Tikkun Olam

A rich variety of Tikkun Olam opportunities exist in our community. Which are you drawn to?

MEALS-ON-WHEELS: Temple Sinai has the opportunity to adopt a route in South Burlington and provide regular delivery of food to those in need. If we create a Temple Sinai delivery team, we can deliver 1, 2, 3 or 4 days a month. We decide and commit to a schedule. The route takes about 2 hours to complete(9:00-11:00) and we would deliver to 10-12 homes. It’s good to have 4-6 people to make up the team, although one person can handle the route on any given day. We also would need a coordinator. It’s really quite simple. Interested in exploring this further? To learn more, visit the Age Well Meals On Wheels page or Contact David Shiman.

PASSOVER FOOD DRIVE: We will celebrate our exodus from Egypt with another food drive supporting the South Burlington Food Shelf. This will probably take place during the first week in April. Look for future announcements.

The Food Shelf also has all sorts of volunteer opportunities to help meet the pressing needs in our community. Contact Peter Carmolli.

CAMPAIGN FOR A STRONG FAIR AND IMPARTIAL POLICING POLICY (FIPP) IN SOUTH BURLINGTON OR BURLINGTON: There are groups advocating for stronger policy statements than presently exist. The campaign for FIPP is called No Mas Polimigra, which is a combination of Spanish word “poli” for police and “migra” for immigration authorities. The major goal is to end collaboration of police with immigration agents. If interested, make the initial contact yourself, but please inform us that you are getting involved. For South Burlington, Contact Nancy Hellen;  For Burlington, Contact Madeline and/or Ashley.

DRIVER FOR MIGRANT JUSTICE: Drivers are needed who can, at very short notice, drive to Massachusetts to deliver bail money and return to our area with a bailed-out Migrant Justice worker who had been arrested by ICE. Person should be able to speak some Spanish and be able to give up an entire day. There is a pool of potential drivers, but there is always a need to add more to the pool. If interested, contact David Shiman for more information.

Other News – Planning Opportunities

PROGRAMS AT A SENIOR RESIDENCE: We are exploring possibility of collaborating with a senior residence facility to offer a “program” once a month. This might be a musical presentation, talk on topics of interest (e.g., income tax, travel experience, poetry reading) children’s performance, etc. Temple Sinai would recruit members of our congregation to present. Might you be interested in this? Contact committee chair David Shiman

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ACTION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: Let us know what actions you are engaged in. Suggest actions the Committee should consider. Contact Us.

Add your name to our committee mailing list to receive meeting minutes, occasional articles, and action opportunities. And join our meetings on the 3rd Thursday of every month(6:00-7:00). Contact Committee Chair David Shiman for more information.

JOIN OUR SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE EMAIL LIST

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Here are some current social action opportunities for the Temple Sinai community and others!

DONATE A TURKEY PLUS

Time for Temple Sinai members to make contributions to the Food Shelf program of Feeding Chittenden, formerly the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. You can bring frozen turkeys or non-perishable food items to 228 North Winooski Ave (deliver at rear of building) or to explore other ways to help, visit the Feeding Chittenden donation page. If possible, let them know that your contribution is on behalf of Temple Sinai. You can also contact them directly by email or at 802-658-7939.

VOLUNTEER AT THE SOUTH BURLINGTON FOOD SHELF

The newly opened South Burlington Food Shelf at 356 Dorset St. has many volunteer opportunities. You can work as few or as many hours as you chose. Give them a call at (802) 858-5267, or contact Peter Carmolli. You can also sign up here for email updates, or consider other ways to donate.

DELIVER FOOD ON CHRISTMAS DAY

For years, Temple Sinai congregants have led the way, delivering Meals On Wheels to shut-ins on Christmas Day. We will do it again. Jeff Solomon, a member of our congregation, has taken over coordination of the drivers who deliver food on Christmas day to those unable to get out. This is an important part of the work of the local nonprofit H.A.N.D.S (Helping and Nurturing Diverse Seniors). Please contact Jeff  for more information or to volunteer.

TO LIFE! GIVE BLOOD ON DECEMBER 24

Karen Cote and David Punia will lead this blood drive which will take place at the Temple. Blood donors and volunteers and are needed! The need for blood is critical. We would also like donation of food on the day of the drive. Contact the organizers for more information and:

Book your appointment now!

JOIN US AT A SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING: WE MEET NOVEMBER 14TH AT 6:00PM AND ON THE THIRD THURSDAY IN SUBSEQUENT MONTHS.

Questions or Concerns? Contact David Shiman, Chair of Social Action Committee

Join us for a special presentation from member Jan Kline, who will talk about her experiences serving on a medical relief team in Gaza during the summer of 2019.

It has become an annual tradition for Temple Sinai members to join with local nonprofit HANDS –  Helping And Nurturing Diverse Seniors and others to help deliver some 400 Meals on Wheels to shut-ins and seniors throughout Chittenden County. Temple member David Chafetz took on the role of organizing this year’s participants.

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