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 The Temple Voice

  The Quarterly Journal of the
Social Justice Action Committee

A planning meeting was held last week by the Social Justice Action Committee on Thursday November 6 th. Rabbi Joshua Boettiger, Co-Chair Evie Strauss, Lola Sonnenschein, Audrey Diamontopoulos and Chair Pat O'Scannell were present. In absentia were Beverly Jorgensen, Mel and Sheila Canal and auxiliary members Sasha and Russ Borenstein, Ellen and Owen Grush, Morgan Hunt, and Jerrine and David Rowley. It was decided that a quarterly newsletter would be published to the TES congregation, and this is the first such publication. The newsletter will keep the congregation abreast of the activities and projects of the SJAC, outline and list all volunteer opportunitieswith the Food Ninjas and other sub groups, and hopefully attract more qualified members. The meeting began with Evie Strauss giving an update on the program of monthly speakers from community organizations at our Shabbat services. She has programmed three more organizations which will begin in December:

December: Speaker Tammy Pitzen from The Children's Advocacy Center. January: Speaker Tom Cole from Kids Unlimited February: Speaker David Wick from Culture For Peace

Specific dates are forthcoming  

 

Evie also discussed the merits of the Maslow Project and Family Nurturing Center, and their importance within our community. The Maslow Project has opened a new office in Ashland which will be administered by Cheyenne Nichols, and The Family Nurturing Center is in the capable hands of Mary Curtis. We will continue to do all we can to support both of these vital organizations. The issue was raised as to the possible redundancy of having so many Youth organizations in the Valley, and it was determined that the combination of agencies creates a safety net, insuring a constant series of caring organizations for all ages and for differently-abled individuals. We then moved onto a list and discussion of the programs the SJAC already has in place, and thanks were expressed to those individuals who staffed out projects in the past year.  

     

Issue # 1 November, 2014 

SJAC Programs Currently in place:

Food Ninjas: The Food Ninjas (F'Ness) were created two years ago when
the project to feed the homeless exiting the Winburn Way Thursday night
shelter on Friday morning with a hot and hearty home-made breakfast,
was proposed by Chair O'Scannell. This program was administered
successfully in the winters of 2012 and 2013. Now it has been expanded to
include Wednesday morning for the Tuesday night shelter.

Soup to the Food Bank on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursday mornings.
The AEFB gardening crew has now agreed to provide soup on Tuesday
mornings, to complete the week, and fill the space left by Uncle Foods Diner.
Soup to the Shower Facility parked at the Food Bank from 1-4:00 on Thursday afternoons.
Hot Breakfasts to the Winburn Way Shelter on Friday mornings.

NEW Hot Breakfasts to the Winburn Way Shelter on Wednesday mornings

Other Projects:
Winburn Way Overnight Hosting
Staffing the Food Bank in November and December
Thanks to all of the people who helped and are helping to staff these programs !

NEW An excellent idea was proposed by Morgan Hunt to create a lending
library of such medical supplies as crutches, walkers, wheel chairs etc. The
idea was further fleshed out by O'Scannell, who will maintain a small space
on the TES Web Site to solicit donors and those in need. Interested parties
will be kept on a list, and cross-referenced whenever possible.
It was determined that the indigent fund will be used primarily to cover
gasoline expenses, and a small supply of quick-and-ready foods will be kept
on hand in the office. The possibility of using part of the budget to cover
bus tokens was also discussed, and in currently on hold until the need is voiced.

Classified Section
Wanted: Volunteers for each of the following
Make soup on weekday mornings for the Food Bank, service begins at 9:30 am
Make soup on Thursday afternoons Mobile Shower Unit, service begins at 1:00 pm
Make breakfasts on Friday Mornings for the Winburn Way Shelter, 7:00 am service
Make breakfasts on Wednesday mornings for the Winburn Way Shelter, 7:00 am service
IF YOU LOVE TO COOK, WE NEED YOU !!
Teams for the Winburn Way Shelters on both Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Do you have a passion for Social Justice Issues?
The Social Justice ACTION Committee needs YOU!
Yours ideas, your good energy, your passion.
Contact Pat O'Scannell for more information on when we meet,
how we meet, and how to get involved.
Less talk and more action.
Our efforts are supported by the Ashland Community Food Bank.
Don't wait.......
JOIN THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTION COMMITTEE NOW