Social Action Update

January 11, 2007 CBSRZ Congregational Meeting

With your help and support, SAC has accomplished the following during the first half of our fiscal year:

1. Celebrated the High Holidays by assembling and delivering gift bags filled with apples and honey to 19 Jewish residents in local nursing homes. We collected 1,861 pounds of food, which was given to the Soup Kitchen Pantry in Old Saybrook. This is 347 pounds less than we collected for the High Holiday's in 2005. Unfortunately, the needs of the soup kitchen and pantry continue to grow - In 2005, there were 3,356 clients registered for the Food Pantry, an increase of 886 clients over the previous year. And, 328,259 meals were provided at the soup kitchens, an increase of 36,998 meals more than 2004. Obviously, our help is needed - Please remember to bring nonperishable food items with you when you visit the synagogue.
    
2. We gave back to the community during the month of December through the Children's Winter Coat and Clothing collection, held for the West Middle Elementary School in Hartford. And we participated in fulfilling the holiday wish list for the boys living at Mount Saint John School for Boys, located in Deep River.
    
3. Collected $785 for our annual Tzedakah Collective. $150 was donated to the Chester Hose Company, and $150 to the Domestic Violence Valley Shore Services. The balance has been held over and will be added to the monies collected from July - Dec 2006. The total will then be donated to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.
   
    
4. Participated in the Hanukah Bazaar and raised awareness for global warming - sold CFLs compact fluorescence light bulbs, for Darfur - sold Dolls for Darfur pins (accepting orders for more) and for the Shoreline Soup Kitchen - sold Dining Out Coupon Books and a fundraising CD recorded by local musicians (available to purchase in the office, call Wendy) .
   
    
5. Darfur Advocacy - SAC remains committed to bringing awareness about the genocide occurring in Darfur. In September, a small group of CBSRZers attended the Voices to Stop Genocide Rally in NYC. Although, a 60 day cease-fire was agreed to yesterday, and brings hope to the situation - the genocide has not ended. We continue to ask for your support to help us end the atrocities. Whether by signing petitions, buying Dolls for Darfur pins or attending events, we need your help to make a difference.
   Next Friday night, January 19th at the Martin Luther King Shabbat, Jess Maghan (Holy Scroller member) will speak about his recent trip to Sudan, please join us.

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