SPECIAL REPORT: Camp Simcha’s Chanukah toy drive
Brigit Grant is the Jewish News Supplements Editor
Jewish primary schools and nurseries across the capital donated to Camp Simcha’s toy drive. Brigit Grant followed the journeys of three special gifts…
More than 70 schools, nurseries, cheders and shuls gave 8,000 presents to distribute at 110 hospital wards and hospices.
Yet it took just one toy – a yellow engine – and the smile of a nine-year-old boy to show the importance of Camp Simcha’s Toy Drive.
Evan has cystic fibrosis and has been a patient at Watford Hospital for six years but, for a brief moment on Monday, he was distracted by the presence of TV personality Tania Bryer, who gave him the engine donated by children at Wolfson Hillel in Enfield.
Jewish primary school pupils give tzedakah weekly, although rarely do they get the opportunity to see who benefits from their donations.
But this year, for the first time, in their 18-year Toy Drive history, Camp Simcha allowed us to follow the journey of three toys, so the pupils could see the recipients for themselves.
The pupils at Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School in Mill Hill were really excited about being involved and encouraged to do so by their headteacher Yvonne Baron.
“Camp Simcha is an incredible charity, which makes a unique and powerful contribution within our community,” said Yvonne, as pupils from different years gathered around a Camp Simcha box overflowing with gifts, including the Disney Elsa toddler doll that we followed to the packing centre at Kinloss Synagogue last Sunday.
It was there that actress Tracy-Ann Oberman helped put the 8,000 toys into bags, assisted by more than 50 volunteers of all ages who packed and labelled the gifts all afternoon. Along with Elsa was the engine from Wolfson Hillel.
Headteacher Kirsten Jowett was delighted so many of her pupils were supporting the Toy Drive. “Camp Simcha visit us often and our children know how important these gifts are. They can’t wait to hear from the children receiving the presents and wish them a happy Chanukah.”
This support was reiterated by Deborah Harris, Jewish Studies Lead at Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary school, which has supported the charity for many years. “It gives our pupils an opportunity to think of others who are not as fortunate as them and it is wonderful that the gifts are being distributed to children of all denominations, who are spending Chanukah and Christmas in hospital.”
The magic kit given by WIJPS was certainly a big hit, with 11-year-old Oliver, who couldn’t wait to lift the lid on the giant box of tricks.
“I’m guessing you know what to do,” chuckled Tania Bryer as Oliver pulled out a pack of cards.
“He better not pull any tricks on me,” warned his mum, who never leaves his side at Watford’s Starfish ward.
The arrival of broadcaster Vanessa Feltz at Hampstead’s Royal Free Hospital on Tuesday certainly caused a stir and the nurses on the childrens’ ward were eager to take selfies.
But it was two-year-old Leen who grabbed Vanessa’s attention when she arrived in the playroom by toy car.
“Would you like to get out and meet Elsa?” she asked. Leen didn’t need to be asked twice and the doll given by Etz Chaim finally reached the end of its journey.
An emotional one for Camp Simcha’s staff and volunteers and a memorable one for the Jewish school children who now understand what giving truly means.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
