
Children in the JCC's nursery school and afterschool programs have been writing cheerful messages to ship with each box of gear. They hope the messages will show victims in Pakistan, India and Kashmir that the JCC and, more important, the U.S., have united in an effort to help them.
As the frigid winter closes in on victims, members of the JCC community ask anyone who has good-quality new or used sleeping bags, tents and other camping gear to donate it, and help prevent an even greater tragedy. Those who don't have such equipment can make donations to offset shipping costs or write messages of goodwill. Checks can be sent to WAJC Pakistan Relief Project, P.O. Box 526, Woodstock, VT 05091, or dropped off at the JCC.
The JCC encourages all to help their community make a significant impact on the lives of others. For more information on the earthquake relief effort, visit QuakeHelp.net or call the JCC at (516) 766-4341.
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