JCRS Seeks Chanukah Program Recipients

The Jewish Children’s Regional Service is collecting names of families for its Chanukah gift program. The New Orleans-based social service agency is looking for families with minor children that need help purchasing and securing gifts for their children.

The agency serves a seven-state region that includes Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Every year, the agency sends out between 2,000 and 3,000 wrapped Chanukah gifts to Jewish children and youth in the region. Gift bags are also sent to institutionalized adults who might not otherwise be able to celebrate Chanukah. The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services will honor JCRS for this program on July 20.

Every child or institutionalized adult who is signed up for this year’s program will receive a bag with at least eight wrapped gifts, one for each night of Hanukkah.
Along with the name of each child, the JCRS will need to know as much contact information as possible. The agency also needs the age, gender and child’s interests.

Sample gifts include sporting goods, trading cards, toiletries, toys, books, games, hair accessories, stuffed animals, clothing, and school supplies. All gifts are age, gender, and, when possible, interest specific.

For institutionalized adults who are referred, JCRS will need the complete address and the name of a staff member at the facility.

In addition to its Chanukah gift program, the JCRS also funds camp and undergraduate college scholarships and funding for special needs services for youths who reside in its seven state coverage area.

JCRS accepts donations to support the Chanukah gift program. Since all gifts need to be small, new, age appropriate, and also need to be wrapped, stored, and shipped, the JCRS encourages monetary support of this program instead of product donations.

For more details on the gift program, visit www.jcrs.org or call (800) 729-5277. The agency’s address is P.O. Box 7368, Metairie, LA 70010-7368.