Community Contact Information:
Temple Beth Sholom of Orange County
Santa Ana, CA
www.tbsoc.com
Goals:
- Encourage congregation to get involved in local community.
- Engage in acts of tikkun olam.
- Lighten the burden of survivors of abuse and poverty.
- Allow congregants to give with intentionality.
Overview:
Working together with a local child abuse prevention center, the congregation has “adopted” social workers. Each social worker is able to create a wish-list of their clients needs – including new clothes, toiletries, toys and books.
Preparation:
Congregation Social Action Committee built a relationship with a local child abuse prevention center. Through this relationship, social workers were asked to identify the needs of their clients and the way in which the congregation volunteers could best serve these individuals.
Project Implementation:
Social workers provided ‘wish lists’ for each client. Synagogue volunteers were provided with this list for a large collection drive. Excess items were donated to the center.
Results:
In addition to helping the clients and the social workers by providing basic needs, this program succeeded in building a ‘culture of giving’ within the congregation. Members routinely call the synagogue when they recognize they have gently-used items that may be needed.
