DECEMBER 25TH DAY OF SERVICE

 Warm regards,

Stu

None of the Directors, Staff or volunteers receive any salary. We do this because we have a passion for the homeless and people that have loss there homes, jobs and families do to circumstances not under there control.

 However it is because of people like you who are aware of the plight of the homeless, make a difference in the care of the under served. I welcome you to contact me any time if you find the time to give us a hand. During the holiday seasons we see and influx of help but we truly need help year round.

Thank you so much for your help and for putting on such a well organized and worthwhile program.  This was at least our 5th time participating as a family.

Best regards,

Shara A.

I'm continually impressed each time we attend any of your functions. They're well organized and spirited. I love being able to raise my girls in that environment, with that mindset to help others, and I'm grateful for your help.

Thanks again,

Stephanie

 Dear Randy Bacon and Erica Steen,

On behalf of the students, staff, and community of Turner Elementary School, I want to write a thank you for the collaborative work conducted at Turner Elementary School  on MLK Jr. Day.  The projects completed in the building have truly enhanced the school, and has made the environment much more pleasant for the teachers and the students.  Thanks to your groups’ community service the entire Turner family now enjoys a much better learning environment.  We also look forward to continuing to work with Behrend Builders and the Center for Community Service in the future.

Respectfully,

Robert Gregory, Principal

CAMP YAD b'YAD

From the campers...

• I came to this camp blindly.  I had no idea what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised.  I enjoyed all of the activities and they all made me feel like I was making a direct positive impact on the community.
• I made new friends and I got community service hours and a sense knowing that I helped a lot of people.
• I’m taking away the knowledge that I can make a difference and that I can change the world.
• I have learned that even doing a little community service can make a difference.  I have also realized that I am very lucky.

BEHREND BUILDERS

I was just marveling and thinking and thinking that I had never met people like you guys in my entire life.  You accepted us, regardless of race, nationality, or how disorganized we are and you love us anyway.  There is nothing pretentious about you--when appropriate, you get angry, you admonish, and you keep on giving and giving.  You don't look down on us or denigrate us.  After thinking these two days and not coming up with ways to repay you, I just began to pray for you all. As you may have noticed, I am not someone who likes to hang around friends.  I can sincerely say that I consider you beyond friends, but you are my family."

-Ms. J

-Ms. N

Sincerely, Rafi Karkowsky

Communities In Schools of the Nations Capital has had the privilege of working with Behrend Builders on several public school-based projects in Ward 8.  In September 2007, Behrend Builders supervised a playground beautification project at Turner Elementary School during which a group of 80 spirited high school girls from a private school in Bethesda worked to bring much-needed color and creativity to the school's playground.  Thanks to Behrend Builders, the children at Turner Elementary School now have access to fun, new playground activities as well as a freshly painted auditorium.  Communities In Schools looks forwarding to continuing to work in partnership with Behrend Builders on behalf of Washington DC's youth and is grateful for all that its dedicated staff does to provide children with safe and inviting places to learn and play.

 
Allison B. Hertz
Site Coordinator
Communities In Schools of the Nation's Capital

Happy Saturday!!!
 
Dearest Ms. Sarah Kirschenbaum Program Coordinator of Behrend Builders and Mr. Randy Bacon Director of Behrend Builders from the Washington DC Jewish Community Center,
 
My family and I [Nora] wish to express our deepest gratitude for the support, love, kindness, care and........for the labor, repairs and installation of a brand new kitchen floor tile, brand new screen door for the back porch, brand new paint job and....brand new flower garden in the front yard and more...
 
Thank you Mr. Randy Bacon, Sarah Kirschenbaum and the JCC camp students for making my son Bala and I such happy campers. We are soooooo....pleased with the begining and ending of the project. 
 
It feels so good to know that somebody cared enough to see to it that we live comfortably. Anyways we are sooo happy with everything.
 
My teenage son Bala and I [Nora] would like to return the favor by volunteering on a project. I [Nora] am available to volunteer on Thursdays and some Sundays including Holidays like X-mas and Thanksgiving.  What do you say to that? 

Again thank you.
It feels good to have visitors to come by and we not be ashamed of our living space. Be well. Stay healty. Tootles...Richest blessings,
 
Nora, Behrend Builders client

I think you two deserve the real kudos for keeping your calm in the face of an extremely frustrating situation. I was able to roll with the problem of potentially having no paint because you guys were so professional!

It was a pleasure working with all of you, and I hope to do so again soon.

Best,

Salem

Karyn A. Cassella
Volunteer Manager
Community of Hope

Now I can't wait until next year.  Happy New Year!

Warmly,

Hedy
Hedy Peyser, ACSW, LCSW
Director of Volunteers
Charles E. Smith Life Communities

The efforts of the DC Jewish Community Center have always been greatly appraised and their support of the community blood program will go along way towards replenishing blood....

Robyn Kaplan
INOVA Blood Donor Services

On behalf of the District of Columbia Public Schools, I would like to thank your organization for its involvement in the 23rd anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. Your organization’s involvement in painting at Ferebee-Hope and Turner Elementary schools this past MLK holiday is sincerely appreciated.

Thank you again for your generous support and continued involvement.

Sincerely,

Michelle Rhee
Chancellor
District of Columbia Public Schools

As principal of Anne Beers Elementary School, I would like to thank Toyota Book Imitative and the Greater Washington Jewish Community Center for renovating the Anne Beers Library.  Since the library reopened many memorable moments have taken place there.  Because of you all we now have an inviting, warm, comfortable and stimulating learning environment.  Our teachers love to take their classes into the library for study, research, and relaxation.  Students clamor at the door waiting for the librarian.  It has become one of their favorite spots in the school.

We would be remised if we did not mention Erica Steen, who has worked tenaciously with Anne Beers to complete the task. Erica garnered volunteers to shelve our books, and followed up with us to ensure that all of our needs had been met to the best of her abilities.  Again, I thank you on behalf of the entire Anne Beers’ staff, for our students, families, and community.  You have increased us and we will continue to make use of the library and we invite you to come and visit whenever you like.

With Huge Appreciation,

Gwendolyn Payton, Principal
Anne Beers Elementary School