The Youngest Fundraisers
Kids Take to the Phones and the Lemonade Stands to Raise Money for Israel
By Sarit Schonbrun

Recently, eight-year-old Morgan Schwartz spent a Sunday afternoon talking on the phone with friends.

But instead of making plans for a sleepover or a day at the pool, she asked her classmates and their parents to donate moneyto Operation Security Blanket, Jewish National Fund's emergency campaign for Israel.

"I called and told them that we're helping raise money to send kids in Israel who are in bomb shelters to summer camp," said Morgan, "and that it is very important."

Joining her father Glen, Director of JNF's Southern Zone, and60 other volunteers in Miami, Morgan helped raise nearly$100,000at a phone-a-thon to benefit the people of Israel during the current crisis. Funds raised for Operation Security Blanket -- a national campaign that has to datebrought inover $4 million-- are being used to send children from northern Israel to summer camps in the center of the country, out of range of rocket attacks; purchase equipment, trucks, and fire retardant for firefighters battling raging forest fires caused by rocket attacks; and build security bypass roads along the border with Gaza to protect the area's residents as they travel to work and school.

After calling friends, Morgan decided to move onto her grandparents. "My grandma was really proud of me," she said. "She's making a donation.

"I feel good and happy that I did this, because I feel bad for the kids in Israel and I wouldn't want to be in a bomb shelter."

Since JNF launched Operation Security Blanket on July 14, hundreds of young people from St. Louis to San Diego have shown their support for Israel by making calls at their local JNF phone-a-thons anddrawing pictures for Israelichildren in bomb shelters. Others haverelied on their creativity andentrepreneurial skills.

With store-bought syrup, donated bags of ice, and her family's snow cone machine, 16-year-old Lindsey Citron of Baltimore gathered friends to sell snow cones at a local shopping center, donating all proceeds to Operation Security Blanket. She learned of the campaign on the JNF website and decided she wanted to do something to help.

Lindsey hopes other students around the country will use whatever resources they have to raise money and awareness for Israel.

"I think helping now is really important," she said. "It's gotten a lot worse and I just want to help the children and the families that are struggling right now."

Sisters Julia, Jessie, and AndreaHolber stopped by the JNF Pittsburgh office with their mother Linda to drop off donations they had collected in JNF Blue Boxes and left with the idea of organizing a fundraiser for Operation Security Blanket. With their mother'shelp, the girls -- ages 11, 8, and 5 --sold brownies decorated with Israeli flags, JNF bracelets and cards, and lemonade. They raised nearly $500.

"I think people were very moved to see kids involved," said Linda. "This allowed many people of different backgrounds to express their concern and support for Israel."

At Park Day Camp in Cleveland, campers have already raised $1,400 selling flowers, popcorn, and cookies.

Other young peoplehave generously donated their own money to Operation Security Blanket. In an email to the JNF Chicago office, a 13-year-old-boy wrote, "I sent the JNF a donation of $438.50 from my Bar Mitzvah money. I hope it helps the children to find a safe place to sleep. I know as a child that I would not want to have to go to bed scared from missile explosions. Thank you for alerting me to this relief effort."

For more information or to donate to Operation Security Blanket, visit http://www.jnf.org/ or contact your regional office at 888-JNF-0099.

Captions:

Top right- Morgan Schwartz and Brooke Regent make phone calls to friends and family in Miami.
Middle left-The Holber sisters sell cookies, brownies, and lemonade in Pittsburgh.
Bottomrow, left- Chicago children draw pictures for Israeli kids living in bomb shelters.
Bottom row, middle- David Brem, 11, of Tampa pitches in at a JNF phone-a-thon.
Bottom row, right-Campers at Park Day Camp in Cleveland sellflowers forOperation Security Blanket.

Photos available as high-resolution jpegs upon request.