SOCIAL ACTION AT BETH ABRAHAM
Our Fall Social Action Project is supporting Crayons to Classrooms. We will be collecting NEW winter accessories for children – hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, etc. Monetary contributions can also be made.
Our current ongoing Social Action effort is reducing waste by collecting batteries to be recycled. Batteries are often thrown out, as recycling for them is not readily available. By making it easier to recycle them, we’re reducing some of the chemical waste that would otherwise end up in the ground or in our water supplies.
We also provide canned goods and non-perishables to the Dayton Foodbank as an ongoing endeavor.
TIKKUN OLAM
Beth Abraham Synagogue has a long and rich history of tikkun olam, of repairing the world. Through our partnerships with local non-profit organizations and other religious institutions, our congregants continually fulfill the mitzvah of performing acts of kindness and social justice as we respond to the ongoing needs of our community.
With social consciousness at the forefront of our programming, we strive to incorporate social activities into our holiday, donor and Sisterhood activities.
Community partners have included Crayons to Classrooms, The Food Bank, Corinthian Baptist Church, CARE House, Ronald McDonald House, Clothes that Work, Montgomery County Juvenile Court, Montgomery County Women in Reentry, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Oak Tree Corner, Dayton VA, St. Vincent de Paul Women’s and Children’s Center, and Artemis Center.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, we provided casseroles to the local homeless shelter, something our congregants were able to do at home and drop off. As the casseroles were frozen, the shelter was able to thaw and use them as needed. Among many other projects, we have supported the CROP walk to help those who are food insecure, made casseroles for the local homeless shelter, and adopted a family to donate gifts.
In response to the Memorial Day tornados in 2019, congregants responded to the immediate needs of the victims by collecting food, toiletries, water, diapers, cleaning supplies and paper products to those who lost their homes and in temporary shelters. Additionally, we partnered with Crayons to Classrooms to fill backpacks for children affected by the tornados. Congregants generously donated supplies and financial assistance for students to be able to start the new school year well equipped.
SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS PROJECTS:
ADOPT-A-FAMILY
Our Hanukkah Social Action project through the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office was a great success. We provided gifts for a large family with 4 adults and 6 children, including gifts for each individual as well as household gifts such as towels and pots and pans. The Public Defender’s Office thanked us, stating “With your help, we were able to adopt 26 families, totaling 123 people. This is only possible with your generosity. On their behalf, as well as our own, we thank you.”
FEMME AID FOR WOMEN’S SANITARY NEEDS
We are collecting feminine hygiene products as well as monetary donations to be given to the Femme Aid Collaborative, a group that provides items for women in need. People in our community must make choices monthly. Will their money go to food, shelter, or menstrual product essentials? These necessary products are not covered by WIC or any other welfare program. Each month, this leaves countless people in our community without the necessary menstrual products many of us take for granted. Our donations will help local women so they don’t have to choose between menstrual needs and caring for their families.
FOOD DRIVE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUGAR CAMP OFFICES
The Sugar Camp offices joined with us to collect food for the Dayton Foodbank. With the help of Hillel students and their families, we donated over 500 lbs of food! Beth Abraham collects non-perishable food items on a continual basis to support Foodbank clients.
PROVIDING CASSEROLES TO ST. VINCENT HOMELESS SHELTER
During the COVID-19 shutdown, Beth Abraham provided pre-made casseroles to St. Vincent Homeless Shelter on a semi-regular basis. The casseroles are kept frozen by the St. Vincent staff until needed, then they only have to take them out of the freezer and bake them. Our Beth Abraham volunteers prepared the casseroles at home, then returned them to the Synagogue for delivery to the shelter. This was been a good project for us since COVID preventions made it hard to get together for a group project, and most community organizations weren’t accepting donations of goods.