G'milut Chasadim

כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה - “All of Israel is responsible for one another”

Project 24

About this organization: Utilizing the skills, connections, and knowledge of Jews in the diaspora to address the real life needs of those affected by October 7 events and the 'Iron Swords' war in Israel.

What you can do: Become a member of Project 24 ($24) and fill out their online form to join a project in progress and contribute your skills, expertise, experience, connections, or anything else you choose to help Israelis.

Become a member: project24israel.org

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Unit 107

About this organization: Give Israeli soldiers exactly what they need.

What you can do: Flying to Israel for your b’nai mitzvah? Let Unit 107 know. They’ll coordinate with you to pack needed items and plan with customs and security to ensure the items are approved before your flight. Or, ask a parent to join their Whatsapp group to be alerted of daily volunteering opportunities.

Contact Unit 107: unit107.co

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*Religious School Teacher’s Assistant

About this organization: You’ve grown up at The Community Synagogue and may remember the teen volunteers who made your Jewish education extra special and welcoming for you. 

What you can do: Volunteer as a madrich(a) (teacher’s assistant) in our religious school on Sunday mornings, Tuesday or Thursday afternoons. 

Contact Shari Isserles: shari@commsyn.org

כָּל דִּכְפִין יֵיתֵי וְיֵכוֹל - “Let all who are hungry, come and eat”

*Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN)

About this organization: Serving hungry & homeless Long Islanders with dignity, respect and love to help them achieve self-sufficiency.

What you can do: Students ages 10 and up can volunteer 2:30-4:30 PM, Monday-Friday, you can host your own food drive, and/or join the INN’s Youth Advisory Board (grades 6-10). 

Register to volunteer here: the-inn.org/volunteer

Learn how to host your own food drive here: the-inn.org/how-to-help

Join Youth Advisory Board here: the-inn.org/youth-advisory-board

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*Our Lady of Fatima Church Food Pantry

About this Organization: Open to anyone in need in the Manorhaven or Manhasset Isle areas, clients are eligible to receive a wide array of services including food.

What you can do: Host your own food drive to collect needed items and deliver them to Our Lady of Fatima, anytime between 9 AM - 12 PM or 1-5 PM, Monday-Thursday. And/Or grow your own vegetables to donate to Our Lady of Fatima through Plant a Row for the Hungry, see below.

More information: olfpw.org

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*Plant a Row for the Hungry

About this Organization: Mobilizing the Port Washington Community to grow and distribute locally grown produce to our food insecure families.

What you can do: Grow your own vegetables at home. When your produce is ready to pick, please deliver it to the Bayles Garden Center at 88 South Bayles Ave. in Port Washington. Our team of volunteers will then distribute the community's harvest in a timely manner to Our Lady of Fatima Church Food Pantry, see above.

More information: plantarowforthehungry.org

וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ - Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

*Be The Best Sport (The Community Chest of Port Washington)

About this organization: Work with children with special needs in an athletic and recreational setting.

What you can do: Work 1-on-1 with one of their athletes at any of their various programs throughout the week. Be The Best Sport also hosts various events throughout the year and are always looking for help preparing for the days festivities. 

Fill out your volunteer form here: bethebestsport.org

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Harborside

About this organization: The Harborside is a not-for-profit retirement community with both assisted living and independent living facilities. What can you do: Volunteer to spend time with residents of assisted-living, many of whom rarely experience the joy of outside interactions.

Contact: Wendy Hasbrouck the Activities Manager at The Harborside 516.472.6641 whasbrouck@theharborside.org

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Safe Horizon Queens Child Advocacy Center (CAC)

About this organization: Meets the needs of child survivors of abuse and their impacted family members.

What you can do: Create “survival bags” by purchasing and filling backpacks for any age group of boys or girls—babies through age 14–including items like pajamas, toiletries, books, etc.

Contact TCS congregant, Mara Silverstein: marasilverstein@gmail.com

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The Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)

About this organization: The leading global Jewish humanitarian organization.

What you can do: Fundraise for a JDC initiative that is meaningful to you such as: supporting Jewish life in the former Soviet Union, enhancing life for Israelis with disabilities, saving elderly Jewish lives, reviving Jewish life in Cuba, eradicating disease in Ethiopia, etc. Fill out JDC’s online form to personalize your “My Mitzvah” page, set your fundraising goal and change the world.

Launch your campaign here: jdc.org

צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף - Social Justice

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-NY)

About this organization: Mobilizing the Reform Jewish community around federal, state, provincial, and local legislation on more than 70 pressing issues to advocate for social justice.

What you can do: Contact your representatives about social justice issues affecting New York that matter to you including antisemitism and hate, civil and voting rights, environment and climate change, immigration, racial justice, etc.

Contact Ben Elkind: belkind@rac.org to get involved in RAC-NY. More information: rac.org

שואה - Never Again

Remember Us

About this organization: Inviting every child preparing for b’nai mitzvah to remember a child who was lost in the Holocaust.

What you can do: Dedicate your b’nai mitzvah day to a child who died in the שואה Shoah (Holocaust). Interview someone who was in the שואה Shoah or someone who had a family member who was a “survivor” to hear their story. Speak with the rabbi you are studying with to include this project in your d’var Torah (speech).

More information: www.remember-us.org

צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים - Caring for Animals and Earth

North Shore Animal League

About this organization: The world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization.

What you can do: Host your own drive to collect needed items. See a full list of items here: animalleague.org

More information: Call, 516-373-3258, or e-mail, volunteers@animalleague.org