Social Action TIKVAH Team
TIKVAH: "Touching Individuals with Kindness, Vision, and Hope"
TIKVAH: "Touching Individuals with Kindness, Vision, and Hope"
Greetings to everyone! I have taken on the mission of collating our social action activities and trying to provide a range of community support projects that we can participate in. If you have a favorite social action project that you would like to bring to our attention, please contact me, Ronny Kaplan at: ronnykaplan@snet.net
In this unforgettable year of 2020, so much has happened in our country and the world; health wise, politically, economically, and socially. As a result, our society has experienced so many unbelievable crises, and so many people are in such dire need, that we have decided to list many different avenues for our members to contribute to, and participate in, social action activities. As you can see below, there are ways to participate in getting out the vote, contributing to Food Banks, making sandwiches for those in need, shopping for seniors, donating blood, combating racism, donating toiletries to those in need, and supporting Building One Community.
Please also be sure to reach out to us if you find you are in need of help during this time. We are here for you!
Ronny Kaplan - Social Action Team Chair
In this unforgettable year of 2020, so much has happened in our country and the world; health wise, politically, economically, and socially. As a result, our society has experienced so many unbelievable crises, and so many people are in such dire need, that we have decided to list many different avenues for our members to contribute to, and participate in, social action activities. As you can see below, there are ways to participate in getting out the vote, contributing to Food Banks, making sandwiches for those in need, shopping for seniors, donating blood, combating racism, donating toiletries to those in need, and supporting Building One Community.
Please also be sure to reach out to us if you find you are in need of help during this time. We are here for you!
Ronny Kaplan - Social Action Team Chair
Holiday Gift Drive for Abilis
SHIR AMI is again partnering with ABILIS a Greenwich/Stamford agency that provides comprehensive services for people of all ages with developmental disabilities, to fulfill their holiday wish list for the special needs adults who live in group homes. During this very long year the residents have been so isolated and cut off from their usual routines! They will especially appreciate some joy and gifts to brighten up their holidays.
Please select one or more individuals to purchase gifts for. You may purchase one or all of the items on their wish list. I am assuming that most people will be ordering gifts from online sources this year. All gifts should be wrapped and tagged with the person’s name easily visible. A card or label could include your name if you want and it should include Congregation Shir Ami so they will know it comes from our temple. Click here to sign up for gifts.
Due to COVID here are a few different options this year for delivering the gifts which should be collected no later than Wednesday December 16th:
1. Deliver your wrapped package to Susan and Dahni Nisinzweig’s house no later than Dec 16th at 60 Mary Lane, Riverside, CT 06878. Call or text us at 203 645-6302 to let us know when you are coming and then leave the package by the front door.
2. If you cannot deliver your purchased gift(s) then you have the option of having us pick the gift up from you or having it mailed directly to our house (to arrive no later than December 14th) and we will wrap it for you.
3. For those who prefer to donate money for gifts instead and have us do the shopping for you, that could be an option as well. But because we will be purchasing the gifts online, we ask that you make your donation by December 1st. https://www.congregationshirami.org/donate.html
Please email Susan at shirami.info@gmail.com to let her know which option you choose.
Shir Ami Social Action projects include:
Watch this inspiring video about the Neighbor to Neighbor Food Bank and the incredible work they have been doing in Greenwich to get food to those in need during COVID.
view video
Shir Ami will give a Rosh Hashanah donation to this foodbank from our Social Action Fund. You may add to the size of our donation by making a donation this week to our Social Action Fund. click here
view video
Shir Ami will give a Rosh Hashanah donation to this foodbank from our Social Action Fund. You may add to the size of our donation by making a donation this week to our Social Action Fund. click here
B1C has multiple programs that help immigrants as they find their way in this country and in our state. This organization can benefit from money and from volunteer time. Several of our members are currently tutoring and finding it very rewarding!
Our in person project with B1C was sidelined due to COVID but we encourage people to learn more about this organization and ways you can help them. https://building1community.org/
To contribute online: https://building1community.org/donate/
For Covid specific donations : https://building1community.org/covid-19-response-fund/
Our in person project with B1C was sidelined due to COVID but we encourage people to learn more about this organization and ways you can help them. https://building1community.org/
To contribute online: https://building1community.org/donate/
For Covid specific donations : https://building1community.org/covid-19-response-fund/
This project supplies toiletries to people in need, as these essential items are not covered by grants or found in food pantries. Our Member Margie Black is seeking 4 volunteers to help with the packing of bags for the next distribution in October. Shir Ami will commit to purchasing several $18 bags per quarter for the coming year. Email: Marjorieblack85@gmail.com
Shopping for Seniors at the UJA-JCC in Greenwich is one of the projects that our Member Barbara Salop is passionate about because this service makes a huge difference in the ability for their clients to continue to live independently. More information is available on our Social Action page and on their website.
https://jfsgreenwich.org/supermarketing-for-seniors/
https://jfsgreenwich.org/supermarketing-for-seniors/
Abilis is a local organization that supports individuals with special needs from birth to death. Some of our members work there and some receive services there. For the past decade we have done a December Holiday Gift drive to provide presents for individuals in group homes that don't have family members to buy them gifts. They have appreciated our gifts very much.
To learn more about Abilis and additional ways you can help this community contact susannisin@gmail.com
To learn more about Abilis and additional ways you can help this community contact susannisin@gmail.com
The New Covenant soup kitchen can no longer cook & provide an eating space for its clients, due to Covid-19. However, they are happy to accept sandwiches you can make at home, and will distribute them to hungry clients. Contact David Lovegreen (DLovegreen@ccfc-ct.org) for detailed instructions. Check out NewCovenantCenter.org to learn about all their services & their Covid-19 response.
The Food Bank is one of this area’s primary hunger-relief organizations. They provide food to any qualified non-profit agency in a six town area of Fairfield County (Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford and Wilton) that serves low income people through congregate meals or bags of groceries. These agencies include soup kitchens, homeless shelters, food pantries, child day care centers, after school programs, senior centers and rehabilitation programs. For more information and volunteer opportunities, please go to their website https://www.foodbanklfc.org/.
Interfaith Blood Drive-this has been a very successful partnership in which we have contributed many pints of blood for CT emergencies. The next one is on Saturday November 14th 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Your blood donation will ensure blood supplies are ready, whenever and wherever they are needed. Make your appointment at redcrossblood.org searching for 06830 - you’ll find many opportunities to perform this mitzvah. If you have any questions please contact Barbara Salop bdsalop@gmail.com
To help Democrats in the Georgia Senate run-off Senatorial Elections:
Indivisible Stamford will be sending postcards to registered voters of color to encourage them to vote early. If interested contact: info@indivisiblestamford.com
www.Democrats.org/text-out-the-vote as well as phonebanking
Vote Forward is planning several campaigns to help encourage voters in Georgia to vote in this election, This group provides preformatted letters, which you print out add a few sentences to, to encourage people to vote. You can contact them at: hello@votefwd.org
- If you would like to do texting to voters from your computer (there is training), here is the link: indivisiblestamford.com/text-banking.
- There are also phone banking opportunities: https://www.mobilize.us/electjon/event/362688/
www.Democrats.org/text-out-the-vote as well as phonebanking
Vote Forward is planning several campaigns to help encourage voters in Georgia to vote in this election, This group provides preformatted letters, which you print out add a few sentences to, to encourage people to vote. You can contact them at: hello@votefwd.org
Combating Racism
Here's a of list 75 Things White People Can Do to Combat Racism:
https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234
Here's a of list 75 Things White People Can Do to Combat Racism:
https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234