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Volunteer Opportunities

10/24/2019 10:54:22 AM

Oct24

Do you have some time to give? We have lots of great opportunities to help out in our community.

Immigration Assistance Fund: Raising Awareness for Local Immigration Assistance

Temple Beth El is a member of the Dane Sanctuary Coalition, joining with other congregations and organizations to support immigrants in our community. The coalition is starting a project to raise awareness and to fundraise for the Immigrant Assistance Fund. This fund pays for legal services, emergency aid, bail, travel costs, and other aid for undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in Dane County. The fund is administered by the seven members of the Immigration Collaborative (Catholic Multicultural Center, Centro Hispano of Dane County, Community Immigration Law Center, Jewish Social Services, Literacy Network, Rise Law Center, and UW Immigrant Justice Clinic). You can read more about the fund here.

We are looking for volunteers with public relations and/or fundraising experience to be part of a small committee to work with the Immigration Collaborative and move this effort forward. For more information, and to volunteer, please contact Rabbi Bonnie Margulis at rabbibonnie@charter.net.

 


Healing House: Like to Cook? Volunteers for Healing House Meals Needed in November

 

The Healing House is a place where a homeless child or family member can go to heal after surgery, illness, or childbirth. Imagine you have just delivered a baby and your family is homeless. The shelters are only open at night. You are on the street with your newborn and other children for 10 hours a day. You have no safe place for your newborn to sleep.

That’s where Healing House comes in, providing clients three meals a day, childcare assistance, and case management to end the cycle of homelessness. Research shows that homeless patients have 50 percent fewer hospital admissions within 90 days of discharge if they receive respite care.

The Healing House, a program of Madison Area Urban Ministry, officially opened on July 8, 2019. Located at 303 Lathrop Street in Madison, it is an eight-bed facility providing 24/7 recuperative care by medically trained staff and volunteers for up to 28 days. Case management is provided by The Road Home staff.

Temple volunteers are being asked to assist with dinner by cooking and dropping off dinner or serving and cleaning up after dinner at the house.

If you are interested in helping out the week of November 10–16, please sign up here or contact Cathy Rotter at c.rotter.mail@gmail.com.

 

Catholic Multicultural Center: Serving Meals at the Catholic Multicultural Center Is Fun and Easy

Looking for a fun, easy opportunity to help the community and spend quality time as a team? Help serve the daily meal at the Catholic Multicultural Center! The Catholic Multicultural Center provides free meals every day to low-income community members and people experiencing homelessness. Volunteers set out and serve the food and clean up after the meal; you’re busy the whole time and on your feet. Temple Beth El has agreed to serve on the second Monday of each month. November is already full, but we’d love volunteers for Monday, December 9, and in 2020. Sign up here or contact Sue Levy at slevy51@gmail.com.

 

Emerson: Emerson School Is Seeking Reading and Math Mentors

Seven years ago, Jewish Congregations for Social Justice “adopted” Emerson School on Madison’s east side, and we have been supporting their academics and family programming ever since. We would love to have you join us for the 2019–20 school year. We’re looking for adults who want to work with elementary-age children on reading and math skills:

Reading mentors work with beginning readers. Your job is to help children build skills and discover the joy of reading.

Math mentors work with children on basic math concepts and lessons. You don’t have to be a math whiz—many kids need support with very basic math facts and strategies that most adults are comfortable with.

Interested? Please contact Marcia Vandercook at marcia.vandercook@gmail.com.

 

Coat Donations: It’s Getting Colder—Do You Have Some Coats You Could Donate?

Jewish Social Services will welcome a new refugee family this month from Afghanistan. With these new arrivals and the fact that our current families’ kids keep growing, we are in need of gently used or new winter outerwear in sizes from infant to age 18. How can you help? Easy-peasy!

If you have gently used coats, snow pants, boots, or accessories, you can drop them off at:

  • Jewish Social Services, 6434 Enterprise Lane
  • Temple Beth El, 2702 Arbor Drive
  • Beth Israel Center, 1406 Mound Street

Or buy a gift card to Target, Kohl's, Walmart, or the discount store of your choice and mail to JSS, 6434 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI 53719, or send a check. On your check, please write "Winter Wear for Refugees."

April 25, 2024 17 Nisan 5784