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Volunteers from across Middlesex County came to the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County, South River, Nov. 22 to volunteer to make phone calls for Super Sunday, the federation's annual fundraising campaign.

Many New Jersey federations hold a Super Sunday campaign around Thanksgiving to raise money that they then distribute to their beneficiaries, including local Jewish day schools; Jewish Family and Vocational Services and their programs; Rutgers Hillel; and the JCC. The federation also distributes money to Jewish organizations worldwide, including the Jewish Agency for Israel.

This year, the federation set a goal of $315,000, and the amount is usually determined by previous years' numbers. This year, 75 percent of the funds will stay within the community and 25 percent will go abroad.

"We find it's a great time for this community right before the holidays, and right before a lot of the snowbirds go to Florida," said federation Associate Executive Director Susan Antman. "It's not only a chance to ask for money, but to really reach out and chat and say, 'How are you doing? Do you need any help?' Even if someone doesn't give a gift, the really good thing that I love about this is that we connect with people and if they have issues... we are able to respond and get them the help immediately."

Despite the economic downturn, incoming federation president Arlene Frumkin was confident that their goal for the day would be hit.

"In light of what's going on right now, it's very important for us to raise as much as possible because there are so many in the community who need us," said Arlene Frumkin, incoming president of the federation. "We're here to help in whatever way we can help. I think we will hit our goal."

Volunteers young and old came to the federation to make phone calls and run pledge cards from phone to phone, many motivated by their appreciation for the organization.

"I want to stop by and take a look and see what they're doing and give them encouragement," said Jeffries Shein, a lifelong New Jersey resident who currently resides in Long Branch, but still runs a business in Middlesex County. "We have been major supporters of the federation for years."

Solomon Schechter of Raritan Valley student Eric Weiss presented a poster and a jar of money that his class collected for the federation's chaplaincy programs. The 7th graders wrote letters to God about what they were thankful for before Thanksgiving, and Eric shared his with the Super Sunday volunteers.

"We thank you for giving us friends and family who care about us and take care of us," the letter read. "There are many people who are not as lucky as we are. They are missing out on people visiting them in the hospital or in nursing homes... therefore, we are supporting the chaplaincy program by giving tzedakah."

Federation volunteer Ruth Bash said that helping on Super Sunday this year had more personal meaning, because more community members needed help during the tough economic times.

"I think everybody knows that there's been more need in our own community than there has been in a long time," Bash said. "So in addition to raising funds for Jews overseas, in Israel, and in other places which we've always been doing, I think people in the room today feel more personal that it's a lot closer to home."

Volunteer efforts to reach their goal will continue at the federation Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Antman said that Nov. 22's efforts brought in more than 100 new givers.

"We had more people involved in this Super Sunday than ever before," Antman said. "The wonderful thing about is that it's all community driven. That's what makes it so special."