Baby shower love
Jewish camp leaders coordinate drivethru shower for Infant Crisis Services
Gracia MejiaJacobson arrived with diapers and other baby items.
The preteen had come bearing gifts for the recent Drive-Thru Baby Shower benefiting Infant Crisis Services.
The July 23 nontraditional shower was held as a drive-thru event outside the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City's office to limit the transmission of COVID-19. The shower was coordinated by Camp Chaverim's Leadership in Training (LIT) campers like Mejia-Jacobson.
“The Leaders in Training believe in making the world a better place for all,” said Mejia-Jacobson, who is the
daughter of Rabbi Abby Jacobson and Rabbi Juan Mejia.
“We chose Infant Crisis Services because we feel like these children and babies deserve the necessary supplies to grow and benefit themselves and the rest of the world and we wanted to make sure that these items were given to those who need a little help to get these items.”
Camp Chaverim, a popular Jewish summer day camp, is typically held at Temple B'nai Israel. The Jewish Federation, which operates the camp, decided to cancel the inperson camp.
The camp experience was offered virtually, instead, and the baby shower benefiting Infant Crisis Services became an important project.
“Camp Chaverim is a highlight of the Jewish Federation's programming. While I was very sad that we had to cancel in-person camp this summer, I couldn't be more grateful for or proud of how our Assistant Camp Directors Jeff Goss and Brian Stockton were able to put together and
deliver an outstanding virtual camp program,” said Roberta Clark, the Jewish Federation's executive director.
Clark said 50 children participated in the virtual camp, which culminated with the special “mitzvah” project for Infant Crisis Services. She said in addition to diapers, people were asked to bring items like baby formula, baby wash and shampoo, bottles, sippy cups, baby wipes, fuel cards, bus cards and other gift cards.
“We thank the community for their generosity in bringing so many donations to us for this LIT project, and we thank all of our LIT campers for their hard work and big hearts,” Clark said.
Miki Farris, Infant Crisis Services executive director, said her nonprofit has a longstanding relationship with Camp Chaverim, and she was grateful for the recent assistance.
“We're very grateful for their efforts to help us provide for babies and toddlers, particularly in this uncertain time when there's lots of need,” Farris said.
“The need is increasing on various levels because of the COVID. So, we're very grateful that they thought of us, and we're going to be able to give our babies a little bit more because of that.”
Farris' words were just what Mejia-Jacobson and the other baby shower coordinators wanted to hear.
“We hope that what we did will make a difference in the world, and maybe the people we help will be inspired to follow in our footsteps and make the world a better place for all,” Mejia-Jacobson said.