(Merrick, NY) Merrick Jewish Centre (MJC) and Jewish National Fund (JNF) will host MJC Playday for Sderot at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore, NY on Sunday October 6, 2013 from 9:30-11:30am. The event plans to bring awareness of Sderot, Israel, a community living under constant threat of rocket attacks.
Proceeds from MJC Playday for Sderot will benefit JNF’s Sderot Indoor Recreation Center, a $5 million, 21,000-square-foot secure indoor playground and community center in Sderot, constructed in an old textile warehouse and retrofitted with 300 tons of steel. It brings a welcome sense of normalcy to the region, providing kids with a fun place to hang out with friends, and giving parents peace of mind that their children are playing in a safe environment.
MJC Playday for Sderot will have activities for all ages including a toddler play area, arts & crafts, softball games, frisbee, t-ball and soccer drills, a family service and more. The highlight of the day will be a drill to experience how quickly the children of Sderot must reach shelter when there is a rocket threat. From the sound of the siren, participants will have just 15 seconds to reach a “safe zone,” giving them a true understanding of what it means to live in this area, and why the Sderot Indoor Recreation exists.
“The indoor playground is a lifeline for us,” said Sderot Mayor David Bouskila. “It gives the children a chance to be normal and has changed the way this city behaves and feels. It is the best thing that has happened to us.”
Visited daily by hundreds of children, the center features attractions for all age groups, including a soccer field, movie theater, disco, rock climbing wall, jumping castle, arcade, snack area, computer center, and jungle gym. It hosts special events like magic shows and disco nights and is also available for birthday parties, field trips, and summer camps. The center is used for community events and as a meeting place for social service groups, and features therapy rooms to help children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
During periods of conflict, the center serves as a safe haven for children and adults alike. Play areas double as bomb shelters, ensuring that all occupants can quickly reach safety during a rocket attack.
Press is welcome at this event.
For more details and suggested giving levels, visit support.jnf.org/goto/mjcplayday.
For more information, please contact JNF Associate Executive Director of Long Island, Howard Ingram, at hingram@jnf.org or 516.678.6805 x110.
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream of a Jewish homeland was a reality. JNF gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people.
JNF embodies both heart and action; our work is varied in scope but singular in benefit. We strive to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s residents, and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is greening the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply, helping develop innovative arid-agriculture techniques, and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism.
JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and United Nations NGO, which continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers.
For more information on JNF, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.
