To mark the 60th anniversary of National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis’ Couturier sale, here are 60 achievements and fun facts about NCJWSTL from its founding to today.
1893 National Council of Jewish Women is founded by Hannah G. Solomon in Chicago with an initial membership of 93 delegates from 29 cities.
1895 Oct. 14, St. Louis Section of NCJW is established with 34 members.
1919 St. Louis Section pioneers a Free Milk Program in the St. Louis public schools. Responsibility for the program is assumed by the school system in the 1930’s.
1934 Opens Council House as a community center serving World War I refugees.
1940 Establishes the Council Shop, a resale store, now located at 295 N. Lindbergh Blvd. Profits provide funding to support NCJW projects.
1960 Art Interest Group is developed in partnership with the St. Louis Art Museum.
1961 Trouping Theater begins touring with original skits presented to children in elementary schools and hospitals.
1964 The first Couturier Sale is held in a member’s home. This sale continued as an annual event and source of funding for NCJW community service projects. The same year, NCJW initiates plans to build the Delcrest Apartments, a 144-unit housing facility and activities program for low-income seniors. In 1971, the Delcrest expanded the availability of its activities programs to non-residents living in the area.
1965 NCJW’s Consumer Education Project helps women in poverty learn to manage limited resources.
1974 Well Baby Clinic begins, volunteers screen preschool aged children for learning disabilities.
1975 Volunteers provide tutoring at Edgewood Children’s Home for children with special needs.
1976 Wife Widow Woman Support Groups for women of all ages who have been widowed begins.
1980 Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is founded to advocate for the rights of abused and neglected children under the jurisdiction of the St. Louis County Juvenile Court. Becomes an independent agency, January 1, 1996.
1980 In partnership with the Jewish Federation and the JCCA, the Multi-Service Senior Center is founded to coordinate services to assist older adults in maintaining independent living in their homes.
1981 NCJW’s Evening Group produced and distributed Quick Cuisine, a cookbook designed to meet the needs of busy, working families.
1981 Service to New Americans initiated; volunteers help identify and make referrals for social service needs of new Americans.
1983 Divorce Support Group initiated to offer professional and peer support to women experiencing the transition of divorce.
1984 Foster Parent Training Seminars are developed and administered for DFS by NCJW volunteers.
1985 Advocate Services for Abused Women is established to assist women seeking legal protection from abusive relationships. Becomes independent in October 1995 as Legal Advocates for Abused Women (LAAW).
1985 Kids at Home is developed to train in-home childcare providers.
1985 NCJW volunteers assist with Mothers in the Workplace, a project of the National Center for the Child, to document social revolution of women joining the labor force.
1986 Junior Council is created to foster community service leadership among Jewish youth.
1988 Inside Israel begins a volunteer program to present the history and culture of Israel to local 6th graders.
1989 Challenge for Community Action advocates for affordable quality childcare.
1995 Silent Witness Exhibit opens at Saint Louis Galleria, as a memorial to women in Missouri murdered
1999 Working Advantage program is developed to assist former welfare women entering the workforce with the selection of appropriate career clothing at the NCJW Council Shop. The program also provides education and resources for essential skills for job searching, finances, and personal grooming.
2000 The Back-To-School! Store™ is developed as a one-day event to provide clothing, school supplies, and personal care items for deserving children in the St. Louis area and get them excited to head back to school. The first event was held in August 2001.
2002 To advocate against school vouchers and tuition tax credits, NCJW organizes Protect Our Public Schools (POPS), a coalition of like-minded organizations. Programming is geared to mobilize and educate the public about the negative effect vouchers and tax credits would have on the public school system.
2005 Board approves Adopt an Apartment Project with Lydia’s House for implementation in 2006. NCJW-St. Louis Section will adopt apartments at this transitional domestic violence shelter and keep them refurbished as necessary for residents.
2007 OACAP (Older Adult Community Action Program) becomes part of NCJW’s community service programs. OACAP provides information, advocacy and educational opportunities for seniors in our community.
2008 Kid’s Community Closet pilots in the Wellston School District. Closets are built in selected schools to provide for the ongoing emergent needs of children to enable them to stay in school and get an education.
2008 Lunch and Learn election education series begins, educating over 250 people about the election process, political process and legislative involvement.
2009 Kid’s Community Closet partners with The Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry to provide a closet in the pantry at the Jewish Family & Children’s Service, an organization that provides services regardless of race, religion or ability to pay.
2009 NCJW Board establishes Women’s Emergency Services Tribute Fund to aid women in need of emergency assistance.
2009 In partnership with NCJW, Inc., the section establishes the Missouri Action Network, an online advocacy program to be implemented statewide. This program reaches the entire state in order to effectively advocate on our issues.
2011 Healing Hearts Bank is named and partnered with Lydia’s House to begin making microloans.
2012 NCJW and The Resale Shop move into one building at 295 N. Lindbergh, to consolidate operations and better serve the community.
2013 Connect-A-Program for 5-8th grade girls is launched to provide leadership, community service and advocacy opportunities for young women.
2014 Project Renewal is created to help underserved women utilize our Resale Shop on Sunday afternoons to get what they need to live and work. In addition, programs to help them move forward are presented by our volunteers with opportunities for personal shopping at no cost as well.
2017 Courts Matter coalition established to work on protecting judicial appointments in MO.
2017 NCJW establishes a Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) coalition to increase access in MO.
2018 NCJW successfully endorsed and worked to pass laws to raise the minimum wage and put ethics reform in place in MO.
2018 NCJW establishes coalition to look into fair housing in our region.
2018 Local trafficking hotline posters are installed in St. Louis County government offices to help victims and provide community education.
2018 Healing Hearts Bank expands to serve 18 agencies.
2020 The Resale Shop celebrated 80 years since its founding.
2020 The Resale Shop voted “Best in Resale” by St. Louis Magazine.
2021 The Resale Shop launches e-commerce online sales.
2021 VESSA-Victims Economic Safety & Security Act, written by NCJWSTL, signed into law by the Governor on July 14, 2021. “Because no one should have to choose between their job and staying safe.”
2022 Kids Community Closet expands to serve 33 schools in 29 locations – over 13,000 students have access to the closets.
2023 Healing Hearts Bank reaches milestone, lending out over $100,000 since its inception.
2023 NCJW takes leadership role in re-establishing the Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force
2024 New project task force established to explore community needs and make recommendations on a new project, titled the St. Louis Women’s Network.
2024 380,000 signatures were gathered to bring ending the abortion ban in the State of Missouri, NCJWSTL collected over 10,000 signatures and sat on the steering committee of the campaign.
2024 July 9, NCJWSTL closed on the purchase of 311 N. Lindbergh to begin the relocation of its offices and Shop to larger space.
— Timeline provided by NCJW
