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Tikkun Olam Programs

Temple Shir Tikvah’s Ongoing Tikkun Olam Projects

For  more information about all projects, contact tikkunolam@shir-tikvah.org.

 

  • Mystic River Watershed Association - Reverse Tashlich: Now an international movement with 245 member communities in 12 countries, once a year we partner with the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) to go beyond throwing our sins in the river -- we pull trash out of it, too! See photos from 2022 (scroll down to the bottom to see MyRWA and Shir Tikvah), and read an article and see photos from 2021. Plastover: Every spring at Plastover we commit to "end the plague of plastic" by reducing or eliminating ou use of plastic. The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) was founded with a mission to protect and restore the Mystic River, its tributaries and watershed lands for the benefit of present and future generations and to celebrate the value, importance and great beauty of these natural resources. Its vision is a vibrant, healthy and resilient Mystic River watershed for the benefit of all our community members. To learn about more volunteer opportunities contact Karen Grossman.

  • The Dwelling Place Soup Kitchen - Volunteer at a soup kitchen located at the United Methodist Church in Woburn. Volunteers from Shir Tikvah serve meals the first Wednesday of every month at 5:15pm. Children with parents are welcome. This is part of TST’s Learning Corps program.

  • Family Table - Donate boxes of raisins and whole-grain crackers to Family Table, the largest kosher food pantry in New England. Shir Tikvah provides year-round support to Family Table, and seeks donations on an ongoing basis. Family Table provides healthy food on a monthly and emergency basis to people in need and serves more than 100 towns and 400 families each month. Volunteer needs: donations and drivers.

  • Food Link, Arlington - a food rescue nonprofit that contracts with local groceries and restaurants to rescue nutritious food and deliver it to social service agencies, afterschool programs, low-income housing, and senior centers. Volunteers are needed several Sundays each year for an afternoon of service at Food Link’s Arlington facility. Volunteers sort food, remove food from packages for composting, and sweep and clean the facility.

  • Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy (GBJCL) - Become a literacy tutor in an under-resourced K-8 school in East Somerville. Literacy tutors must be commitment starting in mid-October. Tutors are partnered with individual students for two consecutive one-to-one, forty-minute sessions. Volunteers are also needed for before school homework help. GBJCL requires that volunteer tutors complete a one-time, 2 to 3 hour training. Beyond that, all you need is an appreciation for children’s learning and a joy of reading.

  • Habitat for Humanity - Join a building work crew once a month, from 8:30am-3:30pm. No particular skills are required to participate, but you must be 16 or older to be on the worksite. We usually eat out for lunch, but lots of folks bring lunch and eat on site. Location may change each month: Contact Annie LaCourt to confirm address.

  • Red Cross Blood Drives - The temple hosts 1 or 2 Red Cross blood drives each year. Volunteers are needed to coordinate and promote the drive within the temple, staff the registration tables, and hand out snacks and drinks to blood donors. We are seeking a volunteer to coordinate our next drive.

  • Sewing to Change Lives/Days for Girls - Days for Girls aims to create a more dignified free and educated world through access to lasting feminine hygiene solutions. Volunteers cut fabric and sew kits of sanitary supplies to donate to girls in need around the world.  Patterns and instructions provided.

  • Somerville Homeless Coalition - SHC is an adult shelter in Somerville. Volunteers are needed the second Sunday of every month, from 4:30 to 5:30pm. You can prepare part of a meal at your home, or deliver meals prepared by other TST members to the shelter. There is no regular commitment required. You will receive an email monthly and can sign up at your convenience. Drop-off location is the Ambrose School, 27 High Street, Winchester, at 4:30pm.

  • Project Ezra - Each year on Christmas Eve, Temple Shir Tikvah partners with Temple Isaiah of Lexington to prepare and deliver meals to elderly residents and families in Arlington, Bedford, and Lexington. Jobs include meal preparation, decorating delivery bags, packing food, making deliveries, and more.

  • Resources: "In Search of Shelter and Financial Security"

  • On February 8, 2019, the Tikkun Olam committee hosted a social justice-themed Shabbat dinner, "In Search of Shelter and Financial Security." Our member panelists Joanna Ain, Bekka Lane, and Marc Dohan have suggested numerous resources and volunteer opportunities. We hope you will continue to explore these topics!
Tue, March 19 2024 9 Adar II 5784