On November 18, 2018, Temple Shalom members participated in their first Mitzvah Afternoon.  Congregants of all ages, friends and family came together to make this mission possible. Members donated essential items including hats, gloves, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, socks, candy, granola bars, deodorant and so much more. Then teams of members wrapped boxes while another team sorted items, and filled over 150 shoe boxes for the Holiday Box Project- benefiting the Stewpot.  In addition, children and adults worked together to create hand-made cards for the homeless and for soldiers.

 “Over 60 volunteers spent the afternoon working together to perform a mitzvah, sharing the logistics and tasks of the work, and building relationships with each other,” exclaimed Debra Levy-Fritts, Vice President and Chair of the Tikkun Olam Council at Temple Shalom. " Our afternoon culminated with a short talk by a representative of the Stewpot, Lee Hutchins, who reminded us that about 4,000 individuals live on the streets of our city and to have the comfort of their own things will mean so much to them. 

“It was so great to see families, friends working together to help those in need - children, parents and grandparents helping others," said Mark Wayne, co-chair of the Mitzvah Afternoon committee.