Here at Temple Beth Shalom, Social Action is not a committee. Social Action is who we are and what we do. We have a number of wonderful, ongoing projects, as well as periodic Social Action Events that take place in the community throughout the year.Below are our current projects. Please get involved soon. Your participation in Social Action at Temple Beth Shalom will allow you to help heal the world, make new friends and feel really good...‘promise. For more information, contact Elyse Rosenberg.
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The Interfaith Hospitality Network
The Interfaith Hospitality Network brings the faith community together to help families regain their housing, their independence, and their dignity. IHN is a partnership of congregations within a community helping families who are facing homelessness. It offers an opportunity for volunteers of all faiths to reduce homelessness and transform lives.
Temple Beth Shalom partners with Congregation Beth Israel to help these families once every three months. Volunteers activities include setting up/tearing down bedrooms in Congregation Beth Israel classrooms, cooking meals, serving meals, playing with children and helping them with homework, and staying overnight with guest families. For more information, contact Mary Toubin .
Meals on Wheels
Volunteers donate their time every Wednesday to deliver meals to 8-10 homebound elderly, disabled, and needy individuals off Ohlen Rd. Our clients are very special people. It is such a great way to give back to the community by providing hot meals to these people who would not otherwise get one. It is also very nice to visit with them every week-seeing them smile always makes you feel so good. We have 8 people right now who deliver about once every 2 months, and we are always looking for more. If you would like to help with Meals on Wheels, please contact Stacy Mendelson.
Knitzvah Project
The Knitzvah Project started in 2007 at Temple Beth Shalom when we were looking for a charity knitting opportunity. We discovered that there is tremendous need for warm hats and scarves for members of our community who are homeless. We also found out that, while many of these people have received charitable clothing donations, many of them almost never receive gifts that are made just for them. The goal of the Knitzvah Project is to provide these gifts.
To get an idea of the Knitzvah Project's impact on the people we serve, please read an overview of the 2012 project in Joan's report.
Our goal for 2013 will be 725 hand knitted/crocheted hats, scarves, toys and gloves/mittens. We will also gratefully accept blankets or throws. Help make someone feel important. Start knitting or crocheting gifts for people in our community who need us to care.
To find out how you can use your love of knitting or crocheting to help make someone in need feel really special, contact Joan Edelstein (knitzvah@gmail.com)
Here are the specs for Knitzvah 2013.
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Family Eldercare
Family Eldercare offers relief and support to family caregivers by providing care to their loved ones in the home. They provide a full range of services to ensure older adults remain independent and safe. They also offer support to the handicapped and mentally disabled. Volunteers are always needed. If anyone has any questions or would like to get involved, please contact Cecelia Stewart .
Mobile Loaves & Fishes
Join your Temple Beth Shalom friends at Mobile Loaves and Fishes on the first and third Fridays at 11:00 am to cut and bag donated pastries for delivery to the homeless and working poor.. We do Make Ready (meal preparation) the 3rd Sunday of each month at 3:00 pm and take the trucks out to serve the meals at around 4:00 pm. For more information, contact Bob Batlan.
Women's Storybook Project
Women’s Storybook Project of Texas is an interfaith, non-profit organization that depends strictly on donations and time of volunteers. Volunteers go to the Gatesville Prison and tape record mothers reading children’s story books to each of their sons and daughters, ages 12 and under. We then send each child his or her own brand new book with a personal message written from mom and the audiotape of their mom’s voice reading them a story and leaving an affectionate message.
In February, 2011 the “Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism” has awarded Temple Beth Shalom with an Irving J Fain Social Action Award to honor their work of tikkun olam (repairing the world) for the Women’s Storybook Project of Texas. Temple Beth Shalom has also been the recipient of the 2005 Epstein Communicate! Award for Small Congregations.
If you wish to volunteer or make a donation, please contact Judy Fox either by email: jzfox@austin.rr.com or by phone: 512-292-4115. Donations may be made on line: http://storybookproject.org
If you're interested in volunteering for Women's Storybook Project but don't have the time to make a trip to Gatesville, or if you're a man or under the age of 21, we could also use your help, especially during November and December. If you have a couple of hours one weekend (in November or December) to spare, please help us at our annual Barnes and Noble Book Drive . Find out more .
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