This year, Shira is promoting the following five charities and encouraging congregants to choose one to whom to contribute.
The Social Studio: www.TheSocialStudio.org
The Social Studio assists refugees to achieve their dreams through employment, pathways to further education, community engagement, and social inclusion. They are currently launching a clothes label, RemixDesign, which draws on the style and skills of the young refugee community. Garments will be sold in specially designed mobile shopping carts activating key urban spaces, promoting social inclusion, community and vitality across the city.
They are asking for donations of:
• $$: Go to www.ourcommunity.com.au and search for Remixed Design: Refugee Youth.
• Materials: cotton, buttons, fabric: Drop your goods off at 330 Balaclava Rd or 3 Palm Ave, Caulfield North by the end of sukkot.
Wings of Care: www.WingsOfCare.org.au
Wings of Care provides social, educational, counselling, and financial support to those in the Jewish community who are living with a mental illness and their families.
They are asking for donations of:
• $$: By electronic transfer to Wings of Care (Kanfei Chesed) Inc., BSB: 633108, ACC: 127905313. Notify Lorraine Levy of your donation by email (LorraineLevy@swiftdsl.com.au).
• Time: Wings of Care is looking to train volunteers to provide support and assistance for people within our community who are suffering from poverty, mental illness, psychological disorder and/or experiencing social isolation. Email us (Chesed@shira.org.au) if you’re interested.
Jewish Aid: www.JewishAid.org.au
Jewish Aid Australia works to mobilise the Australian Jewish Community to participate and assist, both locally and overseas, in under resourced humanitarian projects in the wider community. In Australia they focus on work with the homeless, food insecure and African refugees (mainly from Darfur).
They are asking for donations of:
• $$: through their website (above).
• There may also be some volunteer opportunities (see their website).
The Jewish School Integration Program
The Jewish Day Schools Integration Program is providing resources to enable students with special learning needs and disabilities to fully participate in the nine Jewish Day Schools in Melbourne. The Melbourne Jewish Orphan and Children's Aid Society, with the support of the Posh Opp Shoppe in Glenhuntly Road and Jewish Care Inc., provides financial assistance to engage teacher assistants and carers for these children.
They are asking for donations of:
• $$: Cheques should be made out to Melbourne Jewish Orphan and Children's Aid Society, and posted to 8 Service St., North Caulfield, 3161
Access: www.AccessInc.org.au
Access is a not-for-profit organization working to create space spaces for Jewish people with disabilities in the Melbourne Jewish community. The money raised by Shira Hadasha will go to the Access Shop on Inkerman Rd (near corner Kooyong Rd). The shop is a social enterprise business which is run by Jewish people with disabilities.
They are asking for donations of:
• $$: Donate online via their website (above).
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The Shira community is developing a network of support systems to help people in need; get involved in fulfilling the range of mitzvot associated with Chesed (loving-kindness). We’re always looking for more volunteers, so if you’d like to help, select the program you’re interested in, and we’ll set you up!
Shira Chesed Support for 2009
