Six adults and three teens led the TBS volunteers at the May 1 CT Food Bank walk held under clear skies at East Rock Park on Sunday, May 1, 2011.  TBS Members and walkers, plus teenage guests from Hamden High, and our supporters donated about $ 210 for the CT Food Bank.  Those funds also support, through the CT Food Bank, local food banks and soup kitchens.  Co-chairs were Diane Kaplan and Lila Fain.  Yaffa Fain, Leyah Savage and Emily Jones joined our TBS team, from Hamden High.  Gerry and Miriam Putterman guarded a Whitney Avenue crossing, on this beautiful New Haven afternoon.  Marge and Gary Drucker and Lila and Gordon Fain completed the walk. Michael Brooks, Marge and Gary helped meet our team total.  Thanks too to all Members and Temple guests who sent donations on line, at the Shul, or walked individually.

The Isaiah Food Project is Temple Beth Sholom’s ongoing initiative providing specifically identified grocery items to area food banks every month.  Since it started in September of this year, there have been multiple deliveries to both the Jewish Family Service and the Hamden Food Banks.  Approximately $250 was spent per delivery per food bank which meant that over 200 lbs of food was delivered to each agency each month.  

The Hebrew School students have now joined the Isaiah Fund Project in providing these groceries, thereby increasing the items we can donate.  There will be a decorated container at the Temple with two specific requests needed for the month.  When you see the sign, please keep these items in mind as you shop and drop them off the next time you are at the synagogue.

Targeted items for December are tuna fish and cans of soup.

Also, please consider making donations to the Isaiah Fund allowing Temple Beth Sholom to expand this project, especially in these hard economic times.  Your contributions can be made ‘in honor of’ or ‘in thanks to’ and will be noted in the Temple Bulletin.

For further information about the Isaiah Food Project, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Ruth, Fran or Carol.

We are starting a new collection this month for Career Gear, a national organization with a New Haven office on Chapel Street. 

Across the country, it has helped thousands of disconnected and under-served job-seeking men become self-sufficient members of their communities. By providing interview counseling and business attire, Career Gear offers vital services to men of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, as well as recipients of public assistance, the disabled, recovering addicts, Iraqi war veterans, former foster care children, recent immigrants, and the formerly incarcerated. They help men who have begun to turn their lives around. Each has completed a job-training program and has a scheduled interview that could change his life forever. 

Career Gear needs new or gently worn, “ready to wear,” professional and business men’s clothing, shoes, and accessories that are appropriate for a job interview.