Please help put justice into action! There are enormous challenges facing the family homeless shelter sponsored by GRIP, the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program.

Temple Beth Hillel is one of the founding congregations of GRIP which has been serving the poor and suffering of our community for 40 years.

A year ago GRIP opened a new facility with a full kitchen and dining room, classrooms for skills training and counseling services. The jewel in the crown of the facility is the family homeless shelter that can house up to 75 residents.

Temple Beth Hillel made a donation to the facility and one of the family residences is now named after our synagogue. The shelter is a transitional program and helps homeless families get back on their feet. It provides the parents with job training and services so they can reenter society and a safe and stable environment for these families.

I cannot imagine anything more painful than not being able to support your family and having to live on the street. I am pleased that we have such an important program here in Richmond and proud that our congregation is an active supporter. While GRIP was able to raise the funds for this new facility, many of the government grants on which it has relied to support the program in the past have dried up due to cutbacks in State and Federal spending. The needs of our homeless families, however, do not diminish.

There is an immediate need for funds to keep the shelter open. Please write a check to the Temple Beth Hillel Tikkun Olam Fund, and indicate the donation is for GRIP on your check. If you have given in the past that you add a zero to your previous donation or if you haven’t given to GRIP before please begin this year. Let’s do our part to help homeless families. Let’s all ensure that GRIP can continue to assist those in our society who are the most helpless.