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TRS Social Action
Committee
In coordination with the clergy, the Social Action
Committee furthers the Jewish ideals of social and political justice,
serves as the arm of the congregation in tzedakah and mitzvah projects
to help those in our community who need food, shelter, and caring, and
fosters appropriate support of Israel and oppressed Jewry worldwide. The
committee sponsors education programs and offers information on the
public policy activities of the Religious Action Center of Reform
Judaism and the Northern Virginia Commission of the Jewish Community
Council of Greater Washington (see the links at the bottom of the left
navigation bar on this page). The committee also provides financial
support to social service agencies, national and local Jewish
organizations, and Reform Movement institutions in Israel.
Social Action Committee Activities
MITZVAH DAY has
been an annual event since 1996, dedicated to providing many different
types of services to a variety of people and agencies around the metro
area, including cleaning up parks and streams, home repairs for people
in need, entertaining group home residents, and providing meals for
low-income people.
OUR DAILY BREAD collects and
delivers groceries to low-income people in Fairfax County, working
primarily through the volunteer efforts of religious congregations. For
the past several years, the temple’s partnership with this organization
has been integrated into Mitzvah Day.
SHARE, INC.
provides food, clothing, furniture, cash grants, holiday gifts and food
baskets, and transportation to medical appointments, all on an emergency
basis, to low-income people in McLean, Falls Church, Pimmit Hills, and
Great Falls. Its work is supported primarily by the religious
congregations of the community. Through the Committee, the Temple has
provided volunteers for many of Share’s programs, particularly its
annual Thanksgiving basket distribution. We collect nonperishable food
for Share’s pantry on Yom Kippur and again in the spring. For more
information, please contact 703/903-8925.
SOME (So Others Might Eat) is one
of the oldest soup kitchens in Washington, DC.
GROUP ACTIVITIES (by
activity)
Adoption Programs (i.e. family,
classroom, trail, highway, home)
- Arlington County Schools, School Partnership
Program
- Community Residences (Adopt-A-Home)
- Northern VA Family Services (family in need)
- Nursing Homes/Healthcare or Retirement Centers
- Sullivan House (family in or leaving transitional
shelter)
Clean-Up/Environmental/Outdoor Projects
- Arlington/Fairfax Releaf
- Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (wetlands
restoration in collaboration with the Alexandria Seaport Foundation)
- Potomac Overlook Park
Collection of items for
agency or agency program
Construction/maintenance
Donation of funds
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater
Washington (lobbies the Virginia Legislature)
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Food/Hunger Programs
- Arlington Food Assistance Center
-
ASPAN Arlington Street Peoples
Assistance Program
- Capital Area Community Food Bank, D.C.
- Capital Area Community Food Bank (NVA
Branch/Lorton)
-
Food for Others
Homeless Population
Sort clothing, household goods, books
Special Events (i.e. fundraisers,
holiday events etc.)
FALLS CHURCH-McLEAN
CHILDREN’S CENTER is dedicated to providing quality early
childhood education, regardless of family income. The Temple, working
through the Social Action Committee and the Sisterhood, is a longtime
supporter of the Center.
GROCERY RECEIPTS:
For the past several years, we have encouraged congregants to provide
grocery receipts (or, more recently, to register their Safeway Club and
Giant Bonus cards) to benefit alternative public schools in Fairfax
county that serve low-income and special needs children. The
congregation has helped these schools obtain computer equipment and
other needed supplies with over $30,000 in donations annually. Designate
2080 for Giant, 2372 for Safeway, or "Oakwood Shelter School."
HOUSING: Our Ohel
Yaakov (Tent of Jacob) Fund provides support for affordable housing
initiatives, homeless shelters, transitional housing arrangements, and
group homes for people with disabilities. The Sisterhood House Pin
program has provided substantial resources, but the bulk of the funds
are a raised through an annual fall appeal to the congregation.
Donations can be made to honor individuals or organizations, and
certificates are prepared by the Committee for the honorees as Chanukah
gifts.
Organizations served include:
-
ASPAN Arlington Community Shelter
- Sullivan House Bailey's Crossroads Community
Shelter
-
Habitat For Humanity Chesterbrook
Assisted Living Facility
- The McLean Interfaith Coalition Fairfax County
Women's Shelter
- Jewish Foundation For Group Homes
Falls Church Housing Corporation
- Sukkat Shalom (A Peaceful Shelter) Falls Church
Winter Shelter
- New Hope Housing
MAZON: A JEWISH RESPONSE TO HUNGER
is a national Jewish organization that raises funds for anti-hunger
activities in the United States and throughout the world. It encourages
donations equivalent to three percent of the cost of food at life cycle
events and other celebrations. The temple is one of more than 800
MAZON
partner synagogues. The committee provides information to the
congregation and encourages contributions. Our Yom Kippur food drive is
part of the national "From the Corners of Our Fields" project,
cosponsored by
MAZON and the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist
Movements.
RABBI RICHARD STERNBERGER
SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD is provided annually to an individual or
organization in the community that has contributed to the cause of
social justice. The Committee solicits nominations from the congregation
and presents the award at the annual Social Action Shabbat. (A few
previous recipients include Lazarus At The Gate, SHARE,
YACHAD,
Falls Church Housing Corporation,
Arlington Street
People's Assistance Network (ASPAN), and others.)
SOCIAL ACTION FUND
is administered by the committee. Congregants regularly make voluntary
donations to this fund, which allows the committee to provide support to
social service agencies and social action projects.
SOUP CARAVAN
provides soup and sandwiches four times a month to residents of homeless
shelters and a low-income senior citizens residence in Falls Church and
to homeless people in Arlington. Regular and occasional volunteers are
needed to shop, prepare the food, and deliver. We need drivers for our
newest Caravan route, to Max's Place Shelter in Bailey's Crossroads.
SUKKOT IN APRIL:
In partnership with
Yachad, a Jewish housing and community
development agency, we upgrade and repair one or two homes for needy
families or individuals. For the last several years, this project has
been part of Mitzvah Day, and we have also worked in partnership with
the Arlington-Fairfax Jewish Congregation.
WINTER MITZVAH PROJECT
has traditionally taken place on or about December 25. In the past, we
have prepared and delivered holiday meals and decorations for shelter
residents, shut-ins, and our Sukkat Shalom family. More recently, we
have focused on collecting and wrapping gifts for needy people. Contact
Jenn Rafael, 703-690-9393 and
jrafael@navytimes.com if you have any
questions or just want to find out more.
Volunteer help for any of these projects is always
welcomed. Contact the Temple office by phone or e-mail
info@templerodefshalom.org for information on who to contact
if you are interested in volunteering. Please indicate which project
interests
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