JCC Ma’asim Tovim campers reflect on summer of good deeds

As we finished our volunteering for the day, I felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. We had completed the task at hand, and we had done our part in the community. The more I think about it, even little things like filling boxes at a food pantry or cleaning dog kennels at a shelter really make a difference. Even if these services don’t directly affect my friends and me, they make a difference for someone…

At Ma’asim Tovim, that is our goal. Every day, each one of us — 34 campers in all, ranging in age from 11 to 13 -- tries to do our small part. When our efforts and positive attributes are combined, the amount of high-quality work we can complete is astonishing.

At Harvester’s, we bagged apples and filled five immense boxes. As we came together, we managed to package 6,000 apples. The impact was astounding; because of us, Harvesters could now distribute these apples to families in a neater and faster fashion. We couldn’t necessarily see our impact that day, but we knew many families would be nourished.

Sometimes, our impact is even less tangible, but equally powerful in outcome. We have volunteered at many different early-childhood centers around the city: Operation Breakthrough, El Centro, Whatsoever Community Center, Burlington YMCA, The Children’s Place, Maple Woods Early Learning Center, Metro Early Learning Center and the JCC’s own Child Development Center.

No matter a child’s background or from what part of the city that child comes, our taking time to read with children, play on the playground, provide positive role modeling or boost his or her self-confidence will make a difference that we cannot measure.

When we return to one of these places for a second or third visit, the kids happily greet us with cheers of, “We’re so glad you came back! Will you push me on the swings again?” or shouts of “The big kids are here! The big kids are here!” We know we leave a similar, lasting but intangible impression at Village Shalom, Bickford House or John Knox Village when we visit with senior adults who have lived long, full lives and simply enjoy the companionship of a younger friend with whom to share stories and time.

Thou shalt not waste
In the Torah (parshat Kedoshim) it says: “And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you collect the (fallen) individual grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger. I am the Lord, your G-D.”

This teaches us important lessons about wasting and sharing. First, it means we shouldn’t let our excess items go to waste. Just because we don’t need it doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t, either.

Recently, many campers went to Grace and Holy Trinity and reStart, local soup kitchens, to help serve lunch. Both facilities receive food from The Food Rescue Program, in which Harvester’s collects food from area restaurants, and then delivers it to soup kitchens. The day we helped serve lunch, we served pizza from Pizza Hut that was ordered and never picked up at the store, or that they tried to deliver but no one was home. This extra food was then delivered to Grace and Holy Trinity to be served to people in need. Pizza Hut didn’t dispose of their extras; they donated it to “the poor and the stranger.”

This passage also means to save some of what you have to share with others.  Sharing increases the feelings of care and friendship in our world.
Sometimes what we share doesn’t cost a thing! At the Children’s Place, we share our swimming skills with children who need the support of caring role models. We shared our creativity in the form of teddy bears that we created for Hope House so that children who are living there will receive a bear for a birthday or special occasion. We also used our creativity to construct several canvas paintings that will soon hang in Habitat for Humanity homes built by volunteers with the American Jewish Society for Service right here in Kansas City.

Most of all we have shared our time. Together we have committed over 2,000 hours of community service this summer! We believe that anyone, at any age, can make a difference. We can see a lasting impression we have made upon our community. Our combined efforts have made tangible impacts and intangible impacts upon the lives of many individuals from all walks of life across every corner of our city.
…I cherish the time I have had at Ma’asim Tovim. I get to be with my friends, but at the same time I know I am doing my part in the community. From running around with children at El Centro to gardening at The Ronald McDonald House, all of the experiences I have had have been rewarding and meaningful ways to spend the summer and give my time in the name of Tikkun Olam.

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