Social Action

From the sidewalk of West 46th Street, Thomas Jefferson International Newcomers Academy is a unique, welcoming environment bursting with various cultures, languages, and customs from all across the world. The PreK-12 school is designed to help refugees find their way in a new country with a different language and different customs. Social Action has embarked on a partnership with the school to help these Cleveland refugees by donating new and gently used winter clothing to students and their families (for some of which is the first time they are being exposed to winter weather), supporting a “Giving Night of Hanukah” in which gifts and gift cards are collected, wrapped and given to the Thomas Jefferson community to help bring joy to others less fortunate, and helping teachers and staff make a difference in the classroom by tutoring at Thomas Jefferson Academy. In regards to the tutoring, if you have 2 hours per week and would love to help advance and nurture these wonderful students please contact Faith Schaffer at fs321@aol.com.  Thomas Jefferson Academy is only a 20 minute drive from the Temple!

The Transplant House of Cleveland is a non-profit organization with an important mission: to provide temporary, affordable housing in a home-like environment for organ transplant patients and their families while they visit Cleveland for medical care. They provide a cozy, welcoming home-away-from-home where transplant families can face medical challenges with the help and support of others. Accordingly, we are now providing a quarterly home cooked meal for the residents. Please contact Louis Innenberg at linnenberg@ttti.org if interested in joining in with us.

The CKFP distributes bags and bags of food to those in need. On Sunday mornings they pack and distribute food to area elderly that are home bound. On a quarterly basis we are bringing a group to help with this mitzvah. Please contact Lynn Harris for more information on this worthwhile family project. lynnskarate@gmail.com or 216-514-8952

We know it can be hard to find meaningful, engaging volunteer experiences for our children especially as they prepare for B’nai Mitzvah. That is why we have launched our 5th & 6th Grade Mitzvah Corp so our students can sample a variety of volunteer opportunities. This is enrichment opportunity outside of class time. Past activities have included going to Stone Gardens, the Geauga Humane Society Rescue Village, The Horovitz YouthAbility Program & Mandel Jewish Day School Garden, and the Cleveland Kosher Food Bank. Please contact Iree Reich at ireich@ttti.org for futher info.

The Caring Congregation Initiative is a program that provides a meal to families during a time of need. This includes many different circumstances, such as: after the death of a loved one, when someone returns from a hospital stay, after the birth of a baby, during a challenging family transition – or any other time when you may need a meal, or feel as though someone else may need one. The Temple’s G’milut Chasidim Caring Corps is ready to help out! If you need a meal, or you know someone else that does please contact Cyndi Wilson: 216-831-3233 x. 114 or, cwilson@ttti.org. You can also join the “Caring Corps” and volunteer to prepare a meal when needed!

For many years there has been a small group of women at TTTI that knits hats and scarves for the children at Citizen’s Academy schools. Based on a group in Israel that was knitting hats for soldiers in the Israeli Army, our Knit-zvah group started with the help of Joan Kirschenbaum and continues on with knitters like Jean Foxman, contributing over 150 pieces per year. The group is now looking for new knitters, and they have patterns and yarn available. Please contact Rita Saslaw rlsaslaw@aol.com if interested.

Did you know that household batteries are responsible for 50 to 70% of all heavy material found in landfills? We are offering an easy way to help! Bring your old batteries to the reception desk where a pail is available for proper disposal. A recycle business will extract 61% of the battery components: zinc, manganese, steel and even the paper and plastic on the outside jacket. These materials will be sent to manufacturers for reuse. It is 85% more efficient to recycle recoverable materials then it is to mine the original ores from the ground.

Help our 3rd & 4th graders by Recycling Your Empty Aluminum Beverage Cans! These students visited the Akron Zoo in September and learned about the plight of many endangered species. Now they’re helping the Zoo by collecting aluminum beverage cans to repopulate tree corridors, restoring links between fragments of massively degraded Brazilian rainforest. One tree can be planted for every 50 cans collected. A collection bin is located around the corner from the Cafe.