Oak Park Temple is collaborating with the National Council of Jewish Women on our Repro Shabbat weekend to put together abortion care kits for those who seek abortions at Planned Parenthood Aurora. As many people now have to travel to Illinois to get a safe and legal abortion, this kit provides a few items that can make that challenge a little easier. This kit was designed in conjunction with Planned Parenthood of Illinois.

There are a couple of ways to participate.

On Sunday, February 19 from 11:30am to 2:00pm, we will hear about the state of abortion in Illinois from Donna Fishman, MPH, chair of NCJW Chicago North Shore’s Repro Educator’s Team and long-time abortion justice advocate. Rabbi Weiss will provide a short talk on Jewish texts to go along with Fishman’s talk.

After the talk, volunteers will put together 200 abortion care kits that will be delivered to Planned Parenthood Aurora. Lunch will be provided.  

Oak Park Temple is going to provide half of the items for the kits, so we’re looking for the following donations:
16.9 fl oz Water bottles
Stress Balls or Fidget Spinners
Hot Chocolate Packets
Tea Packets
Motivational Pouch
Travel Sized Kleenex

Amazon List:
Pouch
Stress Balls
Tea (can find cheaper at Restaurant Depot or Costco/Sams)
Hot Chocolate (can find cheaper at Costco/Sams)

 

Donna Fishman, MPH
Donna Fishman serves as chair of the “Repro Educator’s Team” for the National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore Section (NCJW). Previously, she served NCJW Chicago North Shore as president, vice president for community services, and co-chair of the Jewish Community Against Sex Trafficking. She currently serves on the NCJW Chicago North Shore board and is the founder and chair of the NCJW Salon discussion series. In June, Donna received NCJW Chicago North Shore’s inaugural Innovative Leadership Award. She previously served as the NCJW Illinois State Policy Advocacy Chair, a national appointment.

Donna is a long-time abortion justice advocate, both professionally and personally. She received her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Minnesota, focusing on Maternal and Child Health, and worked in the field of adolescent pregnancy and reproductive health for 25 years. Donna‘s passion for social justice and health equity has taken her down a career path that encompasses addressing the social determinants of health—policy, economy, racism, and our health system– everything that touches and impacts familes. She is currently the Director of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness. In this position she works to ensure a national system of vision health for underserved children and advocates for the integration of vision health education and care into early childhood, schools, and public health systems.