Jewish teens volunteer across America

NEW YORK, April 25 (JTA) — More than 5,000 Jewish teenagers participated in 50 projects in 46 cities in the United States during J-Serve 2006, a national day of volunteering and service learning for Jewish teenagers. A group of Jewish teenagers from Pittsburgh planted and removed trees Sunday at a local nature center, while other Pittsburgh teens volunteered at a local shelter for homeless women and helped pack medical supplies for developing countries. In New York City, Jewish teens visited the elderly and became peer educators on Darfur. In Rockland County, N.Y., thousands of Jewish teens gave a party for mentally challenged children and prepared food packages for Meals on Wheels. In Palm Beach, Fla., the volunteer work for more than 100 Jewish teens included visiting seniors, beautifying a local park and making dog biscuits for Seeing Eye Dogs. Special J-Serve funding was awarded to 10 projects that coordinated three distinct populations and/or denominations, gathered a minimum of 125 teenagers and addressed core community issues. These projects were in Pittsburgh, New York City, New City, Ill., Palm Beach, Washington, Houston, Boca Raton, Fla., Minneapolis, Baltimore and Detroit. They were sponsored by the Jewish Coalition for Service; PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values; and the North American Alliance for Jewish Youth.