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Mitzvah Day: The Power of 160 Volunteers

06/28/2023 10:53:33 AM

Jun28

Mitzvah Day

In April, Mitzvah Day returned to Temple Beth El, led by our co-chairs, Lynn Renner, Staci Rieder, and Linda Reivitz, with staff support from Aleeza Hoffert and the help of many project leaders. The building was abuzz with activity, as young families brought their children and longtime members worked side by side with old friends.

Over 160 people of all ages volunteered for Mitzvah Day. We cooked hundreds of meals, tied blankets and knit hats, built shelves and cleaned kitchens, sent letters of appreciation to first responders, and hosted a Social Justice Fair in the Weinstein Community Court.

How TBE members supported our community:

  • We had 160 registered volunteers, plus more showing up to help that day.
  • Members donated bags full of diapers, toiletries, food, school supplies, and yarn, along with $832 to help purchase supplies.
  • We swabbed the cheeks of nine potential bone marrow donors and shared information with many others.
  • We turned out 45 volunteers of all ages to work outside on a cold blustery day. We cleaned up and spread mulch at Beit Olamim cemetery, readied garden beds at Goodman Community Center, picked up at garbage at Wingra Park, and helped at the Arboretum.
  • We prepared 340 meals for future dinners at the Catholic Multicultural Center and did a spring cleaning of their building.
  • Our knitters made 14 items, including hats, dishcloths, and small creatures for children’s library reading programs. We also formed a new TBE knitting group!
  • We made 26 gift baskets for distribution at a Mother’s Day program for FOSTER, a case management program for parents.
  • To help hospitalized children, we made 30 meals at Ronald McDonald House and tied 27 fleece blankets for Project Linus.
  • Children and parents made cards for first responders through Operation Gratitude and wrote pen pal letters to children in Israel.
  • We supported 6 nonprofit community organizations at our Social Justice Fair. 
  • We also gave manicures and hand massages to residents at Capitol Lakes, sorted and bundled diapers for delivery to the Village Diaper Bank, and built bookshelves and assembled yard signs for the GSAFE LGBTQ+ youth program.
  • Adamah and the Great Dane donated a delicious lunch for 101 students and their families, and Sam and Roger Brown donated Rocky Rococo pizza for 40 people at dinner.

Additional photos from Mitzvah Day:

May 5, 2024 27 Nisan 5784