Direct Service Projects

Announcements about these direct service opportunities are made though the synagogue newsletter and on the listserv.

Housing

Yachad – funding and/or manual labor to support renovation of the home of a lower-income DC family.

Blankets of comfort project – for men’s homeless shelters, veterans’ long-term care facilities, children awaiting foster care placement, people following natural emergencies, and children at various local hospitals

Hunger

Manna Food Center – funding and hands-on assistance to address food insecurity in Montgomery County

KindWorks – food preparation to assist immigrant communities in Montgomery County

Friendship Place – lunch bag preparation for men in a DC homeless program

Rosh Hashanah and Passover Food – deliver holiday food for those in need

Underserved youth collections and service – Backpack and related collections for Friendship Place in DC, and KindWorks and Identity in Montgomery County

Mentoring and art projects with New Hampshire Estates Elementary School. Cold weather jacket collection.

Synagogue Youth Engagement Tikkun Ha’Ir – This is an immersive learning program for middle and rising high school students. Participants spend three days and two nights living and working primarily in the Columbia Heights neighborhood, preparing and serving meals for those in need, assisting senior residents of a low income apartment building, and learning with folks from area non-profits like DC Central Kitchen, SOME (So Others May Eat), Community of Hope and WE ARE FAMILY. They also engage in simulations of homelessness and food insecurity. Each evening they gather with the program leaders to share what they have experienced during the day. SSL credits are available.