What an incredible event yesterday at the Interfaith Food Pantry. Eighty volunteers from all participating congregations - Christ Church, TSTI, Beth El and B'nai Jeshrun - as well as students from Pingry and Newark Academy grads joined together for a holiday distribution. Breakfast was served to over 150 needy individuals and families from Orange and East Orange and then the distribution began. Volunteers walked our clients through the holiday bazaar, where they could choose much needed toiletries, gifts and clothing. They also received food,baked goods donated by Supreme Bakery and Panera, and holiday meals (including hams donated by the generousity of a West Orange law firm).
Thanks to all who donated food and other items, to those who transported the donated goods, and to all who worked tirelessly yesterday morning to make our holiday distribution a huge success. What a great way to spend a day of Chanukah - it truly felt like a miracle was happening.
Last week's shocking Star Ledger headline said that nearly half of Americans now live in poverty or are low income. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/nearly_half_americans_either_l.html. To better understand how difficult it is to live on such meager (or no) income, take a look at some of the enlightening articles about a recent challenge the Community FoodBank of NJ and other hunger organizations held. http://www.njfoodbank.org/challenge/challenge-recap-journal. People were asked to eat on the average food stamp allowance, which maxes out at $31.50 a person a week. That Starbucks coffee we all enjoy costs as much as an individual often has to eat on for a whole day. The moral - be grateful for the bounty we all have, remember those who can't feed their families, and help in whatever way you can. Bring one, donate your time, support hunger relief efforts.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Chanukah Tikkun Olam 
Eight nights of Chanukah too often equates with eight nights of presents. Why not set aside at least one night of Chanukah for your family to jointly do an act of kindness towards others? Here are a dozen family-friendly suggestions to get you started.
1. Give thanks for the Chanukah dinner you eat. Then go grocery shopping (or raid your pantry) and donate canned goods so others will not be hungry. Bring food (canned vegetables, potatoes, tuna, tomato sauce, beans, fruit and soup, (plastic) jars of peanut butter and jelly, powdered milk, boxes of cereal and pasta to the bins stationed in TSTI’s front lobby and Religious School entrance for donation to the InterFaith Food Pantry of the Oranges.
2.Teach your children how important it is to do mitzvot. Help out with TSTI as we provide groceries to 60 families at the InterFaith Food Pantry on Wednesday, December 28 from 9:15 - 11:00. Contact TSTI Food Pantry Chair Janet Schwamm.
3.Donuts are a traditional Chanukah food in Israel. A donation to www.Pizzaidf.org will send donuts (or pizza) to Israeli soldiers.
4. Clean your bookshelves for a great cause. Gently used children’s books will be given to school children in Orange through the Children’s Book Pantry of Orange at the Y. Books can be left for 321 N. Wyoming Ave, Unit 2D, South Orange. For further information, email crlukoff@aol.com.
5.Clean your shoe bins. Gently used coats can be donated to Souls for Soles, collects used shoes to support micro-business efforts to eradicate poverty. Drop-off locations and other information can be found at http://www.soles4souls.org.
6. Color a picture for the homebound, ill, or elderly to brighten their day. www.colorasmile.org.
7. Bake cookies together. Deliver them to your local police precinct, fire station or rescue squad to say thanks for all they do!
8. Pet lover? Donate pet items to the South Orange-Maplewood pet shelter. Or be a dog walker or cat socializer. Jersey Animal Coalition (www.jaconline.org), 298 Walton Ave, South Orange.
9. Computer savvy kids? Click away to provide free mammograms ( www.thebreastcancersite.com), pet supplies (www.theanimalrescuesite.com), hunger relief (www.thehungersite.com), protect the rainforest (www.therainforestsite.com), give free books (www.theliteracysite.com) and support child health (www.childhealthsite.com) .
10. Play basketball together. Then donate $10 to Nothing but Nets, a campaign to stop the spread of malaria through the use of bed nets. www.urj.org/socialaction/issues/nets .
11. Eat latkes! Play dreidle! Then pool your change at the end of the game and donate it to: Mazon, a Jewish Response to Hunger, 10495 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025 (www.mazon.org).
12. Write a thank you letter to our troops. It will be delivered as part of a care package sent by http://www.westorangecares.com/index.htm. Let our troops know you care.
Eight nights of Chanukah too often equates with eight nights of presents. Why not set aside at least one night of Chanukah for your family to jointly do an act of kindness towards others? Here are a dozen family-friendly suggestions to get you started.
1. Give thanks for the Chanukah dinner you eat. Then go grocery shopping (or raid your pantry) and donate canned goods so others will not be hungry. Bring food (canned vegetables, potatoes, tuna, tomato sauce, beans, fruit and soup, (plastic) jars of peanut butter and jelly, powdered milk, boxes of cereal and pasta to the bins stationed in TSTI’s front lobby and Religious School entrance for donation to the InterFaith Food Pantry of the Oranges.
2.Teach your children how important it is to do mitzvot. Help out with TSTI as we provide groceries to 60 families at the InterFaith Food Pantry on Wednesday, December 28 from 9:15 - 11:00. Contact TSTI Food Pantry Chair Janet Schwamm
3.Donuts are a traditional Chanukah food in Israel. A donation to www.Pizzaidf.org will send donuts (or pizza) to Israeli soldiers.
4. Clean your bookshelves for a great cause. Gently used children’s books will be given to school children in Orange through the Children’s Book Pantry of Orange at the Y. Books can be left for 321 N. Wyoming Ave, Unit 2D, South Orange. For further information, email crlukoff@aol.com.
5.Clean your shoe bins. Gently used coats can be donated to Souls for Soles, collects used shoes to support micro-business efforts to eradicate poverty. Drop-off locations and other information can be found at http://www.soles4souls.org.
6. Color a picture for the homebound, ill, or elderly to brighten their day. www.colorasmile.org.
7. Bake cookies together. Deliver them to your local police precinct, fire station or rescue squad to say thanks for all they do!
8. Pet lover? Donate pet items to the South Orange-Maplewood pet shelter. Or be a dog walker or cat socializer. Jersey Animal Coalition (www.jaconline.org), 298 Walton Ave, South Orange.
9. Computer savvy kids? Click away to provide free mammograms ( www.thebreastcancersite.com), pet supplies (www.theanimalrescuesite.com), hunger relief (www.thehungersite.com), protect the rainforest (www.therainforestsite.com), give free books (www.theliteracysite.com) and support child health (www.childhealthsite.com) .
10. Play basketball together. Then donate $10 to Nothing but Nets, a campaign to stop the spread of malaria through the use of bed nets. www.urj.org/socialaction/issues/nets .
11. Eat latkes! Play dreidle! Then pool your change at the end of the game and donate it to: Mazon, a Jewish Response to Hunger, 10495 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025 (www.mazon.org).
12. Write a thank you letter to our troops. It will be delivered as part of a care package sent by http://www.westorangecares.com/index.htm. Let our troops know you care.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
TSTI helps with FoodBank Turkey Drive, IFP - and what you can still do!
As the news is filled with heartbreaking stories about the continued need for food assistance in NJ, our congregation recently participated in two major efforts to help our neighbors. On Saturday, Nov 19, we were the local site for the 13th year for the Annual Thanksgiving Food and Turkey Drive for the Community FoodBank of NJ. We collected 108 turkeys, enough to provide dinners for 1620 people, as well as two bins of food and cash donations. Additional turkeys donated after the Drive were brought to the FoodBank for future use. We are grateful for everyone's donations, as well as the extremely generous support of this effort by both the Susan Ackerman Sommer Fund for Social Justice and the Bass Foundation.
Wednesday Nov. 23 was a very busy day at the InterFaith Food Pantry of the Oranges. Thanks to the generosity of Kings in Short Hills (which donated 152 turkeys) and the food contributions by TSTI as well as members of Christ Church of Short Hills, and Congregations Beth El of South Orange and B’nai Jeshrun of Short Hills, over 50 volunteers (mainly from Beth El as well as students from Newark Academy) distributed our regular bags of food plus the ingredients to prepare a very special holiday meal to over 150 individuals and families. In addition, our Food Pantry recipients were able to select from gently used winter coats and outer-wear which were collected by Beth El and Congregation B’nai Israel in Basking Ridge.
As large and significant as these effort seem, the need is even larger. For the third year in a row, both families and individuals stopped at our Turkey Drive site to ask if we were giving out turkeys that day. And at the IFP, there were still hungry people we had to turn away when we ran out of turkeys and supplies.
TSTI is next responsible for staffing the Food Pantry on Wednesday December 28 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. In addition, we have been asked to assist Congregation Beth El with the pre-Christmas distribution on December 21 from 8:00 - 11:30, when we will hand out hams for a holiday dinner along with setting up and manning a “holiday boutique” composed of new and gently used toys, books, clothing and small household items. If you can assist, contact Janet Schwamm. Your school-age children are welcome to assist us on both these days.
With the need so great, it is more important than ever that we all help support our Bring One program at temple. Make it a habit to add a few cans of non-perishable groceries for the IFP to your cart every time you shop. Bring one or more non-perishable food items with you each time you come to temple, whether you come for services, a bar mitzvah, to drop or pick up kids, or for a meeting. Encourage your family members and friends to do the same. A list of the items we routinely distribute is on this website. The food collected helps us replenish the shelves at the IFP, which continue to get depleted as the pantry is now routinely serving at least 60 individuals and families each week.
Wednesday Nov. 23 was a very busy day at the InterFaith Food Pantry of the Oranges. Thanks to the generosity of Kings in Short Hills (which donated 152 turkeys) and the food contributions by TSTI as well as members of Christ Church of Short Hills, and Congregations Beth El of South Orange and B’nai Jeshrun of Short Hills, over 50 volunteers (mainly from Beth El as well as students from Newark Academy) distributed our regular bags of food plus the ingredients to prepare a very special holiday meal to over 150 individuals and families. In addition, our Food Pantry recipients were able to select from gently used winter coats and outer-wear which were collected by Beth El and Congregation B’nai Israel in Basking Ridge.
As large and significant as these effort seem, the need is even larger. For the third year in a row, both families and individuals stopped at our Turkey Drive site to ask if we were giving out turkeys that day. And at the IFP, there were still hungry people we had to turn away when we ran out of turkeys and supplies.
TSTI is next responsible for staffing the Food Pantry on Wednesday December 28 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. In addition, we have been asked to assist Congregation Beth El with the pre-Christmas distribution on December 21 from 8:00 - 11:30, when we will hand out hams for a holiday dinner along with setting up and manning a “holiday boutique” composed of new and gently used toys, books, clothing and small household items. If you can assist, contact Janet Schwamm. Your school-age children are welcome to assist us on both these days.
With the need so great, it is more important than ever that we all help support our Bring One program at temple. Make it a habit to add a few cans of non-perishable groceries for the IFP to your cart every time you shop. Bring one or more non-perishable food items with you each time you come to temple, whether you come for services, a bar mitzvah, to drop or pick up kids, or for a meeting. Encourage your family members and friends to do the same. A list of the items we routinely distribute is on this website. The food collected helps us replenish the shelves at the IFP, which continue to get depleted as the pantry is now routinely serving at least 60 individuals and families each week.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Help End Childhood Hunger - Eat Out Sept. 18 - 24!
More than 16 million kids in America struggle with hunger. You can help when you dine out at restaurants across the country who participate in Share our Strength's Dine Out: No Kid Hungry from Sept. 18 - 24. Local participating chains include IHOP, Cinnabon and Boston Market, and local restaurants include Highland Place in Maplewood, Legal SeaFoods at MASH, and Highlawn Pavilion and the Manor in West Orange (full list here: http://www.strength.org/apps/dineout/Google/DisplayMap). Plenty of NYC restaurants as well. Enjoy - and support a good cause!
The IFP needs your help
Our efforts for the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges continue. Our congregation is responsible for staffing the distribution (which includes bagging bread and groceries), and with supporting the provision of food for distribution, on the fourth ednesday of every month. We are faced with an increasing number of families who come because they need supplemental food assistance. We are so concerned with being able to meet the demand for groceries, as the economic situation of our neighbors has not improved.
As many of us experienced during the recent hurricanes, the concern about where one’s next meal is coming from can be terrifying, and imagine if it was a continuous concern for you or your family. Take those extra food items you purchased and did not use for your own family and donate them to others for whom hunger is an everyday concern.
Here’s how you can help:
Bring One, or More - every time you come to TSTI. For your convenience, there are collection containers in the coat room for when you access the main Sanctuary doors, and near the Religious School office for when you or your children come in the far doors. When you go shopping, throw an extra can or two into your order, and keep it in your car so it will always be accessible when you come to temple. A full list of what we need every month can be found here: http://www.tsti.org/page4/page4.html. Please, no glass.
We always seem to be short of canned vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, and canned fruit. It takes a lot of cans to have enough for 60+ families every time. If every congregant brought just 2 - 3 cans a month we could more easily fulfill our obligation.
Involve your kids: Get your kids in the habit of bringing a can when they come for Religious School or services. If they are in the supermarket with you, let them know that you are purchasing extra cans to help our neighbors. For less than a $1, you can teach them a great life lesson.
If you have teenagers in grades 9 - 12 who are interested in community service, urge them to join the IFP Teen Board. The Teen Board consists of engaging, creative, interested, and innovate kids from a mix of towns and schools and religious organization. They meet about 3 times a year, and focus on discussing major issues of the food pantry and trying to think of new and creative ways to solve these issues, such as new fundraisers, food drives, and changes to make in the actual handing out of the food. The Teen Board will also help plan for the major Holiday Food Pantry events each year and participate in and help plan for events such as the annual Hunger Walk in May, Action Against Hunger Food Drives, and MEND (meeting emergency needs with dignity) events. Please contact Carley Stein cstein13@newarka.edu and she will add your teen to the face book group. If you have special questions or concerns feel free to e-mail Carley or call at 973-715-2561.
Donate funds to help us purchase what we do not receive. Checks can be made out to Rabbi Miller’s DIscretionary Fund, with a notation for the Interfaith Food Pantry.
Help out at one of the scheduled Food Drives at our local supermarkets. Teens and adults are welcome for as little as an hour or as many as 4 hours. Drives are scheduled on Sept. 25 from 12 – 4 at Shop Rites in both Springfield and Essex Green, as well as at Kings in Livingston on October 2. Contact Janet Schwamm jschwamm@gmail.com
379-2533.
Volunteer with us at the Pantry on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 9:15 - 11:00. It takes a lot of people power to bag and distribute groceries to 60 families. Adult and children welcome. It’s a wonderful experience for children, and our parents sometimes even bring kids to school late to experience this mitzvah. Contact Janet Schwamm jschwamm@gmail.com 973 379-2533.
As many of us experienced during the recent hurricanes, the concern about where one’s next meal is coming from can be terrifying, and imagine if it was a continuous concern for you or your family. Take those extra food items you purchased and did not use for your own family and donate them to others for whom hunger is an everyday concern.
Here’s how you can help:
Bring One, or More - every time you come to TSTI. For your convenience, there are collection containers in the coat room for when you access the main Sanctuary doors, and near the Religious School office for when you or your children come in the far doors. When you go shopping, throw an extra can or two into your order, and keep it in your car so it will always be accessible when you come to temple. A full list of what we need every month can be found here: http://www.tsti.org/page4/page4.html. Please, no glass.
We always seem to be short of canned vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, and canned fruit. It takes a lot of cans to have enough for 60+ families every time. If every congregant brought just 2 - 3 cans a month we could more easily fulfill our obligation.
Involve your kids: Get your kids in the habit of bringing a can when they come for Religious School or services. If they are in the supermarket with you, let them know that you are purchasing extra cans to help our neighbors. For less than a $1, you can teach them a great life lesson.
If you have teenagers in grades 9 - 12 who are interested in community service, urge them to join the IFP Teen Board. The Teen Board consists of engaging, creative, interested, and innovate kids from a mix of towns and schools and religious organization. They meet about 3 times a year, and focus on discussing major issues of the food pantry and trying to think of new and creative ways to solve these issues, such as new fundraisers, food drives, and changes to make in the actual handing out of the food. The Teen Board will also help plan for the major Holiday Food Pantry events each year and participate in and help plan for events such as the annual Hunger Walk in May, Action Against Hunger Food Drives, and MEND (meeting emergency needs with dignity) events. Please contact Carley Stein cstein13@newarka.edu and she will add your teen to the face book group. If you have special questions or concerns feel free to e-mail Carley or call at 973-715-2561.
Donate funds to help us purchase what we do not receive. Checks can be made out to Rabbi Miller’s DIscretionary Fund, with a notation for the Interfaith Food Pantry.
Help out at one of the scheduled Food Drives at our local supermarkets. Teens and adults are welcome for as little as an hour or as many as 4 hours. Drives are scheduled on Sept. 25 from 12 – 4 at Shop Rites in both Springfield and Essex Green, as well as at Kings in Livingston on October 2. Contact Janet Schwamm jschwamm@gmail.com
379-2533.
Volunteer with us at the Pantry on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 9:15 - 11:00. It takes a lot of people power to bag and distribute groceries to 60 families. Adult and children welcome. It’s a wonderful experience for children, and our parents sometimes even bring kids to school late to experience this mitzvah. Contact Janet Schwamm jschwamm@gmail.com 973 379-2533.
Great work by Habitat volunteers
TSTI volunteers helped to build a house in Irvington today, putting up wallboard on walls and ceiling. Thank you to our hard-working volunteers: Kenn, Robyn and Greg Ehrlich, Marcia and Matt Michaels, Carol Paster, Carol Schiffman, Josh Stoller and Dennis Percher.
By the way, Habitat is always in need of financial contributions. If you would like to help, send your check to:
Habitat for Humanity Newark
298 South Orange Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
Or donate online at http://habitatnewark.org/donate_now.htm . And be sure to tell them that you are a member of TSTI.
By the way, Habitat is always in need of financial contributions. If you would like to help, send your check to:
Habitat for Humanity Newark
298 South Orange Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
Or donate online at http://habitatnewark.org/donate_now.htm . And be sure to tell them that you are a member of TSTI.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Hunger in NJ - The Facts
A landmark study of Hunger in NJ from Feeding America shows that 12.7% of NJ's population suffers from food insecurity (defined by the USDA as a lack of access at times to enough food for an active healthy lifestyle for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods). An astounding 49% of these individuals do not qualify for SNAP (Food Stamps) and must rely on food assistance programs (like the InterFaith Food Pantry). They need better wages and employment opportunities to help them meet their basic needs. Essex County is one of the 5 counties in NJ with the highest food insecurity.
Source:http://www.njfoodbank.org/media/banknotes/ (Spring 2011 edition)
Source:http://www.njfoodbank.org/media/banknotes/ (Spring 2011 edition)
Newark Connection update
Did you know that five members of TSTI are working with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, mostly paired with students at the South 17th Street School? Rachel Rothman has requested a second “little” for next year, and she (and her daughters) hope that they can “upgrade” the relationship with her current "little" next year to community based. TSTI'S involvement with Big Brothers/Big Sisters is part of our attempt to reach out to our neighbors in Newark as a result of the inspiration we drew from Corey Booker’s speech at TSTI.
Monday, May 16, 2011
On May 6, volunteers at the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges - including our own Janet Schwamm and Cyndy Wyatt, participated in the 8th Annual Essex County Walk to Fight Hunger. Read more about the walk here: http://southorange.patch.com/articles/about-town-residents-walked-to-fight-hunger#photo-6069435
Monday, May 2, 2011
More good works from TSTI members
TSTI members were out in force on the social action front this week. Ten of our members helped ensured that the week was a little easier for 60 clients of the Interfaith Food Pantry. Those clients first wait for referrals from social service agencies to the Pantry, and then wait again as we sort groceries, bag donated bread, cake and sweet treats, and set up and distribute bags of canned goods that will help them stretch their food supplies.
The numbers of people seeking help from the Pantry keep growing, which means we need an ever increasing amount of canned goods. The cans you bring to TSTI for the pantry mean not seem like much to you, but they are so needed by our neighbors. Please remember to bring a can each time you come to TSTI.
As work on the West Orange Habitat home continues, TSTI members continue to do their part. Julie Alter, Ruth Richards, Nancy Distel, Bennett Lieber and Dennis Percher worked on caulking and building the house's porch this past Saturday. What a great way to spend a Saturday!
The numbers of people seeking help from the Pantry keep growing, which means we need an ever increasing amount of canned goods. The cans you bring to TSTI for the pantry mean not seem like much to you, but they are so needed by our neighbors. Please remember to bring a can each time you come to TSTI.
As work on the West Orange Habitat home continues, TSTI members continue to do their part. Julie Alter, Ruth Richards, Nancy Distel, Bennett Lieber and Dennis Percher worked on caulking and building the house's porch this past Saturday. What a great way to spend a Saturday!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
TSTI volunteers build Habitat for Humanity homes
Habitat For Humanity Newark has been building hope, homes, and community in the City of Newark since 1986. In that time, they have built over 70 houses. And for most of those years, TSTI has been sending groups of volunteers to help build those houses for deserving families. Habitat Humanity Newark has recently expanded beyond Newark to begin building houses in West Orange.
That was where a group of eight TSTI volunteers were working on Saturday, April 3, building a new, two-family house where a parking lot used to be. TSTI members Gary Potters, Dennis Percher, Ed and Maddy Reichman, Tony Robinson, Carol Schiffman and Dan Kaslow joined Preschool Director Carol Paster, who is an officer of the Habitat Newark Board. Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome to participate in Habitat construction, and professional carpenters are there to supervise. The work we do varies depending on what phase of construction is going on. Last Saturday’s volunteers were cutting and hammering: covering pre-fabricated roof trusses with plywood and doing rough framing on the first and second floors.
TSTI generally sends volunteer groups to Habitat about four times a year, usually on Saturdays or Sundays. The Habitat work day lasts from 8 a.m. to about 4 p.m Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, and youths under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
If you are interested in getting involved in TSTI’s work with Habitat, contact Barbara Laub at 973-763-8379, blaub2@gmail.com.
An affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat Newark seeks to eliminate substandard housing and homelessness. Through volunteer work and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent homes with the help of partner families who become the homeowners. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, 0% interest loans. The homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving fund that is used to build more homes in the neighborhood. Habitat homeowners, who are generally hard-working low-income family people, devote at least 400 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build their home and their future neighbors’ homes within the Habitat Newark neighborhood.
That was where a group of eight TSTI volunteers were working on Saturday, April 3, building a new, two-family house where a parking lot used to be. TSTI members Gary Potters, Dennis Percher, Ed and Maddy Reichman, Tony Robinson, Carol Schiffman and Dan Kaslow joined Preschool Director Carol Paster, who is an officer of the Habitat Newark Board. Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome to participate in Habitat construction, and professional carpenters are there to supervise. The work we do varies depending on what phase of construction is going on. Last Saturday’s volunteers were cutting and hammering: covering pre-fabricated roof trusses with plywood and doing rough framing on the first and second floors.
TSTI generally sends volunteer groups to Habitat about four times a year, usually on Saturdays or Sundays. The Habitat work day lasts from 8 a.m. to about 4 p.m Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, and youths under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
If you are interested in getting involved in TSTI’s work with Habitat, contact Barbara Laub at 973-763-8379, blaub2@gmail.com.
An affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat Newark seeks to eliminate substandard housing and homelessness. Through volunteer work and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent homes with the help of partner families who become the homeowners. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, 0% interest loans. The homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving fund that is used to build more homes in the neighborhood. Habitat homeowners, who are generally hard-working low-income family people, devote at least 400 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build their home and their future neighbors’ homes within the Habitat Newark neighborhood.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Newark Connection: Make a Difference
We continue TSTI's Newark Connection project, which was inspired by our congregants asking "what can we do?" after Newark Mayor Corey Booker's visit to our congregation. One of our on-going efforts is helping improve the lives of Newark's children by sharing our time and talents with elementary school children at an afterschool program. How wonderful that Roger Landau has chosen to make a difference in these children's lives:
"For the past year, I've volunteered at the St Ann's after-school program in Newark. St Ann's runs a day
care center with an after-school program for elementary school students. On alternating Thursdays, I
play games and lead athletic activities for the kids. I like to think that I'm channeling my inner gym
teacher. When the weather is good, we go outside to play on the narrow blacktop adjoining the
building. I start the kids with some calisthenics and stretching. Then, I teach basic basketball skills.
This is a little tough to do because the only basketball hoop they have is a rickety, portable hoop that
stands about five feet tall and is too small for a regular size ball to fit through. Despite the challenging
facilities, the kids love playing hoops and have even improved their basketball skills.
In addition to bringing basketballs with me, I pack a variety of jump ropes which the girls like to use.
The girls and one of the boys have also organized a cheerleading squad. When we take a break from
basketball, the cheerleading squad comes out for the “half-time” show. They are a little disorganized,
but once they decide which cheers to perform, they are actually quite good.
In the winter, it's a little more difficult to run a gym class due to the tight space. Nonetheless, I've tried
to adapt and the kids are still enthusiastic. In addition to calisthenics, this winter I taught yoga to the
kids. They love to stand on their heads! While on winter break from college, my older son came with
me and taught weight-lifting. The kids loved it, too! My son returned to college and now I lug a bag
full of weights to St Anns.
Overall, volunteering at St Anns has been a very rewarding experience. I feel like I've touched the
lives of these kids while providing positive lessons in physical fitness. I look forward to continuing to
volunteer at St Anns."
Arlene Gordon coordinates our efforts at St. Ann's. You (and your appropriate age children) can volunteer (for as little as 3 times on a weekday afternoon) and do an activity you choose: art, gym, reading, etc. Make a difference! Contact Arlene Gordon jecasago@aol.com for more information.
"For the past year, I've volunteered at the St Ann's after-school program in Newark. St Ann's runs a day
care center with an after-school program for elementary school students. On alternating Thursdays, I
play games and lead athletic activities for the kids. I like to think that I'm channeling my inner gym
teacher. When the weather is good, we go outside to play on the narrow blacktop adjoining the
building. I start the kids with some calisthenics and stretching. Then, I teach basic basketball skills.
This is a little tough to do because the only basketball hoop they have is a rickety, portable hoop that
stands about five feet tall and is too small for a regular size ball to fit through. Despite the challenging
facilities, the kids love playing hoops and have even improved their basketball skills.
In addition to bringing basketballs with me, I pack a variety of jump ropes which the girls like to use.
The girls and one of the boys have also organized a cheerleading squad. When we take a break from
basketball, the cheerleading squad comes out for the “half-time” show. They are a little disorganized,
but once they decide which cheers to perform, they are actually quite good.
In the winter, it's a little more difficult to run a gym class due to the tight space. Nonetheless, I've tried
to adapt and the kids are still enthusiastic. In addition to calisthenics, this winter I taught yoga to the
kids. They love to stand on their heads! While on winter break from college, my older son came with
me and taught weight-lifting. The kids loved it, too! My son returned to college and now I lug a bag
full of weights to St Anns.
Overall, volunteering at St Anns has been a very rewarding experience. I feel like I've touched the
lives of these kids while providing positive lessons in physical fitness. I look forward to continuing to
volunteer at St Anns."
Arlene Gordon coordinates our efforts at St. Ann's. You (and your appropriate age children) can volunteer (for as little as 3 times on a weekday afternoon) and do an activity you choose: art, gym, reading, etc. Make a difference! Contact Arlene Gordon jecasago@aol.com for more information.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Interfaith Food Pantry - Teen Board and more
I've been to the Community FoodBank of NJ many times over the years, but never saw it from the "agency" side. Dina Pressel and I today accompanied Diane Stein, coordinator for the InterFaith Food Pantry ("IFP"), on a run to pick up needed pantry items. Accredited agencies like the IFP can "purchase" groceries for use by their organization from the FoodBank for 16 cents a pound. That 16 cents covers the FoodBank's costs for these goods (even if goods are donated, there are still costs associated with the FoodBank's massive warehouse, with staff and trucks, etc.).
We "shopped" for donated goods that were on the FoodBank's agency shelves. For about $40, we were able to purchase 16 large boxes full of cereal and cookies (which we grabbed off the shelves since they weigh so little but cost so much if purchased at retail), and several boxes of needed beans and vegetables. Dina and I were amazed at how much "low weight" food we were able to acquire. We also picked up a previously placed order of goods including peanut butter, canned vegetables, mac and cheese and more (these were a lot heavier and so cost a lot more). After we filled two cars with these items, Dina and Diane went to drop them at the Pantry in Orange. A lot of womanpower needed to be able to sustain this project, but such a great thing to be able to do.
I learned one really important thing this morning: when you "Bring One" to TSTI, try to donate the "heavier" items. While the IFP does need pasta, cereal, cookies and mac n'cheese, the IFP can buy those items fairly cheapily when they are available at the FoodBank. If you make a choice between what to purchase when you spend $1 to buy and donate an item, buy the green vegetables, the corn, the canned potatoes, the soup, the tuna, the jelly, the peanut butter, and the beans. This will help the IFP stretch its funds.
Teen Board: A Teen Board has just been started for the IFP. Teens are invited to come help volunteer and to find ways to make the IFP a more successful endeavor. At the first brainstorming session, abut 20 teens (including 2 from TSTI) came up with some fabulous ideas, including some fundraising ideas (remember, it costs to buy food to give out when there's not enough donated goods) and creating a pamphlet about the IFP that can be handed out on days when we solicit funds at supermarkets or other locations. The Board will meet on an irregular basis, but activities will be continually planned. Teens who are interested in participating in the Board activities should contact Diane Stein, IFP Coordinator. dianehstein@aol.com
We "shopped" for donated goods that were on the FoodBank's agency shelves. For about $40, we were able to purchase 16 large boxes full of cereal and cookies (which we grabbed off the shelves since they weigh so little but cost so much if purchased at retail), and several boxes of needed beans and vegetables. Dina and I were amazed at how much "low weight" food we were able to acquire. We also picked up a previously placed order of goods including peanut butter, canned vegetables, mac and cheese and more (these were a lot heavier and so cost a lot more). After we filled two cars with these items, Dina and Diane went to drop them at the Pantry in Orange. A lot of womanpower needed to be able to sustain this project, but such a great thing to be able to do.
I learned one really important thing this morning: when you "Bring One" to TSTI, try to donate the "heavier" items. While the IFP does need pasta, cereal, cookies and mac n'cheese, the IFP can buy those items fairly cheapily when they are available at the FoodBank. If you make a choice between what to purchase when you spend $1 to buy and donate an item, buy the green vegetables, the corn, the canned potatoes, the soup, the tuna, the jelly, the peanut butter, and the beans. This will help the IFP stretch its funds.
Teen Board: A Teen Board has just been started for the IFP. Teens are invited to come help volunteer and to find ways to make the IFP a more successful endeavor. At the first brainstorming session, abut 20 teens (including 2 from TSTI) came up with some fabulous ideas, including some fundraising ideas (remember, it costs to buy food to give out when there's not enough donated goods) and creating a pamphlet about the IFP that can be handed out on days when we solicit funds at supermarkets or other locations. The Board will meet on an irregular basis, but activities will be continually planned. Teens who are interested in participating in the Board activities should contact Diane Stein, IFP Coordinator. dianehstein@aol.com
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Quite a morning at the InterFaith Food Pantry. Too busy to count everyone there, but we estimate we had 20 adults and 25 - 30 kids. We distributed food to 55 clients. The number seems to continually grow. That in turn means we constantly need more food each month.
It was wonderful to see so many kids, who happily helped bag the donated bread and cake for distribution, lugged cans from the stockroom, separated groceries by "type", helped distribute goods into bags for clients, lugged bags filled with groceries to the front, restocked the pantry shelves, and colored lunch bags that were then filled with donated candy to make the clients' difficult days a little more sweet. Much appreciation to all those who dusted, reorganized and cleaned our stockroom! And a world of thanks to Dina Pressel, who was in charge today for the indomitable Janet Schwamm.
It is amazing how much food we go through on our daily distribution. Even though the clients only get a small amount of groceries each time they come (this is considered supplemental food, and is not enough to feed their families for the week), it add up when you need 55 jars of peanut butter, 55 boxes of cereal, 55 cans of green vegetables, etc. Our pantry shelves are almost totally bare. Please, please, please, remember to bring one (or more) when you come to Temple.
It was wonderful to see so many kids, who happily helped bag the donated bread and cake for distribution, lugged cans from the stockroom, separated groceries by "type", helped distribute goods into bags for clients, lugged bags filled with groceries to the front, restocked the pantry shelves, and colored lunch bags that were then filled with donated candy to make the clients' difficult days a little more sweet. Much appreciation to all those who dusted, reorganized and cleaned our stockroom! And a world of thanks to Dina Pressel, who was in charge today for the indomitable Janet Schwamm.
It is amazing how much food we go through on our daily distribution. Even though the clients only get a small amount of groceries each time they come (this is considered supplemental food, and is not enough to feed their families for the week), it add up when you need 55 jars of peanut butter, 55 boxes of cereal, 55 cans of green vegetables, etc. Our pantry shelves are almost totally bare. Please, please, please, remember to bring one (or more) when you come to Temple.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Dress for Success
Lots of mitzvah opportunities this Spring:
Our commitment to the InterFaith Food Pantry continues. We are expecting 20 adults and 20 kids to help us on Wednesday Feb. 23, during President's week. We greatly appreciate the continual donations of bread and cake from Panera of Short Hills, Bagel Chateau of Maplewood, and Supreme Bakery of West Orange. Don't forget to Bring One (or more) each time you come to Temple. You can find the list of desired groceries here: http://www.tsti.org/page4/page4.html
DRESS FOR SUCCESS: We're collecting women's gently-used, work-appropriate winter and spring clothing and accessories for interviews and jobs. Drop them off at TSTI on Sunday, February 27th, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Sorry, we are not taking men's clothing at this time.
There's a great story about our drive in South Orange Patch: http://southorange.patch.com/articles/temple-sharey-tefilo-israel-sponsors-dress-for-success.
Thanks to Susan Witkin Siegeltuch for making this happen.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Habitat work dates are scheduled for two Saturdays in April, April 2 and April 30. We can send 6 or 7 volunteers for each date, and for the first time, we will be building in West Orange. Contact Barbara Laub at blaub2@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
Our commitment to the InterFaith Food Pantry continues. We are expecting 20 adults and 20 kids to help us on Wednesday Feb. 23, during President's week. We greatly appreciate the continual donations of bread and cake from Panera of Short Hills, Bagel Chateau of Maplewood, and Supreme Bakery of West Orange. Don't forget to Bring One (or more) each time you come to Temple. You can find the list of desired groceries here: http://www.tsti.org/page4/page4.html
DRESS FOR SUCCESS: We're collecting women's gently-used, work-appropriate winter and spring clothing and accessories for interviews and jobs. Drop them off at TSTI on Sunday, February 27th, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Sorry, we are not taking men's clothing at this time.
There's a great story about our drive in South Orange Patch: http://southorange.patch.com/articles/temple-sharey-tefilo-israel-sponsors-dress-for-success.
Thanks to Susan Witkin Siegeltuch for making this happen.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Habitat work dates are scheduled for two Saturdays in April, April 2 and April 30. We can send 6 or 7 volunteers for each date, and for the first time, we will be building in West Orange. Contact Barbara Laub at blaub2@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Our "Bring One" campaign was featured in South Orange Patch recently:
Bring One
A new campaign to feed the hungry has begun at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel. It's called Bring One, and the goal is for members to bring a canned good or other non-perishable food item each time they go to Temple. For Hebrew school students, who meet on Tuesdays and Sundays, that's two items a week. Temple President Hope Pomerantz said the need is so great at local food pantries, temple organizers wanted to extend the High Holy Day food drive to a year-long drive. When explaining the campaign to Hebrew school students, Pomerantz told them "alone it's hard to feel you've made a difference, but if everyone brings something every time, it will add up and you can see how together we can make a big difference." http://southorange.patch.com/articles/lighting-the-night
Our next distribution day at the Food Pantry is December 15. If demand continues at the rate we saw in November, we will need to ensure that on that date (and each and every month) we have 80 cans of tuna, 80 jars each of peanut butter and jelly, 80 soups, 80 cans of vegetables, 80 cans each of beans, green vegetables, and starchy vegetables, 80 boxes of pasta, 80 jars of pasta sauce, 80 boxes of cereal, 80 packages of dried or boxed milk, 80 bags of cookies, 80 boxes of mac and cheese and 80 cans of fruit. That's 1200 cans and boxes - about 80 grocery bags of food every month!! So Bring One - and even more if you can.
The Food Pantry is looking for donations of new and gently used books and toys (clean, with all pieces present) for distribution on December 22. Clients use these items as gifts for their own families or to be able to give to friends and relatives. This is a great Chanukah Tikkun Olam idea - have your children donate something in exchange for something they receive this season, or just let them clean their toy chests to help others! Contact Janet Schwamm at 973-379-2533.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Free Food For Animals In Need Just By Clicking
Please do this for the SPCA - literally one second!
Hi, all you animal lovers!
This is pretty simple... Please ask ten friends to each ask a further ten today!
The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (about 15 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals for free'. This doesn't cost you a thing.
Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.
Here's the web site! Please pass it along to people you know.
AGAIN, PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS!
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