Social Action Mitzvah Projects

By getting involved in Temple Emanu-El's Social Action projects, you can make an important difference in our community. Please contact those listed for each project to participate, or send an email to socialaction@templeemanuelsd.org.

NEW MITZVAH PROJECTS:

Monarch School
Tutoring, Toiletries Collection
Founded in 1988, the Monarch School and its committed team of teachers, administrators and volunteers is dedicated to providing homeless and at-risk children with an accredited education while caring for their basic needs. Today, more than 160 kids between the ages of 4 and 19 are enrolled at Monarch School. They have an exceptionally successful program that serves those in our San Diego community most in need. Our Social Action Committee is organizing different ways in which we can help the Monarch School. For information on involvement in any of them, please contact Bill Seager at (619) 435-8130 or at wseager1@san.rr.com

Hunger Project at St. Vincent de Paul
1st Sunday of the month, 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Prepare food and help serve 600–800 hungry San Diegans at St. Vincent De Paul. (Children 12 and older are also welcome to serve with an accompanying parent). Contact Dan & Lisa Fishtrom at (619) 448-1985

San Diego LGBT Pride Parade
July of each year
Every year, Temple Emanu-El has a contingent marching in the LGBT Pride Parade in support of those with alternative lifestyles. Our participation shows San Diego that Temple Emanu-El is a supportive and safe community for all Jews in the San Diego area. The route starts at University Avenue and Normal Street and ends in Balboa Park, just over 1 mile. For more information, please call John Laird and Aaron Borovoy at (619) 284-0522.

Storefront Youth Shelter Project
2nd Sunday of the month, 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Prepare and serve dinner, and interact with 15 homeless teenagers at The Storefront Youth Shelter. A wonderful way to make a difference in a young person’s life. Contact Mark or Gail Braverman at (619) 589-1909.

AIDS Food Pantry Drive
Third Sunday of the month, 1-1/2-hour shifts from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Distribute flyers and collect food from customers at Ralph’s grocery store in Mission Valley. The food goes to Mama's Pantry, which supplies food and hygiene items to needy people with AIDS. (Adults and children) Contact Sophie Martinez at (619) 861-7760 or chizel1@cox.net or Nancy Sokhis at (619) 977-5809 or nsokhis@gmail.com

Temple Emanu-El Blood Drive (Temple Family Blood Plan)
Periodically at Temple
Donate blood at the Bloodmobile during Temple Blood Drives. Benefits the San Diego Blood Bank. Donations made during our blood drives, at the Blood Bank, or at any Mobile Unit can be credited to the Temple Emanu-El Family Blood Plan. Any Temple member may draw on our account. If you donate outside of our blood drives, be sure to ask for your blood donation to benefit the Temple Emanu-El Family Blood Plan.

Interfaith Rotational Shelter
Last two weeks of December
Temple Emanu-El hosts the Interfaith Rotational Shelter, which is managed by the Interfaith Shelter Network. Help temporarily displaced people get back on their feet. We house, feed, and visit with our guests during our two week rotation. We always need help with meals, supplies, and staying overnight with our guests.

Blanket Drive for Baja California
December and January
Children and the elderly die of cold every year just 30 miles away in the slums of upper Baja. Help us to supply blankets and warm clothing to these extraordinarily needy people. Contact Aaron Borovoy (619) 284-0522.

Stand Down for Homeless Veterans
July of each year
Veterans Village of San Diego hosts this event, held in Downtown San Diego. This year approximately 1,000 homeless veterans are expected with 20% of them women.  Please visit www.vvsd.net/standdown.htm for more information or contact Lee Loventhal at (858) 384-6847. In the spring and summer, we also collect new white socks and new underwear for both men and women.  Donations can be dropped off in the white barrel in the lobby of the Temple Office—they should be clearly marked for "Stand Down".

Coupon Mitzvah Family Program
Ongoing
Please help low income military families at Miramar Air station by clipping food and and supply coupons out of the Sunday Paper each week, and mailing them to: Navy Marine Relief Society, MCAS Miramar, P.O.Box  45339, San Diego, CA 92145-0339. This can be a great family mitzvah project to do together.

Project Linus
Ongoing
At some point in life, everyone needs a blanket to hold onto. The Linus Project distributes blankets to children in stressful situations at 28 hospitals and agencies throughout San Diego County. The pattern is up to you, but the blankets must be hand made in washable, child friendly colors. This is a good opportunity to use up the yarn you may have accumulated throughout the years. For patterns and additional information about the project, please visit http://www.projectlinus.org/index.html or contact Sheila Orysiek at (619) 465-6028. Drop finished blankets off at the Temple office, clearly marked for the Linus Project, and we will see that they are delivered.

Thanksgiving Dinner at San Diego Center for the Blind
November (usually one week before Thanksgiving)
Temple members team up with the Hillcrest-Mission Valley Lion's Club to serve a pre-Thanksgiving dinner to 225 sight impaired members of the Center. Contact Lee Loventhal at (858) 384-6847.

Nothing But Nets is a grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Bed nets stop mosquitos from biting during the night and the insecticide in the nets kills the insects when they land on it. A $10 donation will buy a net to protect a whole family. Our Youth Group has created a team page to make it easy to sign on and donate. Click Here to go to that page. To learn more about the program, please see http://www.nothingbutnets.net/