Sunday, November 3, 2013

VBS Chesed Connection • chesedconnection@vbs.org(818) 530-4035 • www.vbs.org • MitzvahDay@VBS.org • (818) 530-4086

VBSCHESED CONNECTION

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Mitzvah Day 2013 is a community effort in conjunction with the Jewish Federation Valley Alliance

We are pleased to host the

VBS Chesed FairHelping Mitzvah Day participants learn about ongoing volunteer opportunities

with non-profits in our community, in Israel and around the world.VBS lobby, 9 a.m. – 12 noon

“You don’t have to finish the work, but you are not freeto give up and not do it.” (Chapter 2, Mishna 15)

“Where there is no bread, there is no Torah.”(Chapter 3, Mishna 17)

“Be as strong as a leopard, fly as high as an eagle, run as fast as a deer,be as brave as a lion, to do God’s will.” (Chapter 5, Mishna 20)

Creating

Nourishing

Giving Life Blood

BROWN BAG LUNCHESMake peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and assemble/decorate lunch bags to be distributed to the homeless.VBS – 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

MEALS FOR SHELTERSHelp prepare baked pasta with marinara casseroles to be delivered to residents at L.A. Family Housing.Contact: Lisa Bender, ohanaride@aol.com to help. VBS – 9:00 a.m. -12.p.m.

THANKSGIVING BASKETSJoin us as we assemble Thanksgiving Baskets to accompany turkeys, bringing a much needed holiday meal to families in foster care,through the ACAC Program. Packaged or canned Thanksgiving food items welcome. VBS – 9:00 a.m. -12.p.m.

PROJECT CHICKEN SOUPJoin VBS’ Sisterhood as they volunteer at Project Chicken Soup is a non-profit organization that prepares and delivers free, nutritious,kosher meals to people in the greater Los Angeles area living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses. Volunteers must be at least16 years old. To register: contact Debbie Alden: yonroni@aol.com or 818-416-1402

BLOOD DRIVE/BONE MARROW REGISTRY Give hope, give life, give blood. Participate in our community’s blood and bone marrow drives (Ages 17 and up). There are threeconvenient locations. For more information, call or email the contacts listed below:Heschel Day School-Northridge (8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) Call 818-621-9348 or email beryly@sbcglobal.netStephen S. Wise (8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) email jsmith@wisela.org or sign up at www.wisela.org/mitzvahdayTemple Beth Hillel-Valley Village (8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) email reffhouse@sbcglobal.net

HANDS OF KINDNESSKeeping homeless veterans warm by knitting blankets becomes a community endeavor as we knit 6 inch squares to be made into blankets.Don’t knit? We’ll show you how! VBS 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

HANUKKAH CANDLES FOR JFS/SOVACome make beeswax Hanukkah candles for JFS/SOVA. These candles will be given to their clients to brighten their Hanukkah tables.Project sheets will be available if you would like to make these candles at home. VBS 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

JEWISH WORLD WATCHDecorate tzedakah boxes and take them home to collect money for Jewish World Watch. Your donations help the refugees displaced bythe conflicts in Sudan and Congo. VBS – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

CHALLAH COVERS FOR ETTA ISRAELVBS NextGen will be making challah covers at Etta Israel with residents of this Hewish home for special needs yong aduls. All are invited to join,but space is limited. To register contact Aimee Littman, aimee.littman@gmail.com. VBS – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

BEADING EYEGLASS CHAINS Join the VBS youth group in beading eygeglass chains for residents of the Jewish Home. They will show you how to make the chains and helpyou to make these beautiful and useful gifts for elderly folks. VBS – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

❑ CANNED OR DRIED FOOD – VBS FOOD BANKDried/canned food in small, unbreakable packaging is appreciated. Please check expiration date.

Urgently Needed: • Marinara Sauce • Dried Milk in individual packets • Tuna Fish• Peanut Butter • Canned Meat • Thanksgiving items (i.e. stuffing mix, cranberry)

❑ HYGIENE KIT ITEMSVBS Feeding the Hungry Program is in need of travel size toiletries to include in Hygiene Kits which will be distributed to the homeless

• soap • shampoo • conditioner • deodorant• toothbrushes • toothpaste • hand sanitizer• first aid items (anti-bacterial ointment, band-aids, Tylenol)

❑ (NEW) SHOES THAT FITHelp children in need receive new shoes for school. Contact Robin Greene prior to Mitzvah Day for exact sizes and types needed,then bring the shoes to the event! Robin Greene: VBSshoesthatfit@aol.com

“There is one who says, ’What is mine is yours and what isyours is yours.’ This one is righteous.” (Chapter 5, Mishna 10)Collecting

Unless specified project is appropriate for all agesTo register for a project, call (818) 530-4086 or email mitzvahday@vbs.org

CROP HUNGER WALKParticipate in the 37th annual SFV Walk to raise awareness of hunger around the world. Contact: Diane Deleany, 818-681-3948or SFVCropwalk@yahoo.com. Church of the Chimes, 14116 Magnolia, Sherman Oaks. Registration 12:30 p.m., Walk 1:30 p.m.

CYCLES FOR SMILESBring your little ones and join the VBS Early Childhood Center as they host a trike-a-thon benefitting therapeutic and educationalprograms at Beit Issie Shapiro in Israel and Our Space (programming for children with special needs).Contact: Renee Robits: Rmrobits@yahoo.com or 818-917-9167. VBS ECC Play yard 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

“Treat no one lightly, and think nothing useless. For everyonehas his moment, and everything has its place.” (Chapter 4, Mishan 3)Striding

“Show respect to your student as you would haveothers respect you.” (Chapter 4, Mishna 12)Reading and Writing

GET WELL CARDSHelp wish someone in our community recovering from illness or surgery a speedy recovery by decorating Get Well Cards. Sponsored by the VBSCaring Connection, offering support to our members during times of crisis. VBS – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

KOREH LA - READ TO A CHILDBecome a literacy reading partner, greatly increasing a child’s academic success, by attending a 3-hour training session. Following completionof this session, you will be placed at a local elementary school and have the opportunity to read weekly with a student one-on-one. For moredetails or to register go to www.korehla.org or call 323-761-8153 (Ages 13 and Up) Training locations/times: Steven S. Wise 9:00 a.m. -12:00p.m. / Shomrei Torah 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

LETTERS TO SOLDIERSDecorate cards and write letters of encouragement to U.S. soldiers serving overseas as well as soldiers in the IDF (Israel Defence Force).Distributed by “Operation Gratitude” and “A Package From Home.” VBS – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

2013 Mitzvah Day Schedule

Remember Daylight Savings Time!Be sure to set your clocks backone hour on Sunday morning

(consider spending thatextra hour at Mitzvah Day!)

Special Thanks toThe Mitzvah Day 2012 Committee Chairs:

Susan Feldman, Barbara Goldsmith

Staff:Rabbi Noah Zvi Farkas, Brooke Wirtschafter

❑ Kosher Peanut Butter &/or Jelly

❑ Kosher No-MeatMarinara Sauce

❑ New shoes (details page 3)

❑ Toiletries/first-aid items

Collections Check List

Blood Drive/Bone Marrow Registry

Brown Bag Lunches

Pasta Prep

Challah Cover Making/VBS NextGen

Chesed Fair

Crop Hunger Walk

Cycles for Smiles

Eyeglass Chain Beading

Get Well Cards

Hanukkah Candles

JFS/SOVA Food Pantry

JWW Tzedakah Box Decoration

KOREH LA training

Knitting for Homeless Vets

Letters to Soldiers

Project Chicken Soup

Progam 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.9:00 a.m.

8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Stephen S. Wise

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

9:00 am - 12:00 pmCulver City, Advance Registration Required

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Stephen S. Wise 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Shomrei Torah

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ECC Play Yard

Registration 12: 30 p.m., Walk 1:30 p.m.Church of the Chimes, 14115 Magnolia Blvd, Sherman Oaks

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.JFS/SOVA Food Pantry Van Nuys

Denotes event taking place @ VBS

Denotes event taking place off-site*To register for a project, call (818) 530-4086 or email mitzvahday@vbs.org

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.Etta Israel, Sherman Oaks