Mitzvah Day and Good Deeds Day

Beth El’s annual Mitzvah Day is on the last Sunday in October and annual Good Deeds Day aligns with the Global Good Deeds Day in April. Projects include: Bicycle Collection, Blood Drive, Support the Girls Bras & Feminine Hygiene Products Collection, Calendar Collection for the Hebrew Home, Clothing Collection, Food Drive, Sandwich Making, Prescription Drug Collection, and more.

Used Bicycle Collection with Bicycles for the World

Volunteers collect used bicycles and monetary donations. The bicycles are given a second life in developing countries by Bikes for the World.
Project coordinator: Richard Lieberman (rliebermanconsultant@gmail.com)

Blood Drive

Save lives by donating blood with INOVA.
Project coordinators: Jack Ventura (jack.ventura@verizon.net), Jon Simon (jonathan747@gmail.com)

Support the Girls Bra/Feminine Hygiene Product Collection

Collect donations of new and gently used bras and individually wrapped or unopened boxes of tampons and sanitary pads for homeless women.
Project coordinator: Erika Dickstein (erika@springinsight.com)

Hebrew Home Calendar Collection

Calendar drive for residents of the Hebrew Home.
Project coordinator: Doris Povich (dlpandasp@aol.com)

Beth El Crafters Projects

Join Women of Beth El crafters on Mitzvah Day, Good Deeds Day, and optional Monday afternoons and Wednesday evenings at Beth El. Work on projects focused on specific needs of our community and Israel as well as individual projects.
Project coordinator: Heather Janssen (heathergjanssen@gmail.com)

Clothing Collection for Interfaith Clothing Center

Collect gently used clothing for adults, teens, and children for low-income and homeless families.
Project Coordinators: Andrea and Richard Jaffe (agold5092@gmail.com and rjaffeindmv@gmail.com)

Food Drive for Manna Food Center

Collect donations of non-perishable packaged food to be distributed to the needy in our community through Manna Food Center. For guidelines and most-needed items, visit https://www.mannafood.org.

Food Preparation for Interfaith Works Women’s Shelter and Shepherd’s Table

Meals prepared at home to be dropped of at Beth El or in-person cooking at Beth El, including casseroles, baked goods, and fresh fruit for area homeless shelters.
Project coordinators: Danielle Miller Wagner (daniellejmw@yahoo.com) and Laura Silberman (laura.silberman@gmail.com)

Sandwich Preparation for Shepherd’s Table and/or Martha’s Kitchen

Sandwiches prepared at home or at Beth El for those in need.
Project coordinator: Donna Shimshi (DonnaShimshi@gmail.com)

Musical Programs at Hebrew Home and Revitz House

Beth El Band and Marak Hayom perform Jewish music for residents at the Hebrew Home and Revitz House.

Prescription Drug Collection

The Men’s Club collects expired or no longer needed prescription medications for safe disposal.
Project coordinator: Jonathan Epstein (jonathan.epstein@hklaw.com)

Cards for Israel Defense Forces Soldiers

Join us on Mitzvah Day to make cards to send to Israeli soldiers (in collaboration with FIDF).