Projects for Families with Older Children and Teens

Used Bicycle Collection with Bicycles for the World (Good Deeds Day)

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)

Support the Girls Bra/Feminine Hygiene Product Collection (Good Deeds Day)

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).

Beth El Crafters Projects (Ongoing)

Join Women of Beth El crafters on select 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)

Food Preparation for Interfaith Works Women’s Shelter and Shepherd’s Table (Good Deeds Day)

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 (Good Deeds Day)

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 (Good Deeds Day)

Beth El Band and Marak Hayom perform Jewish music for residents at the Hebrew Home and Revitz House.
Project coordinator: Sheryl Miller (sherylrosemiller@gmail.com)

Cards for Israel Defense Forces Soldiers (Good Deeds Day)

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

Interfaith Women’s Shelter Meal Service (Ongoing)

Beth El volunteers at the Interfaith Works Women’s Center to purchase breakfast and supply and serve dinner for one week (Monday-Friday) each year. The center currently serves between 35-40 clients. This is a wonderful opportunity to volunteer in our community and for students to earn SSL hours.
Project coordinator: Carolyn Berger (CarBerger5@gmail.com)

Food Sorting at Manna Food Center (Ongoing)

Beth El volunteers age 11+ pack boxes of non-perishable food at the Manna warehouse in Gaithersburg for distribution to the needy in Montgomery County. We are in need of up to 12 volunteers age 11+. In addition to serving the greater community, one of the goals is to give all Beth El parents a way to participate with their children (age 11 and older) in community service. SSL hours are available.
Project coordinator: Jonathan Epstein (jonathan.epstein@hklaw.com)

Food Packing at Nourishing Bethesda (Ongoing)

Nourishing Bethesda’s mission is to fight food insecurity in our area by providing nutritious food to our neighbors in need. Volunteers can sign up for first and third Thursdays to pack food. SSL hours available. Contact Cathy Higgins at cathy@nourishingbethesda.org to learn more about this volunteer opportunity.

Rosh Hashanah Gift Bag Delivery

For the last several years, Beth El has participated in delivering gift bags to residents of the local Russian Jewish community for Rosh Hashanah. This is a great family activity and an extremely rewarding activity requiring less than one hour of time. Each volunteer family will deliver bags to three to four families.
Project coordinator: Rebecca Edelson (rgedelson@gmail.com)

Passover Gift Basket Delivery

Deliver Passover Holiday Baskets to needy Jewish families in Washington, D.C. area in collaboration with JSSA Passover Program and B’nai B’rith Project H.O.P.E.
Project coordinators: Jack Ventura (jack.ventura@verizon.net) and Stephanie Ventura (stephanie.ventura@verizon.net)