helping others

Helping people in need in our community and worldwide is important to Congregation Beth Shalom. Here are some of the efforts that our members are currently supporting.

Please contact the office if you would like to coordinate donations or volunteers for another cause.

There are many organizations assisting Israelis on the ground. Here is a partial list:

• Magen David Adom, whose paramedics provide emergency care with over 1400 ambulances, the IDF blood bank, and infant-feeding support.

• JNF’s Israel Resilience Fund to support evacuation and emergency housing, psychological treatment, and more.

• United Hatzalah, Israel’s largest fully volunteer non-profit emergency medical services organization.

• Democracy HQ / Chofshei B’Artzenu, the Israeli protest movement in southern Israel is providing housing, mental health services, evacuation transport, and blood.

• The New Israel Fund is combating violent speech and incitement online, preventing inter-communal violence in mixed cities, and trauma counseling.

Please consider donating to one of the following organizations:

• World Union for Progressive Judaism

• International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

• Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)

• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee

• Jewish Relief Network Ukraine

Community Kitchen of Monroe County provides backpacks of weekend food to approximately 500 low-income children at twenty-one local schools. During the school year, children receive a backpack of food each week to help them and their families with their weekend food needs. During the summer, while school is out, the Community Kitchen operates the program in conjunction with their Summer Food Service Program. 

Donations can be placed in the bin in the coatroom, taken to Julie Bloom’s home, or delivered directly to Community Kitchen. Here's the list of needed foods, but if you're able to contribute proteins, that need is the greatest.

• Canned or pouch tuna
• Canned or pouch chicken
• Peanut butter
• Meal helpers (like Hamburger/Chicken/Tuna helpers)
• Fruit cups – applesauce, tropical fruit, pears, peaches, etc.
• Instant Oatmeal – individual portions
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Small boxes of cereal
• Easy to prepare food items – instant mashed potatoes, dried soups, beans, rice or pasta meals, etc.
• Granola/fruit/cereal bars
• Dried fruit – raisins, cranberries, cherries, tropical fruit, etc.
• Small bread mixes – cornbread, muffin, biscuit, etc.
• Healthy snack crackers
• Small pop top cans of vegetables

We collect toiletries (full and travel-sized) for Shalom Center and Middleway House. Please bring your unused toiletries to Sarah in the office.

We accept donations of used eyeglasses. You can drop your glasses off with Sarah in the office or contact Paula Gordon and she will pick them up. In 2023, Beth Shalom members donated 197 pairs of glasses. They were brought to Dr. Stephen Ball at Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care. Dr. Ball is a member of the Indiana Optometric Association. Every March, members of the Association travel to Central or South America on a vision mission.

The Mobility Aids Lending Library (MALL) matches "gently used" mobility devices free of charge to those who cannot afford them or only need them for a short period of time. For more information contact Susan Seizer.