Recent Events - December 2009



	RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS AT CRC: December 2009 CRC Members Volunteer at the Juvenile Detention Center on Christmas - December 25, 2009 Rally for Health Care Reform - December 15, 2009 Poverty Simulation at CRC - December 13, 2009 First Night, First Light - Chanukah - December 11, 2009 Chanukah Book Fair - December 9-13, 2009 CRC Members Volunteer at the Juvenile Detention Center on Christmas - December 25, 2009 A good time was had by all on Christmas Day at the Juvenile Detention Center! Juvenile Detention Center staff asked CRC members to come on Christmas Day and create a fun afternoon for the students in the center since they couldn’t be at home with their families on the holiday. More than twenty members of CRC responded to the request! The afternoon was set up with three different activities for the students: arts and crafts, games, and drumming. Most students rotated between the three activities, though some preferred to stay in one spot. The arts and crafts group did some amazing projects, including several Christmas cards that we were able to mail to families. The majority of the kids were in the game playing area, with the most popular game being Spades. CRC volunteers mixed in and kept things moving, which gave us an opportunity to interact one-on-one with the teens. Also in the game room, we played Life, Monopoly, and Battleship, and chess. Robert “Honi” Fishbone led a drumming circle. Many students were very eager to learn more about drumming, and Robert was excellent at responding to the different needs of the students present. Many of the volunteers stayed in the drum circle; toward the end, the volunteers had their very own ten-minute drumming session. We concluded with everyone coming together for a closing. Robert did an interactive African song, Aki Wo Wo, which some of us have heard before at the annual Joint Venture Martin Luther King, Jr. Day service. At the end two of the kids stood up and thanked us for coming out. Many of the CRC members who participated pitched in supplies and materials to make the day a success. Shana Leopold made cookies (which were a big hit!); Patti Padawer, Vicki Essman and Tricia Goldman brought art supplies; Robert Fishbone brought drums. Ken Goldman planned and coordinated the day’s activities and made sure that both the students and volunteers had a great time! All of our volunteers were great with the students, representing CRC very positively. Rally for Health Care Reform - December 15, 2009 Rabbi Susan and other CRC members braved a cold and windy morning with other supporters of Missouri Health Care for All to rally for health reform outside the offices of our two U.S. Senators, Senator Bond and Senator McCaskill. Poverty Simulation at CRC - December 13, 2009 Photos by Judy Glaser More than 60 CRC members, from teens to adults, participated in a Poverty Simulation hosted by CRC's Tikkun Olam Steering Committee and run by the Interfaith Partnership of St. Louis. Most participants were placed in fictional families living in poverty and went through four 15 minute "weeks" trying to get the bills paid and keep their kids out of trouble. A lot of people found it very difficult! Some CRC members played the role of "community resource people" and staffed the grocery store, the employer, the bank, and other locations. It was a fast-paced and powerful experience for all involved! First Night, First Light - Chanukah - December 11, 2009 Photos by Judy Glaser CRC members packed the multipurpose room for an evening that included a joyous celebration of Chanukah, a Shabbat service, and a dialogue about the hard choices that families in poverty often face. There was something for everyone on this special first night of Chanukah! Chanukah Book Fair - December 9-13, 2009 Photos by Judy Glaser CRC members and friends came together for the annual Chanukah Book Fair to buy books and Chanukah goodies, all to benefit CRC's religious school programs! CLICK HERE FOR MORE PAST EVENTS AND NEWS