Mission: The National Council of Jewish Women - St. Louis Section, is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works through a program of education, advocacy and community action to improve the quality of life for women, children and families and strives to ensure individual rights for all.
Geographic areas served: St. Louis metropolitan region
Programs: Luncheons for the Blind is NCJW's oldest community service project. On the third Wednesday of each month, October through May, volunteers provide an afternoon of lunch and socializing to approximately 50 blind women from across the St. Louis area. The luncheons take place at Crown Center for Senior Living.Silent Witness Exhibit is a 17-figure traveling memorial exhibit, which honors women murdered in Missouri in acts of domestic violence. The exhibit is part of a local, state, and national program which gives volunteers the opportunity to participate in raising awareness of domestic violence whether speaking and educating the community, writing a resource manual, attending meetings to promote peace, healing and responsibility in relationships or advocating for legal justice through legislation or enforcement of laws. We aim to lead Missouri as part of the national goal of zero domestic violence murders by 2010.Wife-Widow-WomanSince 1976 NCJW has offered a special support group to women of all ages, races, and religions who have been widowed. This program is led by a professional social worker teamed with a widow who has been through the program and has been trained as a leader. This is not a therapy group or lecture but rather support for women going through one of life's most difficult adjustments. They can share their common concerns and offer support to each other. Confidentiality and privacy are highly valued. The group meets every other week for a six-month period and start in the spring and fall.Inside Israel is a cultural learning experience provided to schools by NCJW. A trained team of two NCJW volunteers provides a brief lecture, discussion, demonstration and video on Israel to 6th grade students.Mentor St. Louis is a collaboration between the St. Louis Public Schools and community organizations. NCJW is one of the participating groups that send volunteers into a St. Louis City grade school. Our group of volunteers visits Simmons Elementary School on the 2nd Thursday of each month, September through May from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.Food Pantry CorpsCompassionate, discreet volunteers, working at the Jewish Family and Children's Service, greet clients, discuss problems and concerns and make referrals to professional social workers when problems arise. Trained volunteers are aware of what help is available in both the general and the Jewish community and are able to help the clients access the necessary aid.Crown Center Activities Committee supports programming at the Gladys and Henry Crown Center for Senior Living. A main function of the committee is to plan and implement Jewish programming and members of this committee often volunteer at other Crown Center events.The Working Advantage is a program to assist women getting off welfare and entering the workforce. This project provides education and resources for essential job searching skills, financial skills, and personal grooming. The women also have a volunteer retail consultant help them select appropriate interview and career clothing at the NCJW Council Shop.The Back-To-School! Store is a one-day event held in August to provide clothing, school supplies, and personal care items for deserving children in the St. Louis area and get them excited to head back to school.Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood is a project in which trained volunteers provide options counseling to women with troubled pregnancies at this private clinic.Oral HistoryA trained NCJW volunteer preserves the past for future generations by interviewing and recording family histories.
As a volunteer, it is amazing to know how important my role is to this organization. They respect my time, my needs, my resources that I bring to the table, and the fact that I have knowledge outside of my area of employment. You are treated with respect, not left to file hundreds of papers or enter countless data into a database, you are doing work that furthers the mission of the organization. That makes me feel good.
I have been a board member for 3 years and a volunteer for many more. The depth and breadth of projects on behalf of women, children and families is immense. I am actively involved in Kids Community Closet where new clothing is provided for children in several schools where the poverty level is substantial. In addition, we continue to advocate/legislate for social justice issues that positively effect those who cannot effectivley speak for themselves.
I've been volunteering with NCJW - St. Louis Section for over 10 years. This organization not only does great things for the community, but it also really values its volunteers. Volunteers really are the heart of the organization, making all of the programs happen. One of the things I really like is that there are so many different programs and roles needed, that when you are ready for a new challenge, there are plenty of things you can do without having to seek out a new non-profit. Recently I have been most involved in the Back to School! Store. I've done everything from shopping for clothes for the kids, co-chairing the event to developing a website for the event.
ellen-alper
Professional with expertise in this field
08/16/2010
Rating: 5
08/16/2010
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.
The St. Louis Section, founded in 1895, has operated over 100 service projects and programs throughout it's history to help women, children and families in our community. With a small staff and a large corps of volunteers, they currently serve over 1000 children at the annual Back-To-School! Store, now in its 10th year and another several hundred children annually through Kids Community Closet.
They operate lean and mean--tight budget--with tight controls on every dollar spent. I highly recommend supporting this organization.
