NCJW revitalizes activities, programs since giving away money

By DEBORAH MOON

article created on: 2009-02-01T00:00:00

Giving away most its money has revitalized the Portland section of the National Council of Jewish Women, according to president Meryl Haber.

Haber said proceeds from the sale of the Neighborhood House, which NCJW built in 1910 and sold in 2001, were “both a blessing and a curse.” Without the need to fund-raise, a crucial part of NCJW’s charter, Haber said the section had become largely an organization that gave out grants.

“We couldn’t get people interested,” said Haber. “They thought we had money so we didn’t need people. So we lost our activities. We wanted to give it (the money) so we could get back to what we are supposed to be doing. And that’s what we’ve been doing the past year and a half.”

In 2007, section members voted to split the $975,000 from the sale of its Neighborhood House between two local Jewish community projects—a special needs housing project and a permanent Oregon Jewish history exhibit.

Since then, Haber said, the section has updated its administrative policies and procedures and decided to focus its efforts on two major areas—domestic violence and hunger.

She said NCJW does continue to provide funds and community service in other areas as well since it has four tribute funds that specify where proceeds should go. For instance the new bereavement group starting next month (see story at right) is funded by the Marion Quint Rose Fund, which specifies money go to widow/widower support.

“We are an organization of Jewish women who want to be involved in giving assistance to community needs,” said Eve Rosenfeld, co-chair of NCJW community service with Louise Marsh.

On the hunger front, Haber said NCJW donated $10,000 to keep the food box program of Northwest Portland Ministries. NCJW now has a seat on the NWPM board, which is filled by Nikki Director, who is also NCJW’s food box chair.

The food box program also is an area where NCJW provides volunteers. Volunteers work in the NWPM food pantry or collect food donations. Haber said they also help with the backpack program that provides healthy snack foods each weekend to children who receive free lunches during the school week.

To volunteer to help with the food box or backpack program, call NWPM pantry coordinator Kelly Caldwell at 503-221-1224.

To help victims of domestic violence, NCJW members have held “showers for shelters.” Haber said women bring items requested by shelters to the showers. Clackamas Women’s Service and the Domestic Violence Resource Center both requested things like bust passes and gift cards for their clients.

“We used to make packets of personal items,” said Rosenfeld. “Now we no longer feel that is appropriate. We let people make their own choices with the gift cards. We think we are coming into the modern age.”The Bradley-Angle House wanted a projector to help it make fund-raising presentations. So NCJW raised the money for that.

In March, the section will repeat its game month where it asks members “to gift money won in mah jongg and bridge.” Last year the project raised $900 for the shelters.

Up till now, each NCJW event has had a specific project to benefit from it and all money from that event has gone to that project. But Haber said that may have to change since NCJW, like all organizations, is seeing decreased revenue from its investments.

“At the end of December, we decided to cut expenses due to reduced interest income,” said Haber. “We are now an all volunteer organization. We had to let our office staff go. We are on a bare bones budget. We may have to rethink fund-raising only for projects.”

While membership and volunteerism are increasing, they are still a far cry from the organization’s hey day, according to Haber. The local section has 315 members, but 260 are life members, many of who are no longer active. She said there is a core of perhaps 40 to 50 active members. She said she’s been told in the 1960s and 1970s, the section had 800 or 900 members.

“Today I hear we need to get younger people involved,” said Haber. “But I think the older women without conflicts for time have more time for the board.”And she said that active involvement of older women should serve as a draw for young women wanting to learn leadership skills.

“They are wonderful mentors,” Haber said.For more information, call the section office at 503-222-5006.