Social Action
Co chairpersons: Judy Godorov, Carrie Miller and  Sharon Silver
The mission of the Union for Reform Judaism includes the mandate to “foster the vibrancy of Reform Judaism through Torah (lifelong Jewish education, avodah (worship of god through prayer and observance) and g’milut chasadim (the pursuit of justice, peace and deeds of loving –kindness). Our mission is to organize Social Action projects for our congregants that serve and empower those who are disadvantaged or in need.

Ongoing throughout the Year
• Coalition for the Homeless Committee members cook and deliver dinner the third Monday of every month to the families residing there. Another group then serves the meal later on in the evening.
• American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) is the exclusive US fundraising organization supporting the life saving efforts of Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel. MDA is a humanitarian organization providing medical and critical lifesaving services, blood products and disaster relief 365 days a year, 24 hours a day , to every man, woman and child in Israel and wherever it is needed.• Shepard’s Hope we join other faith based organizations at the Destiny Shepard’s  Hope Health Center on Tuesday and Thursday evening’s in providing quality non emergency medical care to those in need.

August
School supply drive for Jewish Family Services,  A Gift for Teaching and other non-profit agencies which helps put school supplies into the hands of needy children in the Greater Orlando area through their teachers.

September
High Holy Days Food Drive for  Pearlman Food Pantry at Jewish Family Services (they are able to purchase $5.00 worth of food for every $1.00 donated  at Second Harvest Food Bank) and Mazon raises money in local communities (Second Harvest Food Bank) and globally as well as to address the systemic causes of poverty and hunger .

October
October 25 Pet Blessing collection of pet food for those agencies that take care of animals that are unable to be cared for by their owners (abused, moving, allergies and economic issues) in the Central Florida area

November
This Thanksgiving holiday whether a guest or preparing for your family and friends think of the hungry who can’t afford what we take for granted. Please purchase gift certificates for area grocery stores such as Publix, Wal-Mart and Target or make a monetary donation to the Social Action fund ear marked Thanksgiving and place in the Social Action box in the office or bring healthy non-perishable food to the grocery cart in the hall way. We will distribute them to area non profit agencies such as Jewish Family Services and Mending Hearts Charities
• Sneakers that Fit we join other area synagogues and other individuals in our community to supply new sneakers to needy students identified by the teachers at 5 title one schools (at least 60% of the children are on the free lunch program) in the Central Florida area.

December
• Sunday, December 17 - The 6th night of Chanukah, we join other congregation’s in the Union for Reform Judaism by participating in Ner Shel Tzedakah (“candle of righteousness”). Congregants should devote this night to learn about the problem of poverty and donate the value of the gifts (or the gifts themselves) to organizations that assist the poor.

Friday, December 25  Christmas Day Projects
• Hubbard House a group cooks lunch for their guests allowing their staff to have off for the holiday. Hubbard House is a facility where families can stay at a low cost while their family members are hospitalized at Arnold Palmer Hospital, M.D. Anderson Hospital or Orlando Regional Medical Center.
• Meals on Wheels through the Seniors First agency work with a team of volunteers from CRJ, employees from Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ, UPS, and volunteers through the United Way to help prepare and deliver meals to approximately 575 needy senior citizens in Central Florida.
• Mending Hearts Charities, Inc. a group cooks lunch for those residing in one of the properties in the downtown Sanford area.

January
• A joint effort with our Religious School (Steinmetz Family School of Chai), we will work on outdoor projects at CRJ and area non-profit agencies to help celebrate Tu-Be-Shevat on Tuesday, January 22

February
Freshen up in February collection of toiletry items to be donated to area non-profit agencies that take care of the children of Central Florida that have been taken out of their homes

March
• Passover Food Drive for the Pearlman Pantry at Jewish Family Services  (Feinstein Challenge) and a donation to MAZON if you could donate what an additional person to your Seder table. You will be fulfilling the ancient Passover tradition of allowing “all who are hungry to enter and eat.”
• Mitzvah Day Sunday, March 7 we are commanded to do Mitzvot every day and carry out one of God's commandments, tikkun olam - repairing the world. On a single day, the Social Action Committee brings the congregation together to volunteer for a project involving either social justice, an activity in the community or Israel.

April
Sunday, April 4 Easter
• Hubbard House a group cooks lunch for their guests allowing their staff to have off for the holiday.
• Mending Hearts Charities, Inc. a group cooks lunch for those residing in one of the properties in the downtown Sanford area.

• American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Altamonte Springs on April 16, 2010 beginning at 6:00 PM – 10:00 AM. The event is on Shabbat, but we can show our support by supporting this team and ACS.
• Yom Ha’at zma’ut (Israel Independence Day) on April 19 - A joint effort with our Religious School, we will collect items (camouflage paint, sunscreen etc) for the Israeli soldiers in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) as well as monetary donations to the Social Action Fund clearly marked Magen David Adom or IDF Pizza donation which will be made in memory of David Solomonov (Nephew of Congregants Ava and Michael Maxwell and Cousin of Rebecca and Alex Maxwell killed Yom Kippur 2003)
• Aids Walk Orlando April 24,  2010 at Lake Eola benefiting the Hope and Help Center of Central more information to follow will be held. Please visit www.aidswalkorlando.org to make an online donation

May
American Cancer Society Relay for Life Chai on Life team at Boone High School on May 14, 2010 beginning at 6:00 PM – 10:00 AM. The event is on Shabbat, but we can show our support by supporting this team and ACS.