Another rewarding year of social action activities at TBT is well underway.  If you are interested in any of the projects below - whether it's just dipping your toe in the water or jumping in all the way - please let the temple office know. 

We have just completed another remarkable summer at the Gerald Ryan Outreach Camp, “GROC”, in Wyandanch.  Each year we strive to make the  

camp experience more meaningful for the children – helping them to learn life skills and develop strong self-esteem while having fun!  Last year, for the first time, instead of sending the campers to see a Broadway show, we decided to try to put on a production of our own.  We hired directors, recruited our incredible set designer, Marylyn Lieberman, and with just four weeks of rehearsal time, the campers performed  “The Wiz!”  It was an astounding success. This year we built on that success with an incredible production of  “Peter Pan”. The pride and enthusiasm of the campers and their family members (who turned out in record numbers) was overwhelming!

 

Another change we made this year was to add more structure to the camp day.  Each teacher became a specialist in Arts and Crafts, Music, Legos, Cooking, Sports and Games, or Nature and each grade rotated through a specialty on a daily basis.  This enabled the all campers to partake in a much wider range of activities. Thanks to the generosity of our members, we were able to purchase Lego “simple machine” kits this summer, which will be used for years to come.  Now the campers learn basic science/engineering principles while enjoying one of their favorite activities! 

 

None of this would be possible without the dedication of TBT’s wonderful volunteers and the financial support of our clergy, staff, and members.  Also wonderful, is the diversity of members involved in some aspect of camp – grandparents to grandchildren working together to make the summer a success.

 

If anyone would like more information on GROC, please feel free to call or email me,

Janice Hassenfeld, @ 631-491-5195 or jhassenfeld@yahoo.com.

 

 

TBT IN ACTION
2010-1011 5770-5771
Repairing the World… One Mitzvah at a Time

High Holiday Food Drive for Island Harvest (September 9 – September 18)
Collection bags will be distributed on Rosh Hashanah. Please fill them with non-perishable food and return them to the Temple lobby on Yom Kippur for donation to Island Harvest.

Thanksgiving Packing at Wyandanch Church (November TBD)
Join the annual "human assembly line" or volunteers from TBT and Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church in Wyandanch to prepare boxes of Thanksgiving dinner ingredients for local families in need. TBT contact: Jodi Mishkin (516) 413-5122 (jam326@yahoo.com).

Island Harvest Turkey & Trimmings Collection Site (November or December TBD)
As part of the annual Island Harvest holiday food drive, TBT will be fielding a team of volunteers to staff a local supermarket collection site on a weekend afternoon in November or December. TBT contact: Jeff Silverman (jrsilverman@msn.com)

Toy Drive to benefit the Gerald J. Ryan Outreach Center in Wyandanch (December)
Help provide a happy holiday season for local families in need.  Please bring your donations of new, unwrapped toys for children from infants to twelve years of age.  A collection box will be located in the Temple lobby 

Blood Drive(December/June)
The supply of donated blood on Long Island needs constant replenishing. At our annual winter and summer blood drives, you can either to donate a pint and/or volunteer to help make calls or assist on the day of the drive.

USPS/Island Harvest Food Collection and Sorting (May TBD)
This is the day when everyone can place non-perishable food by their mailboxes and their letter carriers will pick up the food when they deliver the mail. Volunteers then work with Island Harvest to sort the food for distribution to local soup kitchens and food banks.

Wyandanch Camp (Summer)
For over 20 years, TBT members have enriched the bare-bones summer day camp for local needy kids at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church in Wyandanch through donations to sponsor activities or by volunteering to share their talents or just read a book one-on-one with a child. TBT contact: Janice Hassenfeld (631) 491-5195 (jhassenfeld@yahoo.com).

M’Yad L’Yad Helping Hands
Individuals are matched with a specific local Jewish family in need and periodically send them basic necessities such as clothing, household goods, and holiday items.

For additional information about Social Action Committee events please contact:
Gail Vela (631) 499-8829 (mgjjv@aol.com) or Robin Baer (631) 549-2821 (rbaerliny@aol.com)