Social Action

Mitzvah Challenges

First Hebrew’s Social Action committee is dedicated to feeding the hungry in our community. We also provide a forum for informational programming on issues like gun safety and drug abuse. We have also done a series of Mitzvah Challenges, involving our community in addressing specific needs as they come up.

As part of our mission, we provide monthly meals (second Monday of the month) for the local Soup Kitchen for approximately 80 people. Meals can no longer be prepared by outside groups or individuals so we provide financial resources for the soup kitchen to feed those in need.

Our newest Mitzvah Challenge, which we started in July 2023, is being done with Hearts and Hands for Refugees. We are helping new Afghani refugees stock their new homes. A donation box is in the upstairs coat closet. We need:

• New or gently used: Electric tea kettle, water pitcher, toddler sippy cups, mixing bowls, rolling pins, pots, measuring cups and spoons, and basic tool kits.
• New only: cleaning products, sponges, aluminum foil, toilet paper, diapers, toys and books for 2 year-olds, salt, pepper, canned beans, canned tomatoes, rice

We always welcome new volunteers to this committee. Any assistance you might wish to provide, whether by donating money, scrip gift cards to local supermarkets, or helping to plan a program is appreciated. If you would like to help in any way, please contact Fran Olmsted, Social Action Committee chair at (845) 424-4077 or oesenv@aol.com.