MCJC joined 12 local churches to participate in the 2019 McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk on Sunday, September 29.

Two hundred and thirty-eight individuals participated in this year’s Crop Walk, and the Walk raised $21,315! Twenty-five percent of the money raised from the Walk benefited local food pantries and the McHenry West High School “Food For Thought” program, with 75% of the proceeds raised will benefit hunger relief programs worldwide.

The 2019 MCJC Crop Walk Team raised $721! The  Team members were Davina, Sienna, and Andrew Kelly; Dara Turnball with Seth, Brandon and Eli; Jonah, London, and Asher Markowitz; Carrie, Jason, and Briella Bernstein; and Bruce Weiss.

By Bruce Weiss, Social Action Chairperson

The next MCJC-sponsored PADS dinner is a week from tomorrow, November 27, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1320 Dean Street in Woodstock.

Since the dinner is on the evening before Thanksgiving, I was concerned it would be difficult to have sufficient food providers and servers for the meal. I am so happy and thankful to report we have plenty of offers to provide food as well as the food servers we need for the dinner.

The food providers for our upcoming PADS dinner are: Gene Lindow (turkey breast in gravy), Briana and Elsa Salgado (mashed potatoes), Leslie Cook (Fatoush, a Middle Eastern bread salad), Bruce Weiss (French cut green beans and rolls), Dara Turnball (brownies), and Marian Weiss (yet-to-be determined cookies). Food providers should bring their food items to Redeemer Lutheran Church between 6:00 and 6:30 pm.  

We will once again use compostable plates and bowls to limit the amount of “washing work” after serving the meal.

As MCJC Social Action Chairperson, I am so very grateful for the help of our MCJC members with these MCJC-sponsored PADS dinners.

MCJC will join 12 local churches to participate in the 2019 McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, September 29, 2019, from about 1:15 – 3:15 pm. The WALK distance is one mile. This MCJC undertaking is a partnership project of the MCJC Social Action Committee and the MCJC Religious School faculty and students.

​Twenty-five percent of the money raised from the McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk will go to designated local food pantries.  Seventy-five percent of the proceeds will be used by CWS/CROP to help develop programs that empower people in third world counties to meet their own food needs through agricultural training programs, by providing seeds and farm tools, and by helping to build wells and irrigation systems.

The 2018 MCJC CROP Hunger Walk Team raised $686. This year’s MCJC CROP Hunger Walk Team hopes to raise even more money. The following members of the MCJC community have stepped forward to participate in this year’s McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk: Davina/Jim/Sienna/Andrew Kelly, Dara & Seth Turnball, Brandon & Eli Pacyna, Jonah/Asher/London Markowitz, Carrie/Jason/Briella Bernstein, and Bruce Weiss.

If you would like to become an MCJC CROP Hunger Walk Team member, and if you would like to find out all the details related to participating in this important interfaith fundraising event, please contact either Bruce Weiss (815-338-2721) or Davina Kelly (847-659-8285).

We would also like to ask for the support of those in the MCJC community who cannot walk in this year’s McHenry County CROP Hunger Walk. The suggested donation of support is Chai ($18). Donation checks should be made payable to CWS/CROP and mailed to MCJC CROP Hunger WALK Team, c/o Bruce Weiss, 846 N. Madison Street, Woodstock, IL 60098-2833.

Donations can also be made online at crophungerwalk.org/mchenrycounty. Click “Donate,” click “Team,” write in “McHenry County Jewish Congregation,” fill in donation amount, enter your full name, enter your email, fill in payment information, and click on “Donate now.”

With much appreciation for your kind support of this important MCJC project,

Bruce Weiss, MCJC Social Action Chairperson
Davina Kelly, MCJC Religious School Faculty Member

MCJC will join twelve local churches and participate in the 2019 McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk on Sunday, September 29, 2019.  This MCJC community fundraising project is a joint undertaking of the MCJC Social Action Committee and the MCJC Religious School Faculty.

The Walk begins at 2:00 pm on Sunday, September 29, at the First Methodist Church, 236 W. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake. Registration begins at 1:15 pm.

The Walk is a one-mile route, with family fun activities along the way. Beverages and snacks are provided for  participants. The event generally comes to a conclusion shortly after 3:00 pm.

​Twenty-five percent of the money raised from the 2019 McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk goes to designated local food pantries, and 75% of the money  benefits hunger relief programs world-wide. The MCJC participants in the 2018 McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk ​raised $686!

If you are interested in participating in this community fundraising event, please contact either Bruce Weiss at 815-338-2721  or  socialaction@mcjconline.org OR Davina Kelly at 847-659-8285 or school@mcjconline.org.   ​

Participation in this event involves walking the one mile route the day of the event, as well as raising money by obtaining donations from people that you know, such as friends, relatives, neighbors, teachers, people you work with, anyone you can think to ask!

We look forward to seeing you at theMcHenry County Crop Hunger Walk on September 29.

PROJECTS: MAY 2018 – MAY 2019

ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY AND ADOPT-A-TRAIL 

MCJC is a participant in the McHenry County Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway Program and the McHenry County Conservation District Adopt-A-Trail Program.

As a participant in these two important community service environmental programs, MCJC is responsible for picking up litter on Ridgefield Road between Country Club Road and U.S. Route 14, and the Bike Trail along U.S Route 14 between Ridgefield Road and Lucas Road (McHenry County Community College) from April 1 until the first snowfall. Usually two to four five gallon cans of litter are picked up along Ridgefield Road, and a bit less than one five-gallon can is picked up along the bike trail.

Bruce Weiss is looking for volunteers to help him twice a month with this community service project.  The amount of work time involved is approximately one hour. The day and time the work would be done is completely flexible. If you are able to help, please contact Bruce at 815-338-2721 or socialaction@mcjconline.org.

MCHENRY COUNTY CROP HUNGER WALK

MCJC joined 12 local churches and participated in the 2018 McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk on Sunday, September 30, 2018.  A total of $24,159.28 was raised by this year’s WALK participants. Twenty-five percent of the money raised from the WALK benefited local food pantries, and seventy-five percent of the proceeds raised from the WALK  benefit hunger relief programs world wide.

MCJC participants raised a total of $686!  MCJC participants in the 2018 McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk included:  Davina/Jim/Sienna/Andrew Kelly, Dara & Seth Turnball, Brandon & Eli Pacyna, Jonah/London/Asher Markowitz, Carrie/Jason/Briella Bernstein, Kelly/Robb/Ryleigh/Brooklyn Tadelman, Paula Eskoz, and Bruce Weiss.

WOODSTOCK AREA COMMUNITY MINISTRIES “SHARE THE WARMTH” WINTER CLOTHING COLLECTION DRIVE

MCJC was a participating congregation in the Woodstock Area Community Ministries “Share The Warmth” winter clothing collection drive.  Coats, jackets, boots, mittens, and blankets were collected by local religious congregations and distributed to more than 100 people in need at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Woodstock between November 8 and November 10, 2018. MCJC contributed  winter coats and gloves that completely filled two 32-gallon cans!

MCJC-SPONSORED PADS DINNERS

MCJC members prepared and served a dinner for the homeless the last Wednesday of each month between October 2018 and April 2019 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Woodstock. Between 20 and 33 (average 25) homeless PADS guests and 5 to 8 (average 6) PADS overnight volunteers were fed each month.

The MCJC-sponsored PADS dinners were a big success. The food items that MCJC members prepared were always delicious, and the MCJC serving team members always had a good time working together.  The homeless PADS guests and the PADS overnight volunteers “loved” the MCJC sponsored PADS dinners, often coming back for seconds and even thirds! Jackie Kroeger, the McHenry County PADS Dinner Coordinator,  greatly appreciated MCJC’s participation in this very worthwhile community service project.

MCJC members that provided food items for this past year’s PADS dinners included: Gene Lindow, Leslie Cook, Ellen Morton, Iza Celewicz, Kim Solomon Dooley, Briana & Elsie Salgado, Esther & Bob Kaplan, Amy Yoslov-Llaneta, Dara Turnball, Andy & Jill Purvin, and Marian & Bruce Weiss. Special thanks goes to Gene Lindow and Chef Adam at the Trio Grille Restaurant for their willingness to prepare the entrees for every MCJC-sponsored PADS dinner this past year.

MCJC members that helped serve the past year’s PADS dinners included: Linda & Jerry Trachsler, Amy Yoslov-Llaneta, Brian Silver, Iza Celewicz, Kim & Logan Solomon Dooley, Briana/Elsie/Jessie Salgado, Dara & Seth Turnball, Brandon & Eli Pacyna, Andy/Miles/Hunter Purvin, and Bruce Weiss.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
BUILDING PROJECTS

MCJC member Howard Frank has done a spectacular job representing MCJC and working as a volunteer for McHenry County Habitat For Humanity. Howard wrote the following report:

“I have been volunteering for Habitat For Humanity for just over 2 years and have really enjoyed the activity and the friendships that I have made. Just a summary of what has happened over the past 12 months is impressive: 9 families are in (or will be soon) rehabbed homes or condos, 6 families are in (or will be soon) brand new construction.   

“To me, this is amazing!!  This group of volunteers (led by Habitat employees) has been able to enrich the lives of 15 families with affordable homes of their own. 

“Looking forward, I have been told that there are nearly 20 jobs (both new construction and rehab) to be undertaken over the next year. We are always looking for people with a desire to help in these activities. The Habitat employees and the senior volunteers (not me) are there to train anyone willing to learn. You will get dirty, but it is a wonderful feeling going to the dedication ceremonies where the keys are turned over to the new families.   

“Please join me on Wednesdays (other days are also available) to help this worthwhile activity.”  ~ Howard Frank  (847)-764-9143 (cell phone).

CORNERS OF OUR FIELDS PROJECT

The Corners of Our Fields Project is not, strictly speaking, an MCJC social action committee undertaking. It has evolved into the “baby” of Ellen and Joel Levy.  The Corners of Our Fields Project is undertaken each High Holy Day season when we collect food and personal care items for people in need.

This year’s recipient of the food collected from the Corners of Our Fields Project was the McHenry West High School Food For Thought Program that provides food for McHenry West High School students from low income families. The personal care items collected by the Corners of Our Fields Project was donated to the Old Fire House Assistance Center in Woodstock which provides multiple services to the the homeless community of McHenry County.