Colorado Gives Day is on December 10 this year, but early giving begins today. Hillel of Colorado is thrilled to be participating again this year, and we are so excited to kick off giving with a new focus on an amazing match for monthly recurring gifts! Starting Today, November 1, when donors set up a new monthly donation through ColoradoGives.org, we will match the first donation up to $100.
Since joining the Hillel of Colorado team a year and a half ago as the Assistant Director, the world has changed. I feel so lucky that I have had the chance to work with both the incredible college students here in Colorado as well as a very talented staff of Jewish professionals who share the same desire I do. We are in this to serve young Jews where they are and help them grow into our next leaders with resilience, pride, and do so in a world that is safer for them than it is today.
When I reflect on the last year and a half, I cannot help think about some of the specific moments that remind me why I do what I do. Although my role is not specifically student facing, I have formed deep relationships with many of our students. It warms my heart each time a student comes in to my office and plops down on my chair to share a joy, sadness, fear or concern. They often just need an ear, but sometimes a hug or help solving a problem. The topics range from a person they have a crush on feeling unsafe on campus because of Antisemitism. Being there for these students during the past year is my greatest delight, even when the topic is heavy, as it often is. How incredible is it for our students to have trusted staff that they can lean on whenever they need it, especially when many of them are away from home for the first time.
Now, these students have even more essential wellness resources than ever before, since we added a full-time wellness director, Shoshanna Shachtman this summer. Since this fall, I have seen countless students confide in Shoshanna as she helps them navigate the campus climate and their own feelings through one-on-one interactions, therapeutic crafting sessions, spiritual experiences and even meeting them on campus for pop up yoga sessions.
We cannot do this work without the generosity of our community. Please join me in setting up a recurring monthly gift so we can continue to be there for each Jewish student in Colorado!