More than a thousand at-risk youth, ages 7 to 12, received goods and enjoyed a fun day of activities at The Jewish Federation’s annual Gear Up for Camp Day.

On June 1, campers and their families packed the grounds of Camp Max Straus, where more than 200 Federation volunteers, including many from the Entertainment Division, helped hand out summer camp essentials such as backpacks, water bottles, sweatshirts, laundry bags, sunscreen and more.

In addition to receiving their camp gear, campers enjoyed a variety of activities and entertainment, such as relay races, a hula hoop contest, pick-up basketball games, and tug-of-war. The big hit of the day was an art project featuring spin art on Frisbees, which campers decorated and slipped into their new backpacks to take to camp. Radio Disney was also there throughout the afternoon, playing music and surprising campers with a balloon artist.

Gabe Kleinman and Adam Siegel

“The day was spectacular. I thought the kids had more fun this year than they have ever had before,” said Entertainment Division member Adam Siegel, who chaired Gear Up for Camp Day along with Beth Lemberger. “We created an environment where the kids simply didn’t want to leave. We gave them all the gear they would need for a great summer, but it never felt like charity. It felt like a carnival.”

Lemberger agreed, adding, “The day was exactly how it should have been - sunny, bright, with laughter and joy in the air. I think we have an obligation to give back to the community around us, and I can't think of a more important place to start than giving opportunities to children through the gift of camp. For them, it's not just a week in the summer, it's an opportunity to experience that which some of us have taken for granted – the joys of camp, communal living, social accountability, new friendships born of the campfire.”

Most of the children who took part in the festivities will attend Camp Max Straus, a non-sectarian facility run by Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters, a Federation beneficiary agency. The camp serves children who suffer from emotional and social issues and often come from low-income, single-parent homes. Youth of all denominations attend the camp, and no child is turned away due to inability to pay.

Jeannine Hamaoui, Lily Posner, Susan Kesser, and Todd Jacobs

The day was made possible through generous donations by Alexon, Aptan Corporation, Aramark Refreshments, Australian Gold, California Apparel News, BWD Group LLC, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Discus Dental, Gunn Allen Financial, Harris Stationers, Herbalife, Kohl’s, Jerry Leigh, Nestle, Pacific Knitting Mills, Party Layne, Raye Limited Inc., Santa Fe Finishing, Self Esteem Clothing, Shugar Soapworks, Dan Shuster, Skechers, STC-QST, Western Bagel, Larry & Linda Wolfe, and 99-Cent Only Stores.

For more information about Gear Up for Camp Day, please contact Meredith Weiss at (323) 761-8305 or MWeiss@JewishLA.org.