[Written by Sophie Schanzer, Edison, NJ]
This morning on GIVE WEST was truly incredible. After wake up, davening, breakfast, and chaburah, we headed on the bus to Shalhevet High School to run a carnival for Camp Etta. Camp Etta is a day camp for people of all ages with disabilities. GIVE WEST planned a carnival with 11 booths to have fun with our new friends. We ran the carnival outside in the yard and it was a beautiful day. I ran a booth called the ping pong challenge, where people would take a ping pong ball and try to throw the ball into a cup. They could stand at different spots to make the game challenging. It was an awesome and inspiring experience to hang out and talk with the Camp Etta campers. This carnival was really fun because I was able to make these people happy and put a smile on their faces. In the middle of the carnival, we all broke out into a dance party and sang with the members of Camp Etta. I had such a blast and I hope to continue hanging out and working with these types of kids. Thank you so much mom and dad for giving me this opportunity to go on GIVE WEST, to gain new friendships, grow spiritually, and give back to the community.
[Written by Sarala Kupferstein, West Hempstead, New York]
After the carnival, we went outside and had lunch before heading to 3rd Street Promenade. It was a beautiful outdoor shopping center with a coffee bean where we all got drinks. Afterward, we went to Santa Monica Beach where some of us swam in the ocean. It was my first time in the Pacific Ocean, I was scared to go in at first but then I closed my eyes and ran in any way. I swam with my advisors and had a blast with my friends. We dried off in the sun before getting back on the bus to head to AJU to prepare for Shabbos. Thanks, mom and dad, I’m really enjoying myself and I’m glad you can give me this experience.