Social Action Committee

The mission of the Temple Sinai Social Action committee is to foster a caring, healing network within the congregation, the Jewish community and the community at large.

We have a place for you in the life of our congregation!  Please volunteer your for one or more of the Social Action activities listed below.   Call the Coordinator, Chairperson, or Contact person with any questions.  (*) Denotes family participation.

CARING COMMUNITY PROJECTS:

Betty Fass, Coordinator (303) 504-9862

• HELP DESIGN A SQUARE FOR THE HEALING TAPESTRY (*):              Contact Betty Fass (303) 504-9862
• JEWISH GROUP HOME DONATIONS (clothing, home grown veggies, unopened kosher foods, drive residents to/from Sinai Shabbat dinners):  Contact Betty Fass (303) 504-9862
• MITZVOT & MINYAN TRAINING PROGRAM (lead or attend a shiva service for congregants when needed):   Contact Betty Fass (303) 504-9862
• HEALING PRAYERS FOR AILING CONGREGANTS:                               Contact Betty Fass (303) 504-9862
• EMERGENCY FOOD PREPARATION FOR SINAI MEMBERS IN NEED:         Contact Betty Fass (303) 504-9862

COMMUNITY PROJECTS: 

• HOLIDAY PACKAGE DELIVERIES TO JEWISH NURSING HOME RESIDENTS (*):  Contact Lisa Shafer (303) 221-1238
• DRIVE OF THE MONTH (*) (“Adopt-a-Drive”-chair/co-chair a monthly drive):  Contact Linda Brandwein (303) 757-3147
• BLOOD DRIVE FOR FALL/SPRING (donate blood, help at sign-in/snack table):
• Contact Dan Keller (303) 762-6100
• URBAN PEAK (*) (volunteer services for homeless teens):  Contact Catherine Sawyer (720) 203-7777
• THE HOLIDAY PROJECT (*) (Visit nursing homes and hospitals on Chanukah and Christmas.):  Contact Mary Ann May (303) 753-6871

COMMUNITY PROJECTS:

Ted Ruskin, Coordinator (303) 798-6566

• ANNUAL GOLDEN HILL CEMETERY SPRING CLEAN-UP (*):  Contact Ted Ruskin (303) 798-6566
• CHRISTMAS MITZVAH PROJECT (*) (fill in for volunteers at local hospitals for the Christmas holiday):  Contact Ted Ruskin  (303) 798-6566

WORKING WITH THE HOMELESS: 

Lisa Friedman, Coordinator

(303) 758-0778

• BRANDON CENTER SHELTER (*) (families with children 12+ can help with monthly birthday parties for homeless or abused mothers and children):  Contact Debra and Steve Fendrich (303) 770-5638

• HABITAT FOR HUMANITY (See below): (*) (Join our interfaith coalition to participate in fundraising and activities culminating in a home-build for low-income families):  Contact Lisa Friedman (303) 758-0778 or Nathan Mendel at nathan@mendelandcompany.com.  The Habitat Interfaith Alliance information can be accessed directly at www.hiadenver.org.

Temple Sinai is participating in a new home build.  If you are interested in giving your time to help with this worthwhile project please sign-up at www.hia.volunteerhub.com.

The Guillen Family

2920 S. Bryant

Denver, CO  80236

Vanessa Guillen and her 7-year old daughter, Amber, currently live in a 2-bedroom apartment on the second floor of a Denver apartment complex.  Amber has special needs and requires the use of a wheelchair to get around.  This causes problems in the Guillen’s current rental because Vanessa has to carry Amber up and down a flight of stairs every time they go anywhere.  The neighborhood is also unsafe, so Amber isn’t able to spend time outside of the apartment – which makes the Guillen’s feel stuck inside.

The opportunity of homeownership means everything to Vanessa.  Their future Habitat home is going to be wheelchair accessible and will have much more living space for both Amber and Vanessa.  The new home is going to allow Amber the opportunity to safely go outside and enjoy the neighborhood and the yard.  And the extra space is going to provide Amber with a much more enjoyable living environment since she won’t have to have all of her medical equipment in her bedroom. 

Vanessa first learned about Habitat for Humanity through her father, who volunteered on a construction site and got her interested in the program.  Vanessa is so excited and grateful for the opportunity of homeownership, and she would like to say to her sponsors, HIA, and all of the volunteers who will work on her home, “Thank you.  There aren’t any words to describe how great this is for us.  Without you we wouldn’t have the opportunity to own a home.”

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