This month's TAE Social Action Update


TAE Social Action -
Making a Difference Together
February 2018
Visit www.AdatElohim.com/socialaction to see all of the available social action opportunities. The information changes regularly, so please check back often!

We hope that 2018 will bring more social action opportunities into your lives. We have great events planned - Join us!

TAE has two Social Action Havurot that are always looking for new members. Click the following links for details.


Marcia & Harold Gordon - Social Action Co-Chairs
February
Projects & Opportunities
"This Is Hunger" Exhibit is Coming to T.O.
 
We are just a little over a week away from the opening of the "This is Hunger" exhibit. 

Space is limited and filling up fast!

RSVP required at: www.thisishunger.org/tour  

February 10th - 14th, the "This is Hunger" exhibit will be at Ascension Lutheran Church.  

Can you share 2 hours of your time to help greet guests visiting the exhibit? Click here to sign up. We still need 4 more volunteers. Thanks for helping!

 
To learn more and/or volunteer, please contact Marcia Gordon at  socialaction@adatelohim.com
Jewish Federation Community  Service Day

Sunday, February 11th  

Volunteer at one of the Jewish Federation service projects:

  • Heal The Bay - Santa Monica Beach cleanup
  • Union Rescue Mission - Help prepare a meal for the homeless residents
  • Wildlife Waystation - See animals up close while using your gardening skills
Signing up? Let us know at: SocialAction@AdatElohim.com so we can connect those TAE members who are participating on the same projects.
Ventura County Homeless Count 2018

Thursday, February 22nd (in the morning)

Volunteer to help count. This critical survey of our local community cannot happen with the help of volunteers.

ALL volunteers (even those who have volunteered in the past) must attend an orientation meeting in Thousand Oaks Thursday, February 15th at 6:30 pm.

Click here for more information.

Let us know you're volunteering by emailng:  SocialAction@AdatElohim.com

TAE Spring Food Drive for Manna (Our Local Food Bank)
February 28th - March 4th

This year we invite you to participate in the TAE spring food drive to help Manna like we have never done before during spring. Our high holiday food drive helped fill Manna's shelves. Now, 6 months later, Manna needs our help again. Join fellow TAE congregants in this newly energized spring effort to ensure that no one in the Conejo valley goes without food. An paper grocery bag will be delivered to your home during the final days of February.

Questions:   SocialAction@AdatElohim.com  
Help Build our TAE Community this Purim!

We're looking for a few volunteers to help spread cheer. During Purim every year, each TAE family receives a Mishloach Manot package from their temple family. These packages are delivered by people like you - TAE volunteers. This year, we'll also be delivering grocery bags to support the spring food drive. Mishloach manot literally translates to the "sending of portions." The mitzvah of giving mishloach manot derives from the Book of Esther and is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food for the Purim feast and to increase a sense of community and friendship among Jews. 

Help bring smiles to friends and food to those in need.  Delivering the gifts and bags is a fun way to meet congregants who are also your neighbors! Please share a little of your time to help.  It's easy!
  1. Email socialaction@adatelohim.com to say "I'll help deliver!"
  2. Pick up packages and bags at Temple on Sunday, February 25th between 10am and noon.
  3. Deliver the packages during the following week (any time that is convenient for you). If the person is home, say hi and wish them a Happy Purim! If not, simply leave the package and bag by their door.

Social Action Committee Meeting

Tuesday, February 20th, 7 p.m.  

Location: Room 6

We will be discussing programming for the 2018 - 2019 year.   All members are invited to join us to learn more about TAE social action help plan the next year and get involved.

Contact Marcia & Harold Gordon with questions and to RSVP:  SocialAction@AdatElohim.com
Upcoming and On-Going Projects & Opportunities
Spring Blood Drive

Sunday March 25th, 9:00 am-1:00 pm  

Location: TAE Social Hall

Invite your friends to help make a difference. Many blood drives in the area were cancelled during the fires. Your help is needed to replenish the supply.

To schedule an appointment, please contact Joyce Bloom: jbloom1967@gmail.com  805-241-5440
The Winter Shelter is Underway

Every Sunday night from December through March, TAE opens its doors to the neediest in our community by turning our social hall into a temporary overnight shelter. We serve a hot meal to 50-90 people and provide overnight accommodation to 25-45 people. This takes an army of volunteers, and we welcome all the help we can get! 

Thank you to all who responded to the call to do the weekly laundry or donate to help pay for the laundry to be done. A special thank you to the Brotherhood and Sisterhood who each contributed $500. Volunteers and donations for this important job are still welcome. Fluff & fold charges approximately $125/week when volunteers are not available to do this important job. Donations to the winter shelter fund to help defray this cost can be made on the TAE website by clicking here and selecting "Winter Shelter Fund" under "Social Action".

Other Volunteer opportunities include: Preparing lunch bags to-go for each guest, preparing breakfast bags for the overnight guests for the morning, doing laundry after the overnight guests leave and chaperoning (sleeping over) with others to keep an eye on our facility and to ensure the safety of all. Note about dinners: These are provided not only by TAE but also by church and community groups. If you are part of a temple group and are interested in providing dinner, please contact the TAE Shelter Committee to check availability.

The TAE Shelter team is happy to explain any or all of these roles in more detail. If you are interested in participating in the winter shelter along with hundreds of other TAE congregants, please send an email to taeshelter@yahoo.com with your contact information and one of our team members will call you back.
How TAE Made A Difference in January
January was another busy social action month!
  • Chesed sponsored a Tu B'Shavat event to plant trees in Malibu Creek State Park.
  • Our house build with Habitat for Humanity took place on January 6th. It was awesome to work alongside the families who are going to be purchasing the homes. We worked on a site in Oxnard where they are building 6 homes. We hope that you will be able to join us for future builds later in the year. Thank you to David Shain for organizing the day. Here are some photos from the day: http://www.adatelohim.org/category-s/28812.htm.
  • Temple members toured a number of the Many Mansions properties and learned about volunteer opportunities with Many Mansions.
  • Sisterhood sponsored a fun night of yoga to benefit Sharsheret, an organization that supports people with breast and ovarian cancer.  Learn more about Sharsheret by visiting www.sharsheret.org.
  • Our Shelter operated every Sunday night, providing a hot meal and warm place to sleep for those in need in our community.
Collection Corner - Donations Needed
Collecting new underwear for foster youth.
February 1 - 16

The Women's Interfaith Network is collecting new underwear for foster youth. 
 
Boys and girls underwear (new, in the package) in sizes 2T and up can be dropped off in the box in the temple office until 2/16.  They will be distributed to Conejo Valley foster youth by James Storehouse. The James Storehouse organization supports foster children from cribs to college and those aging-out of foster care by providing resources that will ease transitions and improve living conditions. 
 
Collecting for the homeless community.
February 22 - 25

Roys Love Foundation, Inc. run by TAE member Zoya Bokhoor-Mills is collecting gently used blankets (please wash them before donating), toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoos, soap, and new socks for the homeless community in Southern California.  All donations can be dropped off in the box in the temple office from 2/22-2/25. For more information visit https://fundly.com/royslove. 
Food Collection for Manna Food Pantry
On-going. Year Round.

The yellow bin in the sanctuary foyer is always available to receive your donations of food items. Make it a habit to bring something to donate each time you come to temple. Leave temple knowing that you made a difference in someone's life. 

Click here for more information
On-Going Programs & Events
Tzedakah Box 

Currently donations are being collected to help victims of the Thomas Fire. Last month $48.60 was donated. Our Tzedakah box is located in the foyer right outside the door to the sanctuary.  Please help us help others.

Caring Community of TAE

Who:  Members are invited to join at any time

Our Caring Community is dedicated to reaching out to those in our TAE community who are in need. If you know someone in need or would like to volunteer, please contact us.

For information: Cantor David Shukiar at  dshukiar@AdatElohim.com  (805) 497-7101.

Click here for more information
This monthly Social Action e-newsletter is sent from the Social Action committee at the beginning of each month. It includes upcoming social action opportunities that are available to the TAE community. We invite all TAE members to find your place in TAE Social Action. We hope that you will find a project (or many!) that touches your heart. We encourage you to participate and bring your temple friends with you! There is something for everyone. 

If you have charities or projects that you support, please share them with us at socialaction@adatelohim.com. We might be able to involve others in a project that is important to you!
Temple Adat Elohim
2420 East Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks CA 91362-3198
805-497-7101 | www.adatelohim.org
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