JSAC events raise money, reach out to children

The Jewish Social Action Committee has been making waves with community service during a surge in recent charitable events toward the end of the semester. On May 1, JSAC raised over $2,200 in its first Dollar Day fundraiser, even after weather conditions required the event be moved from its original date on April 28. Set up at six different locations around campus, the fundraiser allowed students to choose from one of six humane foundations to which they could donate.

On May 4, they held a Big Brother Big Sister mentorship program with Horton's Kids, a nonprofit organization that benefits children in Washington, D.C. University of Maryland students had lunch, bowled at TerpZone and played games with kids ages 6 to 15 from some of the most violent communities in D.C., according to Stephen Moster, a sophomore history major and JSAC co-president.

Then, on May 13 they will host their annual Snack Pack Attack where hundreds of students gather at Ritchie Coliseum to prepare 5,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and 3,000 bags of trail mix to be distributed to the needy in D.C.

JSAC is a student organization that attempts to unite students through community service.

"We want to make ourselves and every student become united with the rest of the campus," Moster said.

The Dollar Day fundraiser was a new idea because it gave students the opportunity to choose between various organizations.

"What makes this fundraiser unique and different is that this is not your average bake sale. Students can choose who they want to donate to," said Stephen Moster, sophomore pre-medicine major and JSAC co-president.

The theme behind the fundraiser was the "power of one." Students were asked to donate just a single dollar, an amount so small that JSAC members felt would encourage many students to donate.

"We wanted people to make a small donation and make it into something bigger. A dollar isn't much and if we have 25,000 students donate one dollar, that's a huge difference," Moster said.

JSAC board members said the event was successful and many students contributed to the fundraiser.

Daniel Perel, a junior psychology major, was one of many volunteers who weren't in JSAC who came to help the cause.

"It's a very simple concept to embrace and it doesn't take much time and effort to give a single dollar," he said.

Daniel Sachs, a junior entrepreneurship major who donated at the station at the Stamp Student Union, thought the event was well coordinated and geared towards the right causes.

"This event isn't going to make a difference in a large scale, but by being out there for people to see, it's raising awareness. The time and effort that's put into this and getting people involved and informed, all that together will lead to a large scale result," said Sachs.

JSAC had donation stations at Hornbake Library, McKeldin Library, the Stamp Student Union, Ellicott Hall, the sundial, and Regents Lane. At each station, clear containers differentiated the proceeds for different charitable organizations and showed how much money they raised.

The foundations included the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Global Fund, One Heart Global, Save Darfur, So Others May Eat and the World Wildlife Fund.

The foundations attracted different student reactions. Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation received the most donations, totaling $497.46.

Moster wanted to incorporate a variety of different foundations that people could donate to.

"It's a great way for people to get involved and you can pick whatever cause you want to donate to," he said.

Moster said the initial idea was to do it at McKeldin Library, but he decided to increase the event's scale, ultimately deciding on the six locations and six charities.

JSAC also notified the foundations they were helping to inform them that they were doing this fundraiser, receiving mixed reactions.

"Some organizations wanted information and description of our fundraiser. They also wanted us to tell them how it went also. One Heat Global, a fundraiser for the victims of terror, were exciting and thought it was a great idea while Save Darfur was indifferent," said Yael Goldberg, freshman special education major and JSAC secretary.

Moster had brought up the idea at the end of last semester and the JSAC board thought it was a great idea for a fundraiser, said Goldberg.

"It's an easy way to raise money and it's a new kind of fundraiser we haven't done before," she said.

This year's Dollar Day was a trial run and depending on its success will determine whether to hold it again next year, Moster said.