Join our group providing support an asylum-seeking family
Each year, on Yom Kippur, we collect food supplies to stock the shelves at the Share, Inc. McLean location, which serves low-income residents in our area. At this time of year the pantry’s shelves are almost bare, and Share relies heavily on the generosity of TRS congregants to provide the bulk of their food for the next three to four months.
SHN is an international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world. The McLean Rotary Club, local schools and businesses, and various religious denominations join forces to package over 250,000 meals to send abroad. Because the activity typically occurs on our Shabbat, TRS’s contribution is to help on the day before, in getting equipment and supplies organized for the massive packaging effort the next day.
This day of service traditionally takes place on December 25, with some modification when it occurs on Shabbat. We typically prepare and deliver holiday meals and decorations for shelter residents, group homes, and senior citizens. We also make holiday cards, write letters to soldiers, and wrap gifts for needy people.
This is a new annual event, started in Israel, for Jewish communities all over the world to honor our traditions of doing good deeds. Participants gather at Gesher School for an afternoon of meaningful (and fun) volunteer activities — perfect for families as well as individuals! Look for details on the Good Deeds Day website.
In partnership with Yachad, a Jewish housing and community development agency, and Etz Hayim, the Arlington-Fairfax Jewish Congregation, we upgrade and repair one or two homes for needy families or individuals.
These groups of volunteers provide soup and sandwiches four times a month to residents of homeless shelters and low-income senior citizens in the Falls Church and Arlington areas. Volunteers provide meals for ASPAN (first Tuesdays), Soup Caravan 2 (first Wednesdays), Soup Caravan (second Wednesdays), and Max’s Place (third Thursdays).
Volunteers pick up baked goods remaining at the close of business at Panera Bread in Falls Church and deliver them to Ronald McDonald House by Fairfax Children’s Hospital.
Each month, we collect food and other items for area food pantries and shelters (and sometimes other groups if we receive a specific request) with our Mitzvah of the Month program. The receiving agency and the types of items are announced in the weekly e-newsletter and monthly Connection publication.