Or Ami members help dress foster children for fall

BACK TO SCHOOL- Volunteers from Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas go on a shopping spree with local children in foster care and helping the youths choose clothes for the new school year. Mervyn's store in Canoga Park provided gift cards as well as discounts for the children's clothing.

Early Saturday morning on July 28, Or Ami parents and teens gathered at the Mervyn's store in Canoga Park to help foster children choose new clothes for the new school year. Temple volunteers chaperoned young children through the store aisles to pick out appropriate clothing.

Mervyn's provided many of the participating foster children with a $100 shopping spree and a 15 percent discount to purchase new clothes, shoes and accessories. Or Ami members raised more tzedakah (charitable funds) to sponsor an additional 13 children for participation in the Mervyn's ChildSpree.

After the shopping was completed, the children and their chaperones ate breakfast in the staff lounge and played games.

"The day was complete with smiles and hugs for everyone. It felt so good to make a real difference in the lives of these foster children," said volunteer Patti Jo Wolfson.

Chair Deborah EchtMoxness and President Susan Gould of Or Ami facilitate an ongoing partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services to "adopt" and support foster children. The synagogue's social action program ensures that these children receive birthday and holiday gifts and comfort backpacks. The year-end Prom Prep 101 outfits teens for their proms.

Congregation Or Ami, a Reform Jewish synagogue, is at 26115 Mureau Road, Ste. B, Calabasas. E-mail Rabbi Kipnes at rabbipaul@orami.org.

To learn more about the congregation's foster children program, e-mail Gould at the4goulds@roadrunner.com.