KMS Special Needs Committee

Kemp Mill Synagogue has established a new committee designed to help individuals and their families with "special needs".

The committee (currently comprised of Rabbi Bieler, Cynthia Brilliant, Janis Sterling, Linda and Elliott Klonsky, and Cheryl Stern) has identified the following preliminary goals:

To educate and sensitize our members to the practical and emotional challenges faced by individuals, their families and caregivers, with special needs.
To provide listings of community resources and agencies, including a listing of professionals within the KMS membership (with their permission), that serve special needs.
To organize youth and adult volunteer efforts.

There are many ways to help. For example, Elliott and Linda Klonsky are starting a Greater Washington initiative to involve high school students with developing relationships with individuals with developmental disabilities. This initiative, called Project Gavi, is named after their son Gavi who enjoyed the friendship of high-schoolers from various synagogues (including KMS) and Jewish day schools. Our KMS youth would hopefully be a part of this effort.

Other volunteer efforts could include helping with wheel-chair transportation of elderly relatives visiting for Shabbat or Yom Tov or visits to aging parents in nursing homes.

This important committee is in its early development and welcomes your input and involvement. Here's how you can help:

If you would like to be a member of the committee please contact Elliott Klonsky at 301-681-6175 or DREJK@AOL.com.
If you, or someone in your family, has special needs related to a developmental, physical, or other disability, and would be interested in specific short-term or ongoing help, please contact Elliott Klonsky.
If you would like to be included in a listing of KMS members who have experience or expertise in this area, please contact Cheryl Stern at 301-593-5646 or stern6@aol.com .
If you would like to volunteer to visit, play with, or otherwise assist individuals with special needs please contact Janis Sterling at 301-649-6899 or Jpsterling@AOL.com.