Community Contact Information:
Temple Emanu-El
Edison, NJ
www.edisontemple.org
Goals:
- Provide necessities to help others become self-sufficient.
- Engage congregants in targeted, local giving.
Overview:
Legal Services provides counsel to persons in poverty involved with civil cases such as domestic violence, health care-access problems and child welfare.
Preparation:
The congregation partnered with Legal Services to donate items requested by these clients including furniture, household goods, clothing, books and toys. The project was promoted through announcements at services, writing articles in the temple bulletin, e-mails and through the religious school. Each grade of the religious school was matched with children close to their age. Religious school classes were given a wish list from these clients throughout the year and at holiday times.
Results:
These donations have made a significant difference to the clients of Legal Services. The partnership allowed the congregation to serve the needs of their local community Some single mothers were able to reunite with their children after receiving the items they needed to better run their household, and formerly homeless clients were able to return to their homes with necessities supplied by congregants.
