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Students to assist at JGS Family Fun Day

Date: 11/1/2010

Nov. 1, 2010

LONGMEADOW -- On Nov. 7, students from the community service class at Longmeadow High School (LHS) will be serving youth and elderly alike by volunteering their time and energy for the Jewish Geriatric Services (JGS) Family Fun Day at Temple Beth El in Springfield.

Longmeadow High School teacher Megan Schwartz leads the students in a variety of community activities such as working to improve the environment, assisting in soup kitchens, coaching youth soccer teams and even supplying bug-nets to people in a Haitian village to help avoid the spread of malaria.

"Many of my students have selected ways to serve the younger children in the community," said Schwartz. "I was so pleased to see the enthusiasm of my students when given the opportunity to serve young children and senior citizens together."

"A number of the community service students have shared stories of watching their own parents or grandparents serve others as their inspiration for doing service work themselves," noted Schwartz. "The JGS Family Fun Day is a great way for these teens to model for future teenagers how fun service can be. I hope that hundreds of local families are served by these students at the Family Fun Day."

For 98 years, JGS has hosted a formal Donor Dinner in the fall to thank the donors who support the numerous JGS health care services programs. This year, Danielle Withroder, director of annual giving and special events at JGS, decided to extend the event into the greater Springfield community by adding the family fun event JGS.

"The Family Fun Day is our way of showing the Longmeadow community that we serve every generation at JGS," said Withroder. "Our seniors are always so energized by the visits from youth in the community, and the youth learns about their heritage and history from the generations before them," says Withroder. "This seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring both the young and the young at heart together in one celebration."

Doors for the JGS Family Fun Day will open at 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 at the social hall of Temple Beth El at 979 Dickinson St. Guests will be treated to a "cirque" style acrobatic performance. The LHS students will be serving up complimentary popcorn and cotton candy and even painting faces. The one-hour show is free for guests 10 and under, and only $10 for guests over 10 years old. Those who purchase advance tickets to the evening performance and dinner will not be charged for an admission to the Family Fun Day performance. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 567-3949 ext. 1615, or at the door on the day of the event. Evening tickets must be purchased in advance.



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