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Community Wide Volunteer Opportunities
MEALS ON WHEELS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Meals-on-Wheels delivers two meals per weekday to about 35-50 "shut ins" in the area --people who can't get shop groceries or eat out, either temporarily or permanently because of age, blindness or other medical or physical conditions. It serves meals prepared by Sodexho dieticians, for a nominal charge, to clients of all races, creeds, and income levels.
Many of its volunteers are themselves elderly, and are retiring from this service. It needs people who can volunteer one morning (2-3 hours) a week to either deliver 5-10 meals or coordinate the seven or so volunteers who deliver the meals. The base of operations is a church on Kensington Parkway near Connecticut Avenue, in North Chevy Chase. Please contact Ed Rastatter, long-time Micah member, if you are interested. As Ed says, "Believe me, I have been a volunteer for 7 years, and have found it a very rewarding mitzvah; in many cases I am the only friendly face these people see during the day."
There are a number of community-wide volunteer activities that individual Temple Micah congregants participate in that are not organized by Temple Micah. These are in addition to our own projects.
- Community Council for the Homeless/Friendship Place
- DC JCC Thanksgiving Meal Preparation
- December 25th Community Service Day
- Stop the Genocide in Darfur, Sudan
- Volunteer to Teach English-as-Second-Language (ESL)
- Yachad
Community Council for the Homeless/Friendship Place
An organization in upper northwest Washington D.C. that provides a variety of services for the homeless. For the past several Octobers--at the time of the high holy days, Temple Micah has collected new underwear for people served by CCH/FP. This includes men's shorts and T-shirts, sizes large and extra-large, socks, and women's underwear and bras, similar sizes. Email us for more information or go to the CCHFP website for more information.
DC JCC Thanksgiving Meal Preparation
The Monday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, typically 5pm- 9:00 p.m. In 2010, it will be on Monday, Nov. 22 and on Wed. Nov. 24. The Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center needs 400 volunteers to prepare "Everything...but the Turkey", namely side dishes, desserts and bag lunches. The food will help provide a hearty Thanksgiving Day meal for the 2,000 residents of the Community for Creative Non-Violence's (CCNV) homeless shelter and thousands of additional homeless in the metropolitan area. We need: planning committee members, kitchen help, runners, table captains, set up supervisors, babysitters, and most of all, chefs. Come. Bring the whole family. Cook up a storm. There is a registration fee to cover the cost of supplies. Please go to the DCJCC website to register online. .
December 25th Community Service Day
Christmas Day each year, typically 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m, but, because of Shabbat, it will be on December 24 of 2010. Please be one of over 1,000 volunteers. Projects last from 1-3 hours and include serving meals to seniors, preparing food for the homeless and throwing holiday parties. Volunteers also have the opportunity to donate blood, paint walls at a local elementary school and spend time with children and seniors—filling in so their caregivers can celebrate Christmas with their families. Typically they also need donations of new hats, gloves, socks and toiletries to give to thousands of needy adults and children that day. Starting mid-December, you can drop off these items, as well as unwrapped toys, at the DCJCC's Q street entrance at 1529 16th Street. Before then, you can organize a gift drive. The DCJCC website has more information and a place to register online for this event, now in its 18th year. There is a registration fee to cover administrative and supply costs. Questions?
Be a Team Captain: The December 25 Community Service Day needs volunteer team captains to help manage clusters of other volunteers at sites around the city on the big day. If you would like to be a team captain, contact the coordinator (202-777-3237).
Volunteer to Teach English-as-Second-Language (ESL)
Linkages to Learning program is seeking volunteers to teach ESOL (English as a second language) classes once or twice a week, Monday and Thursday, for 1 1/2 hours starting the last week in September and ending the second week in December. Classes will be held in the evening at Highland Elementary School, 3100 Medway St., Silver Spring, Maryland. Please contact Michelle Blumenthal at 301-946-1680 if you are interested. Linkages to Learning is a collaborative initiative among Montgomery County Public Schools, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, and private non-profit providers and was developed to address barriers to education. This is accomplished by offering educational and academic support, social services/case management, mental health services, and by creating access to various community resources and health care. More information is available on their website.
Yachad
The Jewish community housing development corporation of Greater Washington, sponsors Sukkot-in-Spring, works with faith-based and other service organizations to further neighborhood revitalization and community development in Washington. Send an email message for more information.