Service Projects

The Storybook Project

Twice a month, on the second and fourth Thursday, volunteers bring books and tape recorders to the minimum security facility of the Burlington County Jail.  The inmates pick books, and we tape record them as they read them to their child(ren).  We then pack up the books and tapes and mail them.  This gives the inmates a way to maintain a  connection with their children, even if they are far away.  The children can listen to their parent's voice whenever they like.  The contact people for the project are Meryl Klieger and Laura Blaetz- Price.  To read the article from the Burlington County Times click here.

First Day School Service Project

In Spring of 2007 our First Day School decided on a Service Project involving the American Friends Service Committee and their mission to build a school for Afghani children.  We began by selling lunches during Meeting For Business and then planned a Yard Sale which brought in the AFSC target amount, plus much more.  The Khushbayee School, Faryab Province, Afghanistan,

teaches about 450 girls and boys, grades 1-6.   

 

Peace Vigil

The First Saturday of each month our Meeting holds a Peace Vigil on the grounds facing Union Street.  Meeting for Worship begins at 9 a.m., the Vigil begins at 10 a.m.  Below is an image from the Vigil from the Central Record.   "Veteran and former POW George Rubin holds a sign outside of the Friends Meetinghouse publicizing his views on the Iraq War and his concept of peace".  To read George's wartime account click here.

David Borelli/Courtesy Central Record 11/1/ 2007

Eyes Wide Open

In Summer 2008 George Rubin and the Peace & Social Committee arranged to have the NJ

Eyes Wide Open display come to Medford Meeting to show the human cost of the

Iraq War.  View pictures and read the essay here.

Friends Transition Support Services:

The Garden Project

Friends Transition Support Services (FTSS) addresses the issues of people reentering society from prison or jail as well as those at risk of going to prison for various reasons.  FTSS seeks to provide direct services to people coming out of prison, to understand and raise public awareness about criminal justice issues and generally to promote healthy communities by supporting the successful reentry of ex-inmates.  FTSS is a project of Haddonfield Monthly Meeting that enjoys the support of many other Meetings in the Quarter.  We could not do what we do without your widespread support, and we are continually grateful for your interest in our work.   The FTSS Garden Project has been operating at Newton Meeting in Camden since June of 2007.  Every Saturday during the growing season, we bring women from the Garrett House halfway house in Camden to work in a beautiful vegetable garden there, laid out and maintained by Dan Dougherty of Newton Meeting.  We work in the garden, planting, weeding, watering, harvesting--whatever is needed on any given Saturday.  And we share the bounty of the garden at lunch, which we eat out under the trees as long as weather permits.  The women who participate appreciate the therapeutic atmosphere working outdoors as well as the opportunity to socialize away from the halfway house, spending time with people who treat them as human beings, not just numbers or names on a list.  They also earn community service  hours, which is a requirement for everyone in the halfway house.  When the cold forces us inside, we provide a variety of programs, including conflict resolution and successfully negotiating parole, healthy eating and stress management, journaling and other forms of creative expression.  Just recently we visited a wonderful exhibit at Rutgers Camden of the art work of imprisoned parents and their children.  For more information about the Garden Project, including how to visit or volunteer at the Garden Project, please contact Ruth Darlington or Priscilla Adams (PeacePc@aol.com).  Thanks again for all your support!

Aerial View of the Garden Project

@ Newton Meeting,Camden

/Courtesy Google Maps 2008

Refuge Egypt

Refuge Egypt is a program currently educating Sudanese refugee children in Egypt. Laurie Woodill, former FDS student, and several of her classmates at Drew University, assisted the program earlier this year and were dismayed to learn that most children do not advance beyond pre-school. Her goal is to train 2 teachers in Montessori education and provide scholarships for children.  To learn more about Refuge Egypt please visit their website.