TELEM hosts one-off opportunities for volunteering throughout the year. These opportunities are great for preteens and teens who are unable to commit to an ongoing volunteering project, or for those who want to do more volunteering. Some examples of past projects include cleaning up, maintenance and landscaping for non-profits and qualifying individuals, interior repairs and painting for non-profits and individual homes, and making/baking events (see below).
TELEM can assist youth groups or synagogue staff with planning activities for a service day or securing a service site.
- Making & Baking
Making and baking are service events where preteen and teen groups (and parents!) make food and baked goods for local homeless shelters and food pantries. TELEM is able to supply recipes, bakeware, to find a recipient for the food produced and can help organize the making/baking event. - Service trips
TELEM occasionally supports service trips to assist communities that have suffered natural or human disasters. Most recently we have supported rebuilding trips to New Orleans and New York to rebuild after deadly storms ravaged those areas. Contact us if you are interested in finding out more about service trips. - Advocacy events/lobby days
Please contact us to learn more about these programs.
Save the Dates:
MLK Day: January 20, 2020
Last year, in collaboration with the Jewish Teen Initiative and several Metrowest communities, a fabulous group of 95 teens made 58 lasagnas, 78 banana breads, and painted 79 Stars of Hope. The food went to local homeless shelters and food pantries, and the Stars of Hope – part of Stars of Hope International, were sent to communities in the U.S. who have suffered tragedies.
South Area CHAI Mitzvah Day- March 29th 2020 (tentative Date)
CHAI is a collaboration of synagogues and Jewish organizations south of Boston who join together for social action activities. TELEM organizes a service project for preteens and teens every year for the CHAI Mitzvah Day which takes place in the spring. Check back later for more information on our 2020 project. This past year, TELEM organized a service day at Father Bill’s & Mainspring’s Evelyn House in Stoughton. One group of volunteers helped get the playground and yard ready for spring by raking, mulching, and cleaning up the outdoor toys. Other volunteers – parents along with their pre/teens – baked banana breads and lasagnas for the residents.
Hunger Seders
Leading up to Passover, Mazon publishes a Hunger Seder Haggadah. The traditions of a Passover Seder are observed through the reality of hunger in the US, usually without food. The Seder serves as a call to action to end hunger.
TELEM can support Hunger Seders by:
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- Leading the Seder
- Consulting on best practices with synagogue staff who will lead the Seder
- Organizing a service element for the Seder