34 Community Service in the FSU HOT has always looked to partner with organizations that encourage community service. We think of this as the ultimate leverage - teaching people the importance of helping others, while simultaneously giving help to the needy. On the page facing this page (page 33 for those of you reading this online) you have read about our how we have partnered with Hillel chapters helping college students learn to want to, and actually, help others. This year, we believe we have finally found the right partner to work with in one of the most challenging parts of the world – the former Soviet Union (FSU). HOT has committed to a 3- year project that we believe will encourage scores of young people to help others, by opening their hearts to the importance of helping those less fortunate. We are piggybacking on work done over the last 25 years in the FSU by our new partner, the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). For the past 15 years, JDC has successfully run a program in the FSU training young people to go back to their communities with volunteerism in their blood. HOT’s 3-year grant will primarily be used to fund 2 part-time coordinators, one located in Rostov and the other in Krasnodar. Each of these coordinators will work with graduates of the JDC program to identify local unmet community needs, to create work plans, activities, action groups, seminars and other events. Additionally, and most importantly, they are to create an active network of community leaders who will take on the training of future leaders and volunteers. While HOT’s basic funding is to encourage volunteerism, several projects require programming costs and make up a wish list of: • $1,540 Birthday Parties and Holiday events for children at risk or with disabilities • $1,760 Seminars on obesity, diabetes and other health related issues for seniors • $3,450 of Food for the Elderly • $4,500 of homecare for the Elderly at $3.25 per hour