Volunteer

Are you looking to make a difference?  Volunteer your time and talents, and you’ll not only help the Temple and your community, you’ll meet great people—and have fun, too.

Food for Thought Program

Support our Food for Thought Program!

We aim to deliver food to about 150 families in at least seven elementary schools in Richmond/San Pablo. All are among the fifteen schools in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) in which 100% of students rely on the National Lunch Program. Since no food is provided during school breaks, and childhood hunger is a year-round problem, our Food for Thought program provides supplemental food during winter break.

In addition to volunteering, you can support Food for Thought by:
— Making a direct contribution to the Food for Thought fund perhaps for a special event, in honor of someone, for a B’nai Mitzvah, or in memory of a yahrzeit. Make checks payable to TBH with an indication that they are for Food for Thought.
— Putting some loose change in the jar on the table in the lobby whenever you come to synagogue.
— Using e-scrip and AmazonSmile for your purchases.
— Letting us know of any community groups, organizations or businesses that might be interested in supporting Food for Thought. Contact Neil Zarchin.

High Holy Day Choir

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov said, “The most direct means for attaching ourselves to God from this material world is through music and song.” Do you love to sing when you pray? Consider deepening your worship experience by singing with your synagogue choir this High Holy Day season. Rehearsals will be on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. No prior experience or ability to read music required.

Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP)

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

Thanks in part to our support, GRIP has a a full kitchen and dining room, classrooms for skills training and counseling services. The jewel in the crown of the facility is the family shelter that can house up to 75 residents. One of the family residences is named after our synagogue.

During the school year, the Beit Midrash students regularly cook meals for the shelter.  In addition, TBH members volunteer to serve lunch at the GRIP Souper Center on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Please contact Jane Kaasa if you can help. (see TBH Roster for contact information)

Emergency Food Pantry Drive

Despite the strong economy, the demand for food assistance from the Richmond Emergency Food Pantry continues to increase. We keep red barrels in the synagogue lobby year-round so we can keep them filled with staples and non-perishables for our less fortunate neighbors. We do a good job, but we must keep it up.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed, and continues to contribute food to the neediest in our community. Breakfast cereal and peanut butter are still in highest demand. Let us all continue to make sure that no one in our community goes hungry because they cannot afford to feed themselves and their families. When you come to synagogue, for religious school, to celebrate Shabbat or for an educational or social program, please bring some breakfast cereal or peanut butter. Let’s continue to share what we have by filling the red barrels in our lobby to overflowing to feed the hungry.

The Food Pantry also needs money to buy meat and poultry, which we cannot donate, because of health laws. If you would like to make a donation please leave it with Arlene in the Temple office. Make your checks payable to the Richmond Emergency Food Pantry.

Caring Committee

Our synagogue’s caring community helps support the sick, injured or home bound:

• Keep in touch by phone, computer or in person
• Provide meals
• Help with some transportation needs
• Provide respite or childcare
• Run errands
• Provide assistance with negotiations with assorted agencies

For those who have lost a loved one and are grieving, we can:

• Help organize the Meal of Condolence after a burial
• Provide transportation to the funeral or cemetery
• Provide food and people for Shiva
• Help with meals, errands, respite or childcare as needed after Shiva
• Provide a person to stay in regular contact with the family for 6-12 months as needed

To activate us for your family or for someone you know in the congregation email caring@tbhrichmond.org or call Mercedes Cohen (see TBH Roster for contact information).