ST. LOUIS (Dec. 21, 2017) - The International Institute of St. Louis, the St. Louis region's Welcome Center for New Americans, will host a portion of the Seventh Annual Jewish and Muslim Day of Community Service, from 12 noon to 2 p.m., on Monday, Dec. 25, in the Institute gymnasium, 3401 Arsenal St.
This Christmas Day program is presented by the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis and the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis (JCRC), through its Milford and Lee Bohm Social Justice Center.
The two faith communities are working together to organize and volunteer in a large-scale, coordinated effort to bring together individuals of all faith backgrounds, as well as those of no faith. Twenty-one agencies have been identified as sites that will host needed volunteers.
"For six years we have worked side-by-side on Christmas through the Day of Community Service," said Islamic Foundation event co-chair Sophie Malik. "Thanks to this incredible ongoing event, our communities have more than a working relationship, we are friends."
"As Jews, we feel a special call this year to embrace our friends in the Muslim community through this event," said JCRC event co-chair
Jerry Hochsztein. "We look forward to another year of helping the city with our friends and neighbors."
Organizers said that this year's event once again welcomes the International Institute of St. Louis as a service site. Volunteers will be joining a welcome party for children of all ages who are recent immigrants to St. Louis.
"We are so pleased and excited to again have volunteers from the Jewish and Muslim Day," said International Institute of St. Louis President & CEO Anna E. Crosslin. "The first few months in a new country are difficult for refugees, especially refugee children. Visitors coming to welcome them with games, books and other fun activities will be so appreciated."
Jewish and Muslim Day of Community Service begins at 9 a.m. with a community breakfast at Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Rd. The breakfast will include a blessing for social action and a celebration of coming together. Participants will then leave from the breakfast to their community service sites.
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