Sunday, September 12, Sandler Family Campus
Each year, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Super Sunday marks the biggest day of impact for Tidewater’s Jewish community. Hundreds of community members participate by answering the call from dozens of volunteers, thus ensuring that the Federation can effectively meet the needs of the community through the Community Campaign.
Super Sunday is one of the most impactful and widest reaching programs run by UJFT—a direct result of community involvement. While Super Sunday directly supports the Federation’s Community Campaign, it also builds community, engages Jewish community members at all levels (sometimes the only Jewish conversation they have all year), and allows time to check-in with those community members (which is especially important during these COVID/Delta isolation days).
“Super Sunday is more than asking for money,” says Matthew Kramer-Morning, UJFT Young Leadership Campaign director. “We want people to understand that this year has been hard. These phone calls serve as touch points and check-ins with community members. With so many folks shut in their homes out of an abundance of caution, the conversations often begin with: ‘how are you doing these days?’ and move from there to questions of whether the community member can help out with a gift of support…or whether we as a community can help support the donor.”
It can be delicate when a volunteer caller hears a hardship story from one of his prospects, or a need for assistance and support. “I’ve seen cases in other communities I’ve worked where an individual has given to their community for years; then something happens and they need assistance. Often they don’t realize they can turn to the very community they’ve been supporting.”
Kramer-Morning says that this year especially the volunteers will be trained to pick up on these kinds of needs, and respectfully ask, “Can we be of any help to YOU?”
“Our donors give for many reasons,” says Kramer-Morning. “Whether it’s to support Israel, feed and support the hungry, or to build a foundation of Jewish education and Jewish continuity. All of these reasons (and others as well) are meaningful and thoughtful. And each gift is meaningful—whether it is a first-time gift of $36 or a $5,000 Lion of Judah gift! Growing and strengthening community through Super Sunday and the Federation’s yearly campaign make the difference between a strong community and an excellent community.”
This year’s Super Sunday marks the kick-off to the Federation’s 2022 Community Campaign. As the paper goes to press, Super Sunday is scheduled to take place in-person at the Sandler Family Campus, including under a large outdoor tent. Due to the unpredictable nature of the Delta variant and the possible need to transition to virtual for extra safety precautions, organizers are prepared for a last-minute switch. Details will be announced to volunteers who have signed up closer to the event.
Those who are interested in making calls this year, either at the Sandler Family Campus or from home, should please sign up for a volunteer calling shift at JewishVA.org/SuperSunday. Even without volunteering to make calls, it is still possible to help by taking the call on September 12. Or, make a commitment to the community by visiting JewishVA.org/Donate today… and to have a gift counted in the Super Sunday total, please write SUPER SUNDAY in the comments section of the donation form.
“As we hopefully emerge from the strange situation which characterized last year’s Super Sunday and entire campaign… we look ahead to plan for our Jewish future,” says Kramer-Morning. “As we kick-off the 2022 Community Campaign with Super Sunday, we continue our work of strengthening community and securing our Jewish future.”
This year’s theme is “Today, Tomorrow, Together.” Together, community has been built. Together, it has been strengthened. And together, a strong, vibrant, Jewish community for children and grandchildren is ensured.
For more information about Super Sunday or to speak to someone about a 2022 commitment to the Tidewater Jewish Community through the UJFT Community Campaign, contact Matt Kramer-Morning at mkmorning@ujft.org.