Connections for the Homeless
Connections for the Homeless (connect2home.org) is a non-profit agency whose mission is to end homelessness, one person at a time. Sukkat Shalom has long supported Connections work to provide essential services to this vulnerable population with our annual Tzedakah activities for Tikkun Olam. We are now partnering with Connections to provide meals on a sustained basis throughout the year.
Beginning in April, Sukkat Shalom congregants can sign up to provide meals for families and individuals sheltering at The Margarita Inn on the following Thursdays: April 8, April 22, May 13, May 27, June 10, June 24.
More than one family may sign up for one of these dates but they must work in conjunction to deliver 30 individually packaged identical meals. Families who sign up may either prepare and package meals at home or they may choose to support local restaurants. For more information on how you can help, please consult this checklist.
Click HERE to volunteer through Signup Genius.
Additional Social Justice Opportunites
Environmental Stewardship March Shabbat Box Challenge
The Social Justice Committee is introducing a monthly environmental stewardship challenge. This month’s challenge is to minimize our meat consumption by trying to eat at least three vegetarian meals a week!
Why eat less meat? Meat production greatly contributes to the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing your meat consumption is a perfect way for individuals to lower their carbon footprint. Email any number of pics of your fam eating meatless meals to Sammy Obel (obelsammy@gmail.com), a Madrachim and Social Justice Committee member by March 31 for a chance to win our inaugural Shabbat Box.
Stock the Shelves
Stock the Shelves provides what food stamps won't and what stretched incomes can't cover by giving Chicago area refugees and their families the household and hygiene supplies they need to lead thriving lives. Despite their best efforts, many refugees strain each month to stretch their earnings to purchase the indispensable household and hygiene supplies food stamps don’t cover. Striving to close that gap, every fourth Wednesday of the month, Stock the Shelves drives a truck filled with the 15 items refugees need (and the only items we accept!) to the Indo-American Center in Rogers Park, where volunteers set up a mini-store stocked with new, unopened items.
Click here to register to volunteer, or click here to donate much needed items.
The Night Ministry
The night ministry connects with Chicago’s most vulnerable by providing basic supplies, free health care, housing and self-care resources. Sukkat Shalom partners with Night Ministry each year to provide hygiene bags to those in need.
Share the Harvest
Annual Thanksgiving Collection
Our congregation will be sponsoring families in need (identified through local agencies) during the Thanksgiving holiday. The STH committee will collect your baskets, bags or gift cards prior to the Family School before Thanksgiving. Your generous donations will be distributed to families in need. Questions? Contact us.
Maot Chitim
Maot Chitim refers to the custom of gathering wheat and providing the poor with matzah to observe Passover. This mitzvah has been expanded to provide food for families in need on Passover as well as Rosh Hashanah.
To learn more or add your name to the volunteer list email sukkatshalom@sukkatshalom.org
