Tikkun Olam

​Tikkun Olam—the repair of the world through righteous deeds—is one of the many aspects of Jewish life embraced by Congregation Beth El membership. We support a number of local organizations including hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive every summer and providing individual and groups of volunteers to organizations for special projects. Donations made to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund are ear-marked for charitable purposes.

 

The Tikkun Olam Committee is chaired by Jen Bayer, who can be reached at j_bayer@hotmail.com. Please contact her if you know of a program you would like to advertise. Please note that other than emergency or disaster relief, we cannot advertise fundraising efforts for other organizations.

 

We know that many of our congregants are looking for opportunities to volunteer with organizations or at special events in our community. Below is an informational list of places and people to contact. Congregation Beth El is not responsible for the organization or outcome of any of these programs. If you encounter a difficulty, please let us know so that can make amendments to the list if necessary.

 

Community Harvest 

Food bank meals are served at St. Andrews in Milton each Monday from 5-7pm. For more information on volunteering to serve please contact the Office of Civic Engagement at Bucknell University, 570-577-1292.

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Meals For Seals Food Program

(Selinsgrove School District)

 

The program was started in 2014 when it was recognized that over 40 percent of elementary students qualified for free or reduced lunches. A pilot program was run during the summer to provide weekend food bags. The program’s success and strong support from the community has allowed it to expand into the intermediate school and they are now serving 121 children. The Snyder County Coalition for Kids, Weis Markets and a number of local churches are just some of the many individuals and businesses that have partnered with the school and the Meals for SEALS program.  If there are any questions about Meals for Seals, please don't hesitate to call me, Melissa Urey, at 570-809-3901 or email me at melissaurey@aol.com.  I can also be found on Saturday mornings at the Selinsgrove Elem school from 9-12 noon, please stop by!

 

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits, and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity.

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Community Aid, Inc.

​Community Aid, Inc., is a thrift store in Selinsgrove (next to the Walmart) that raises money by selling goods and then offers grants to local organization.  Their Donation Line for clothes, houseware, games and other goods is:717-412-7706.

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Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

Are you struggling to pay for food?  The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s Food Stamps Helpline can help you apply for SNAP (Food Stamps). To apply call their free and confidential, bilingual toll-free number at 1.877.999.5964 or visit

http://www.centralpafoodbank.org/SNAP   for more information.

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More food bank resources: