I am a firm believer that summer does not end until September 23rd but with the waning days of August our thoughts turn to the High Holidays and for many of us this includes a trip to the grocery store to participate in our annual food drive. Please read more about how you can help.
The Tzedek committee has exciting plans for our Congregation for the upcoming year and we hope you will find an interest that you are passionate about that leads you to action.
May the New Year bring good health and happiness to you, your friends and family.
Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
Welcoming the Newton Family Navigation Center If all goes as planned, Temple Shalom will soon have a new neighbor, the Newton Family Navigation Center. FamilyAid, the leading provider of solutions to family homelessness, has been contracted by the Commonwealth to open a new Navigation Center in the now-closed Chetwynde Nursing Home on Washington Street, a few blocks from the Temple. Opening is scheduled for spring of 2024.
Like the FamilyAid Center in Brookline near the Coolidge Corner Theater, this Center will provide 42 temporary housing units that are typically occupied by one parent and one to two children, as well as common areas, classrooms, dining areas and areas for a variety of supportive services. The Center is staffed 24/7. Families typically include very young children (mostly babies), and typically stay for a year or two until they move into permanent housing. During their stay, the parents are working and/or going to school. The Newton Center is likely to include both new arrivals to Massachusetts and families who have been here for a while. You can read more about the Center at Newton - FamilyAid (familyaidboston.org) and Final Newton Family Navigation Center and Temporary Housing Background Fact Sheet. The Center is not a homeless shelter; it is more like a dormitory helping these young families as they transition to permanent housing. It’s a critical part of our Commonwealth’s efforts to respond to the housing crisis, and it fits well with the RAC-MA focus this year on Affordable Housing. As Temple members, we look forward to supporting the official opening of the Center and getting to know our new neighbors; there will be many opportunities to volunteer and help out. Right now the most important thing we can do is advocacy. There’s a community meeting Thursday, Sept. 14 at 6:00 p.m, details are below: Join the zoom meeting on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 6:00 p.m. Please click the link to join the webinar here. Passcode: 749491. Or One tap mobile : +16465588656,,81092049758# US (New York) +16469313860,,81092049758# US Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Webinar ID: 810 9204 9758 International numbers available: https://newtonma-gov.zoom.us/u/kcb0d48Qaq
FREEDGE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Temple Shalom participates, along with many other community organizations, in stocking and managing the Newton Freedge. The Freedge is an arm of the Newton Food Pantry and provides perishable food for those in need. Every other Tuesday our volunteers pick up food donations, shop for perishable goods and help to maintain the cleanliness of the Freedge which is located at 420 Watertown Street, Newton at Central Drapery and Dry Cleaning.
As we all know, food insecurity is a real and persistent problem in our communities. Having food other than in cans and boxes is a welcome enhancement. Eggs, milk, cheese and other items are welcomed by the people who take advantage of the Freedge offerings.
We are always in need of more volunteers to fill the time slots for which we are responsible. As you build your fall calendars, please consider whether you can assist by staffing a two hour slot in the upcoming weeks. Below you will find a link to the Sign Up Genius which includes descriptions of the tasks involved and the time slots that are our responsibility.
Many thanks for your willingness to contribute your time for this worthy endeavor. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me.
Our TSARP community of Afghan friends in Hancock Village has continued to evolve! Some of our friends have left the state, others are moving in and around Hancock Village. If you have a couch or some smaller chairs and tables you are looking to donate, there may be a home for it! Please send a picture to econnolly@srsmedical.com
Don't forget to swing by our Helpsy clothing and textile drive at the SLC on Saturday, September 16th from 9am-12pm put on by the Scandinavian Living Center & Rotary Club of Newton. We are collecting shoes, clothes, accessories (hats, scarves, bags, etc.), linens, towels, curtains, throw rugs and stuffed animals!
