Listed below are five main areas of focus with the ongoing volunteer opportunities. We encourage you to get involved with Social Action and help make a difference. For each contact listed below, please use the Members Only membership database call the Temple office for phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses.
Education
Coronado School Adopt-a-Class Project
Temple Isaiah has adopted a 3rd grade class at Coronado Elementary in Richmond to help assist with literacy and math tutoring, assorted class projects and field trips. Volunteers are needed weekly or biweekly to help in the classroom, and occasionally with special projects. Contact Peter Colby.
Headstart
Contra Costa County Headstart is a preschool and early intervention program for children up to 5 years old. Volunteers are needed with assorted projects involving classroom maintenance, teacher training, and holiday project involvement in collection and distribution of “A Gift for Every Family.” Contact Amy Faltz.
Environment
Creating Consciousness
Volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of new program ideas, educating congregants, and implementing new recycling and other environmental programs at Temple, work and home. Contact Bruce Dresser.
Health & Healing
Bingo
Temple Isaiah sponsors a monthly bingo game at the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living in Danville on the third Thursday of each month from 6:30 - 8pm. The senior residents of the home really enjoy these games and help is always welcome at the Jewish Home; tis is a pleasant and simple way to support our elderly Jewish community. Contact Terry Matzkin.
Chanting With Our Elders
This very spirited and spiritual group of residents welcomes any and all visitors to join in as we prepare for Shabbat together with prayer, chant and meditation. No prior knowledge of Hebrew or singing is required. Second Friday of each month, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living in Danville. Led by temple member Jeanette Gross, a graduate of Rabbi Shefa Gold’s Kol Zimra Chant Leaders Training. If you have extra time to stay and visit or read to any of the residents, it is always appreciated!
Contact Jeanette Gross at SacredHebrewChant.com.
Blood Drives
Roll up your sleeve and donate a pint of critically needed blood. The Blood Center of the Pacific comes to Temple Isaiah three times a year. All donated blood will be used within 48 hours by hospitals and clinics in the Bay Area. Volunteers are also needed to help make phone calls to members for upcoming drives. Contact Craig Bloom.
Shabbat Socials
Volunteers are needed to visit Byron Park Retirement Residence on the third Friday of every month to celebrate Shabbat with candles, challah and songs. Contact Sherri Miller or Denise Glicklin.
Homeless & Disadvantaged
Winter Nights
Housing and feeding approximately 35 homeless adults and children for the 2 weeks over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays at the Temple.
Contra Costa Interfaith Housing
Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, Inc. (CCIH) is a service-oriented coaliation of 15 faith communities in Central Costra County, of which Temple Isaiah is a member. The program’s goal is to provide permanent supported housing for homeless families, along with life skill courses, job training, counseling and other services. The rehabilitation/construction process has begun on a purchased property in Pleasant Hill. CCIH plans to start serving clients in 2004. For more information, contact Rabbi Graetz.
Loaves and Fishes
Loaves & Fishes prepares over 700 meals a day for seven dining rooms (Bay Point, Oakley, Martinez, Concord, San Pablo, and Antioch). Temple Isaiah volunteers prepare and serve hot meals on the third Thursday of every month at the Loaves & Fishes catering kitchen in Oakley. Contact Phyllis Ceaser.
Monthly Mitzvah Collections
Assorted ongoing collections (e.g., clothes, toilet paper, used eyeglasses) are made each month at Temple for designated organizations. People are needed to donate goods and volunteers to deliver goods. Contact Marilyn Hirsch.
Shelter Lunches
Come make sandwiches and bag lunches at Temple Isaiah’s kitchen for distribution to homeless adults at the Central County Emergency Shelter in Concord. This one hour mitzvah that feeds sixty-five hungry people is run monthly and is ideal for religious school children and Havurahs.
Shelter Dinners
During three weeks a year, Temple Isaiah families supply dinner and serve the homeless residents for a few weeks each year at the Martinez family shelter. Volunteers are needed to prepare dinner meals, drive the meals from the Temple to the shelters, and to serve the meals. Contact Kim Miller-Hershon.
Shelter Snacks
Volunteers are needed to purchase and deliver snacks for 15 children to a family shelter in Concord. Contact Marla Simon.
Turkey Drive
The Temple collects money to buy turkeys for the homeless. Contact Harmon Burstyn.
Advocacy
Darfur/Sudan Policy
Interested volunteers discuss approaches to affecting the situation in Darfur. Contact Marilyn Hirsch or Judi Roberts.
Additional Programs
Angel Network
The Angel Network, coordinated by the Mitzvah Committee, provides support to fellow Temple members who are going through life cycle events such as the loss of a loved one, illness, injury, birth of a child, or wedding. Services provided by network volunteers include preparation of meals, grocery shopping, transportation to medical appointments, hospital or in-home visits, etc.
Mitzvah Day
Mitzvah Day is a special Social Action Committee program that culminates on a designated day in the fall of each year, when over 25 selected community programs are helped by hundreds of congregants and their families. Volunteers are needed to help organize all aspects, including coordinating projects, publicity, food acquisition and distribution, data entry, etc. Mitzvah Day 10 is on October 3, 2004. Contact Michelle Tellez.
Tikkun Olam Fund
The Temple Isaiah Tikkun Olam Fund offers financial support to community-based organizations that provide assistance to the needy and disadvantaged. We have made 11 grants to various ogranizations during the past four years and your contributions will allow us to help many more. Consider making a donation to this fund in honor of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a yahrzeit, thank-you, or other special occasion. Contact the Temple Office.
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