It takes a village to maintain and grow a vibrant Jewish sleepaway camp, which is why Camp Sabra needs your help. From Tuesday, Aug. 3 through Thursday, Aug. 5, the camp is launching All in for Sabra, its annual fundraiser that thanks to some generous matching donors, allows the camp to match donations dollar for dollar.

The money raised goes to scholarships as well as various non-capital improvements, such as helping staff with a special Shabbat celebration for campers or providing s’mores for a cookout, which in turn can help build even greater memories (who doesn’t love melted chocolate and marshmallows on graham crackers?).

After a year of no camp in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic, Sabra was able to bring campers back to the Staenberg Peninsula of Lake of the Ozarks for an exciting 2021 summer season.

“We knew that a successful summer would require a great plan, great staff and great camper families. But it also required the support of our generous and committed Sabra donors,” said Terri Grossman, director of Camp Sabra. “We’re happy to report that all the pieces fit together for a truly memorable summer. At both sessions, we were able to lift our ‘bubble’ at camp after seven days. After that, our campers and staff got to sing together, grow together and be together — exactly what everyone needed after the year we had. We are so grateful.”

According to Grossman and others affiliated with the camp, financial support ensures that future generations will have life-shaping experiences at Sabra. Many current and former Sabra campers say that Jewish residential camps — and Camp Sabra in particular — have positively impacted them and/or their children in building Jewish identity and community. Campers return home each summer with an increased desire to live Jewishly, which may also inspire them to become future Jewish leaders.

The link to the campaign is: https://give.jccstl.org/sabraday. Oh, and something special this year: At the $1,000 level, you get a limited-edition, tie-dye Sabra sweatshirt.