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Mitzvah Day - April 27, 2008
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Mitzvah Day

Sunday, April 27, 2008, 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

On Sunday, April 27, Temple Adat Shalom will host its annual Mitzvah Day, a congregation community service day created to encourage temple members to go into the community to make a difference in the lives of others. Over 200 volunteers of all ages will work in our San Diego community with loving hands and willing hearts to "repair the world" (tikkun olam) by participating in various charitable projects.

Click here for the Mitzvah Day brochure.

Click here for the Mitzvah Day registration form.

Click here to register and make secure payment online.

This year projects will include:

1. Arts & Crafts for Kids: 12:30 – 3:30 (Ages 5+)
Brighten the lives of children at the Polinsky Center by decorating treasure boxes and making friendship cards. This project will brighten the lives of children in need! Younger children should be accompanied by an adult.
Team Leader: Leslee Simon 760.480.6681, Email:

2. No Sew Blankets: 12:30 – 3:30 (Ages 5+)
Comfort children at St. Clare’s Home for Women & Children by making cozy blankets – no sewing required! We will be cutting and tying fringes from a colorful array of boys’ and girls’ designer fabrics. Please bring a pair of scissors.
Team Leader: Karen Dien 858.675.9109, Email:

3. Junior & Youth Choirs/Menschtones: 1:00 – 2:15 (Choir members and their families)
This year, the sound of music will be enjoyed by residents of Casa De Las Campanas in Poway. Following their performance, choir members and their families will lead residents in a lively sing-along, followed by a fun session of bingo. Please carpool.
Team Leaders: Cantor Frank, Email: and Doug Simon 760.480.6681, Email:

4. Bingo: 2:15 – 3:45 (Ages 6+)
Join us for an entertaining afternoon with the residents of Casa De Las Campanas in Poway. Play bingo, laugh and visit with a group of lively senior citizens. This would be a fun project to do after singing! Younger children should be accompanied by an adult.
Team Leader: Lauren Milana 858.592.0758, Email:

5. Blood Drive: 8:00 – 1:00 (Ages 18+)
The San Diego Blood Bank will again be on site to take our donations of blood (one pint per donor). Help patients like our own Matthew Beaver recover with a generous gift of life-saving blood.
Team Leader: Sharon Fogg 858.536.1061, Email:

6. Library: 12:30 – 3:30 (Ages 13+)
Please join us as we work in the library to improve and organize our collection. Work will include organizing and re-shelving the books. Maximum group size: 6
Team Leader: Natalie Diamond 858.451.6913, Email:

7. Temple Beautification: 12:30 – 3:30 (Ages 12+)
Experience the work of our hands becoming transformed into an act of prayer as together, we beautify and improve the grounds of our Community of Peace! Our tasks will likely include replenishing decorative bark, trimming plants and removing weeds. Please bring a sunhat, sunscreen, work gloves, a small hand-held implement for weed remover (a flat head screwdriver will do), pruning shears/clippers and a willing heart and mind.
Team Leader: Keith Liker 858.451.2288, Email:

8. Toiletry Bags: 12:30 – 3:30 (Ages 6+)
Make much-needed toiletry bags for St. Clare’s Home and Tikkun House in Escondido. Begin by helping fill our collection bin with travel and regular-size toiletries, even if you do not plan to participate in this project. Please see back panel for list of what’s needed.
Team Leader: Toni Martin 858.549.3671, Email:

9. Arbolitos Park Beautification: 12:30 – 3:30 (All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult)
Join us for another family-friendly outdoor project provided by the Poway Public Works Department. We will bring new life to the Arbolitos Mini Park in Poway, which is too isolated and inaccessible due to overgrown trees. Our job is to saw off the low branches and cart them off to an open area where they can be safely mulched (Public Works staff will be there to assist). If time permits, we will distribute the mulch to planters in the park. Please wear old clothes and bring a hat, sunscreen and garden gloves. Hand saws will be provided (for adult use only). I’ll bring the boom box!
Team Leader: Marlene Garstang 858.673.5600, Email:

10. ICS Food Pantry: 12:30 – 3:30 (All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult)
Thanks in part to your generous contributions, the Food Pantry is once again able to serve the community! Because of the strong response, help is now needed sorting and organizing food in the ICS warehouse. Come help with this important work.
Team Leader: Jason Glovinsky 619.606.3306

11. St. Claire's Beautification: 12:30 – 3:30 (Ages 16+)
We will fix some broken fences at one or two St. Clare’s homes in Escondido. A neighbor cut some of the chain link, leaving sharp protrusions one or two inches out of the ground. Time permitting we will travel to a second home to repair another broken fence. Please wear old clothes and bring hammers, shovels, pliers, work gloves and a hat. Our mitzvah will brighten the property and make it safer for the women and children who live there! Looking for 15 energetic volunteers.
Team Leader: Allan Rozenberg 858.342.0458, Email:


No Mitzvah Day would be complete without the collection of goods to benefit some worthy causes. Bring your donations on or before Mitzvah Day to the collection bins in the Courtyard.

  • Children’s book drive to benefit the Light One Little Candle Foundation

    • Light One Little Candle encourages parents receiving cancer treatment to read to their children. Your new or gently used children’s books will go directly to patients undergoing treatment at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center.

  • Pajama drive to benefit the Pajama Program

    • Donate new, unworn pajamas to children in foster care, ages birth – 17. Many of these children go to bed at night in their clothes. This drive will directly benefit a local organization, the San Diego Center for Children.

  • Toiletry drive to benefit St. Clare’s and Tikkun House

    • Help fill toiletry bags for residents with your donation of travel or regular-size soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, emery boards, sewing kits (small) or other toiletries.

  • Underwear drive to benefit Tikkun House

    • Your donation of new, unworn bras and panties will be distributed by the Tikkun House case worker to new arrivals. A variety of sizes is appreciated.

  • Computer drive to benefit area school children

    • A local couple will refurbish your unwanted computer hardware (less than 5 years old, please) and area children will benefit. Your hard drive will be erased. Laptops appreciated. Please note: this collection will take place on Mitzvah Day only.

  • Recyclables

    • Grades 1–6 in Mosad Shalom are collecting plastic beverage bottles and aluminum cans and turning them in for cash! The classroom that collects the most will vote on how to donate the proceeds. Give your recyclables to a Mosad Shalom student or bring them to our collection bin on Mitzvah Day.

For further information you can contact the Mitzvah Day Co-Chairs:

Rayna Colton: 619-889-5099 - Email:
Roxane Helstrom: 858-663-5199 - Email: