GSJC Volunteers to Pack Bags for Dignity Grows (first annual)
On June 6th, volunteers from Gishrei Shalom packed toiletry bags for those in need in Southington and the greater Hartford area. В We raised the money to pack 80 bags!
Social Action Project for 5775
GSJC has decided to support Southington CommunityВ Services (SCS) and help our local neighbors in need. В We want to do this in two waysВ – one for items that they need, and the other in monetary donationsВ that will benefit their fuel relief fund.В В SCS serves almost 500 familiesВ each month,В В which works out to about 1000 people.В В Approximately 35% ofВ those served are children, and more than 40% are seniors.
Food always requested:
| •tuna fish | •canned meats | •cereal | •peanut butter |
| •jelly | •juice | •pasta | •pasta sauce |
| •macaroni and cheese | •soup | •children’s snacks |
Non-food items are also needed:
| •shampoo | •conditioner | •soap |
| •toothpaste | •toothbrushes | •lotions |
| •shaving supplies | •laundry detergent | •other household cleaning supplies |
A box has been set up in the hallway outside the GSJC office at the First Congregational Church for donations to be dropped off. В Please start picking up the items listed above and dropping them off when you can. В We will accumulate the donations to bring to SCS at the end of March.
The other focus we have is SCS’s energy assistance program.В В Gas, oil andВ electricity bills climb in the winter, and unless certain conditions areВ met, the utility companies can turn off service for non-payment.В В EvenВ though some state statutes prevent shutoffs in the winter, back paymentsВ accrue and shutoffs can be affected in the spring.В В Fuel relief funds suchВ as the one in Southington help families struggling to keep their utilitiesВ on make payments to the companies.В В Utility shut offs are highly correlatedВ with other issues of poverty, educational achievement, and health indicatorsВ in children.В В The bottom line is that there are people in our backyard whoВ have to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families, andВ we can help make a difference in their lives.
If you would like to make a donation towards the fuel relief fund, please make your check out to GSJC and send it to Robyn so we can consolidate it into one donation to the fund.
GSJC Volunteers Serve Christmas Dinner at Bread for Life
On December 25th, volunteers from Gishrei Shalom served Christmas Dinner at Bread for Life in Southington. This has become an annual event on the part of GSJC so that Christian volunteers can enjoy the Christmas holiday.
