Help us help others. Our tradition tells us to make a difference in our community through Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World through acts of kindness. We have many important one-time and ongoing opportunities in place and we will happily consider your outreach ideas as well.
Please check Social Action News on the home page for upcoming events or contact our Social Action Committee Chairs, Debbie Landzberg and Debbie Lavin, with ideas, questions or to volunteer. SocialAction@OurShirShalom.org
Youth Social Action Committee (YSAC)
Founded in 2021 by Jacob and Ben Voellmicke, this is a branch of the Social Action Committee. The YSAC works alongside the longstanding Social Action Committee to engage teens in social action within their community. Please email: YouthSA@OurShirShalom.org for more information and to get involved!
ONGOING PROGRAMS:
The Daily Bread Food Pantry – Danbury, CT
Our Shir Shalom congregants help this local organization meet the needs of hundreds of food insecure clients every month. Our volunteers help needy clients shop on Friday or Monday mornings throughout the year. We also help receive, sort and stock deliveries of fresh food on Sundays at 5:00 pm. Food and monetary donations accepted throughout the year. For more info about Daily Bread Food Pantry, click here.
Community Center of Northern Westchester – Katonah, NY
We donate food, clothing, school supplies, diapers, infant supplies and items for specific drives throughout the year. As well, our congregants generously participate in our temple-wide bi-annual food drives. For more info about Community Center of Northern Westchester, click here.
Dorothy Day Hospitality House – Danbury, CT
Our volunteers serve meals to guests of this Danbury soup kitchen on the first Sunday of every month. We would love your help and seek volunteers age 12 and up. You may volunteer only once or as often as you like. For more info about Dorothy Day Hospitality House, click here.
Danbury Federal Corrections Institute – Danbury, CT
We co-facilitate a Shabbat discussion group with Jewish female inmates on the last Friday evening of each month. Volunteer only once or as much as you wish. Adult volunteers only.
Diaper Drive
Our congregation regularly partipates in the “No Child Wet Behind” diaper collection drives, to assist Westchester and Fairfield County families with this much-needed baby and toddler staple. For more info about No Child Wet Behind, click here.
Midnight Runs and Breakfast Runs
We reach out to New York City’s homeless clients with food, clothing and toiletries every fall and spring. For more info about Midnight Run, click here.
Blood Drive
Blood drives are held at our synagogue, so our congregants and local residents have the opportunity to donate life-saving blood.
Children’s Tzedekah Box
Every week, our Religious School and Early Childhood Center collects donations in a Tzedakah (charity) box at the school entrance. The children select the charities to receive their donations, enabling them to personally relate to the tradition of helping those in need.
Shir Shalom Annual Mitzvah Day
Each spring, over 150 congregants and friends of all ages gather to participate in a variety of Mitzvah (good deed) projects at Congregation Shir Shalom and off-site area agencies. On this single day, we stock local food pantries, collect children?s books, knit hats for newborns and preemies, wash windows at senior residences, prepare meals for the homeless, and more. We conclude this amazing day of community spirit with a party for our volunteers, including a slide show celebrating their accomplishments.
