After a grueling journey of discussing values, mission statements, consensus, and grant proposals, the Camp Solomon Schechter Teen Foundation spent the day visiting four of the nine organizations that submitted proposals. We visited the Hands On Children’s Museum, Stonewall Youth, GRuB, and SafePlace.
At Hands On, the campers were able to explore the children’s museum with new eyes. We definitely had fun in the museum, but the campers were focused on understanding exactly where their potential donation would go. Next visited Stonewall Youth next and learned about the local LGBTQQIA community and how they support, protect, and provide opportunities for this community. We took a tour of their small location and learned how small non-profits function in nearly single-room offices. Following that, we visited GRuB, which has a multiple acre farm in Olympia. There we toured the grounds, viewed the growing plants, and enjoyed a nice sit in the grass. While we relaxed in the shade, we learned about how this local farm functions and how our donation might impact their school program.
We completed our site visits at SafePlace, a home for sexually and physically abused women and children. There we learned about the serious work that they are undertaking and how each dollar impacts each person in a very specific way. We learned how we might be a part of their larger fundraising strategy as well as the immediate impact our donation could make. After this long day, we gladly retreated back to Camp to decompress, process, and begin the difficult journey towards making a decision.
Jeremy Markiz
Tefillah Director, Camp Solomon Schechter
