Social Action/Tikkun Olam

Join Beth Chaim Congregation in our mission to have a deep compassion for one another by engaging in acts of Tikkun Olam, to repair a broken world. Throughout the year, Beth Chaim works to make a difference in the lives of others through direct services, advocacy, and community projects. The following are some of the opportunities for social action in which our members have participated in the past year.

UPDATES/UPCOMING EVENTS

This year, our annual High Holy Days Food Drive was an outstanding success, filling 12 bins of food items. We are so proud of or BCC community and especially our religious school, for their creativity and generosity. As part of the food drive, a challenge was made to all the kids and adults: using the food containers, create a design of a Jewish symbol, Hebrew letter or word for our Food Drive Tzedakah Hall of Fame, then take a photo for posting online. Here is a short video of all the creative ways that the food items were displayed:

Year-Round

TOILETRIES DRIVE. We collect large, full size cosmetics and toiletries, as well as diapers, tissues and wipes for newcomer families of JCFS of the East Bay. Travel size toiletries are also accepted.

Donations are presented as a "Welcome Bag" including: toothbrushes/paste, soaps, combs, deodorant, dental floss and other basic items. Please bring your items to the drop box in the Beth Chaim foyer or to the office. For more about JCSF of the East Bay, click Here.

When you step into our foyer, you might notice the large food collection barrels. That's because they've become a "permanent" fixture at our temple. Beth Chaim is dedicated to helping those in need every day, and is proud to participate in the Community Food Drive Program. Have a few extra cans or dry goods? We'll take it. Drop off anytime during office hours, services, sunday school or whenever the Temple is open.

January

Contra Costa Interfaith Housing Dinner. This dinner is held at Garden Park Apartments in Pleasant Hill. Beth Chaim Congregation provides dinner for approx. 40-50 residents during their monthly community meeting at their community center in the apartment complex. Garden Park Apts. is the first permanent supportive housing program specifically for homeless families in Contra Costa County.

Beth Chaim Congregation also supports Contra Costa Interfaith Housing throughout the year by providing furnishings and tutoring for the residents on an as needed basis.

February

Winter Nights Shelter. Beth Chaim Congregation and St. Timothy's Episcopalian Church will be co-hosting the Winter Nights Shelter from Monday, February 12th through February 26th, 2018 at St. Timothy's Church in Danville. Each year, from October through June, the Winter Nights Shelter serves the most vulnerable segment of our community - homeless families with children. It takes a village of helping hands to provide them with a warm, safe haven during their two-week stay in Danville. This is the largest Tikkun Olam project of the year and our most special. Children and adults are invited to participate with meals, donating food or non-food items, tutoring/homework help, childcare, overnight help, or set up or clean up. Click here to read an article about Winter Nights Shelter that appeared in Alamo and Danville Today.

March-April

Jewish Family and Children’s Services-Passover Food Drive. Every year Beth Chaim collects Passover food for homebound seniors and people with disabilities. Beth Chaim is one of only two synagogues in the East Bay that participates in this project and last year, we collected enough food for 30 beautifully decorated (thanks to the Sunday school children) Passover bags for JFCS.

May

May is a time when Social Action has worked with the Sunday school at Beth Chaim to find projects that reflect our values and can help others such as homeless toiletry bags, sandwich making for homeless shelters, clothes drives, etc. In the past, the 7th grade graduation class has worked on several Tikkun Olam projects that have benefitted the local homeless community.

July-August

Contra Costa Interfaith Housing backpack drive/school supply drive to benefit low income children starting school in the fall.

September-October

Contra Cost County Food Bank High Holy Day Food Drive that continues throughout the year. Beth Chaim collects non-perishable food items benefitting the food bank. Beth Chaim collects thousands of pounds of food each year.

November

Holiday Dinner Drive. BCC members have contributed generously over the years to the Holiday Dinner Drive. The goal of the drive is to raise enough funds for the Contra Costa Food Bank and other partnering organizations to provide Thanksgiving meals and baskets to all those in our community who are in need. Last year, to combat the lingering, challenging economic climate, BCC members continued to show their compassion by donating to this worthy program. To give, please click here: 2018 Holiday Dinner Drive Donations

December

Adopt a Family. Every holiday season, Beth Chaim provides much needed holiday gifts and gift cards for families from Uplift Family Services in Concord. Uplift Family Services helps over 30,000 children and family members recover from trauma-such as abuse, severe neglect, addiction, and poverty-each year. As one of the largest, most comprehensive behavioral and mental health treatment programs in California, the agency offers hope to individuals and families experiencing great difficulties. Beth Chaim families purchase and wrap the gifts along with help from our 7th grade religious school class. Our donations have helped many East Bay families celebrate the holiday season.

Thie 2020 Beth Chaim Congregation's Adopt-A-Family program is going to look a little different. Because of COVID-19 and the health and safety of our community, we are trying a different approach to gift giving.

Working with Uplift Family Services and Shalom Bayit, we will be donating Amazon, Safeway, Lucky, and Target gift cards to the families instead of the many presents we normally give. Uplift Family Services in Concord helps thousands of children and family members recover from trauma such as abuse, severe neglect, addiction, and poverty each year. Shalom Bayit is the Bay Area's center for domestic violence prevention and response within the Jewish community. They promote peaceful homes and families, teach skills for healthy relationships, and work to build a safe, vibrant Jewish community that is free from violence and abuse.

Please either mail or drop off (BCC mail box in front of building) your gift cards by December 10, 2020 to: 1800 Holbrook Drive, Danville, CA 94506.

Monetary donations in lieu of the purchasing of gift cards can be sent to the Beth Chaim office. If sending a check, be sure to make checks payable to "Beth Chaim Congregation" and note "Adopt-a-Family" in the memo line of your check.