URJ Camp Newman’s Avodah Campers Raise $14,585 for VOICES Youth Programs
By Coach Bailie
A summer service project connected URJ Camp Newman teens with young people navigating foster care and housing instability in Sonoma County
This summer, campers in Camp Newman’s Avodah program raised $14,585 for VOICES Youth Programs, supporting young people in Sonoma County who are navigating foster care, housing instability, and the transition into adulthood.
The campers selected VOICES after researching local organizations that serve foster youth. Some had personal connections to the foster care system, while others felt strongly that the needs of foster youth are too often overlooked. They were drawn to VOICES because of its practical support, youth-centered approach, and long-term commitment to helping young people build stability and pursue their goals.
URJ Camp Newman is a Reform Jewish summer camp in Santa Rosa where young people explore identity, strengthen community, and put shared values into practice. Its Avodah program serves 11th-grade campers and is organized around three pillars: service to self, service to community, and service to the world.
VOICES Youth Programs, an initiative of On The Move, works with young people connected to systems of care and those facing challenges related to housing, education, employment, wellness, and early adulthood.
Learning Through Service
Designed to be more than a fundraising exercise, the teens in Avodah spent the summer practicing leadership and collaboration, building self-awareness, and exploring the foundational values of Areyvut (Mutual Responsibility), Kavod (Human Dignity), Tikvah (Hope), and Tzedek (Justice). They researched the issue, developed a clear case for support, and practiced asking others to contribute. Many stepped outside their comfort zones to speak with adults, relatives, and members of their wider communities. They explained why they had chosen to support foster youth and invited others to join them.
By the end of the campaign, the campers had raised more than $14,500. A portion of the proceeds was directed to Camp Newman’s scholarship fund, with the remaining designated for VOICES Youth Programs.
The project gave campers a practical experience in philanthropy. They learned that successful fundraising depends on more than asking for money. It requires understanding the issue, communicating with clarity, and building trust with the people being invited to participate.
Meeting the VOICES Team
On July 30, On The Move’s Coach Bailie joined VOICES Sonoma staff members Jessie Trimm and Leilan Papp at Camp Newman to meet with the Avodah campers and explain how their contribution would support local youth.
Leilan took the lead and prepared a presentation that introduced the campers to VOICES and their services for transition-age youth. He spoke from personal lived experience and discussed the challenges young people may face while moving through foster care, temporary housing, school, employment, and independent living.
Campers asked thoughtful questions about how VOICES builds relationships, which needs arise most often, and how donations are used in day-to-day programming. The conversation also highlighted the values shared by both programs. Camp Newman gives young people opportunities to practice service and responsibility. VOICES creates trusted spaces where youth receive support while building confidence, stability, and leadership. These young people are making a deep impact in their communities.
At the conclusion of the visit, VOICES staff presented the campers with a handmade thank-you card signed by the team in recognition of the care and effort behind their campaign.
What Practical Support Can Look Like
During the discussion, VOICES staff shared one immediate need at the Sonoma site: a washer and dryer. Laundry equipment may not be the first resource people associate with youth development, but access to clean clothing can have a direct effect on health, confidence, education, and employment.
A young person may need clean clothes for school but lack access to a washing machine. Someone starting a job may need to wash a uniform between shifts. A youth preparing for an interview may be deciding whether limited funds should go toward transportation, food, or the laundromat. For those moving between homes or beginning to live independently, laundry can require all these things, transportation, time, supplies, storage, and a safe place to wait.
A washer and dryer at VOICES would remove a barrier for many young adults. Clean clothes and bedding can help a young person arrive at school prepared, maintain employment, feel more confident at an interview, or create a sense of routine after a move. What the campers learned is that even a basic household need can become an important source of dignity and stability.
A Local Investment With Lasting Meaning
The Avodah campers began with a concern for young people whose experiences are often overlooked. They identified a local organization, learned how to make a case for support, and raised $14,585 for youth in their own region.
Their contribution will help VOICES respond to practical needs while continuing to provide guidance, relationships, and resources for young people moving toward adulthood. On The Move and VOICES Youth Programs are grateful to the Avodah campers, their families, and the Camp Newman community for choosing to support young people across Sonoma County.
Learn more about VOICES Youth Programs and its work across the North Bay or support VOICES through On The Move and help provide practical resources, trusted relationships, and new opportunities for local youth.