April 17, 1959
CANADIAN   JEWISH   REVIEW
11
Club Ezor of Toronto: The Real
Communal Service
�Y NATALIE T. SPIE9EL, (MRS. SYDNEY SNE6EI), SCOtETARY, W KINfi HIGH AVENUE, TORONTO
Six and a half years ago, ten young married women found that they were tired of belonging to fund-raising organizations, always selling tickets or working on raffles and teas. Their purpose was to devote their time and energy, rather than money, to various projects where personal service would be of great help. The original intention of keeping the group small was to maintain unity. Although small in size, Club Ezor developed into what a social worker once called "the perfect text-book group, the kind that student social workers read and dream about, but never expect to meet". Top often such groups fall apart or become a social entity.
These members chose the word
wordmeaning
to help, or assist, as the name for their group. Their monthly meetings include an extensive literary and cultural program. This is not a social group. In the past six years, the Ezor Club members have contributed their services in part,
pital floor. The women are on duty three evenings a week.
Last autumn, the ten women discovered the dire need for the establishment of a clothing exchange centre at the University Settlement House. This centre would enable the surrounding community to exchange discarded clothing for similar articles more suitable for them. The work has been so successful and has expanded so greatly that the demand is larger than the supply. The situation is of such importance that ten persons can no longer obtain a sufficient supply of clothing, completely on their own.
The clothing exchange was started after a Settlement House officer noticed several high school students were dropping out of school. ~Heinvestigated'" and- fotnuF the reason was that they didn't have adequate or sufficient clothing. The Ezor women were asked to see what they could do and from this the Clothing Exchange was born. A point system was
to sucfc projects as: The Home Incurable Children; School For The Mentally Retarded Children; and the Jewish Family and Child Service of the United Jewish Welfare Fund of Toronto. At the present time,- Club Ezor women are contributing their efforts to two major projects, The Jewish Home for the Aged � Bay crest Hospital, and the University Settlement House.
Club Ezor was the first volunteer group to organize (with the aid of the social service worker) a recreational program at the Jewish Home for the Aged. They spent many pleasurable hours play-ing bingo with the residents, every Sunday evening, for several years. Suitable and carefully-chosen prizes were given and refreshments were served. The effort was very, rewarding, indeed, especially in the case of an elderly gentleman, who, confined to his wheel-chair for several years, was extremely withdrawn and reticent. At a much later date, he confided to the Ezor women that his great highlight of the week was the happy and congenial atmosphere, created by the members every Sunday, at the bingo games in which he participated very enthusiastically.
Members also assisted at the occasional concert and holiday parties held in the Home. This fall the members of Club 'Ezor were approached to work at the Bay-crest Hospital as Ward secretaries, fois entails various clerical duties, as well as filling in wherever help is required, on the hos-
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of their self-respect and independence. There is a file for each family, giving the names and ages of the children. When they bring in their old and used garments to exchange them for something more
suitable, they are credited with so many points. This way they feel that their contribution can be used to help some one else.
The Centre is open one morning a week and is staffed by a couple of Club members and several of the Settlement Nursery School mothers, who take a great and active interest in this project. The loyalty maintained by the Nursery School Mothers has resulted in a harmonious relation"" with Club Ezor Women and together they achieved incredible returns from a bazaar held prior to an important holiday. Proceeds from the bazaar were directed wisely to the proper channels for further good.
Because teen-agers are sensitive about receiving help, their clothing is distributed to them in the evening through their own teen* age club presidents or adviser. Special care is given to unusual problems which frequently crop up.
The women also have their intellectual side. When they meet once a month, each takes her turn at presenting a paper which requires much research and .preparation. Some of the papers that were delivered over a period of years include such subjects as: comparative religions, occupational therapy, hypnosis, Maimonides,
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