SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE NEWS
TBE's Social Action Committee (Linda Armacost, Pat Bowes, Carlos Goebels, Chris Hamm, Alice Klein) conducted an on-line survey of our congregants about social action needs. Twenty-three (23) congregants completed the survey. Based on our Social Action Survey results, the three (3) most pressing Pensacola area community issues identified by TBE's congregants are #1 - feeding the hungry/poor (65.2%), #2 - homelessness (52.2%), and #3 -improving education and opportunities for disadvantaged children/youth (47.8%). The survey also identified social action/nonprofit organizations that congregants donated money and/or volunteer services during the past 2-3 years: (43%) - Manna Food; (26%) - Council on Aging; (17%) - Temple Beth El, Pensacola Jewish Federation, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and American Cancer Society; (13%) - Pace School for Girls, Waterfront Mission, and WSRE.
The majority of survey respondents wanted community service to focus on feeding the Pensacola area's hungry, helping children (education, mentoring, tutoring), helping seniors, and housing for the homeless. Seventy (70%) of the respondents were interested in volunteering their time on an occasional or regular basis to support these social action causes. Several congregants also offered to volunteer their time by taking housebound temple seniors to doctor's appointments and temple services.
Social Action Committee member (Chris Hamm) will be coordinating and promoting TBE's Manna Food drives. (Pat Bowes) is overseeing follow-up phone calls, greeting cards, transportation needs, and personal visits with TBE's housebound seniors and ill congregants. (Carlos Goebels) will be coordinating and promoting TRiO, an educational intervention program for 700 poor, college-bound middle and high school students (from Escambia & Escarosa Counties).
The survey indicated an interest in annual Mitvah Days. Internationally, the next Good Deeds Day is Sunday, March 25, 2012. If you are interested in helping to plan for TBE's GOOD DEEDS 3/25/2012 DAY, please attend the next Social Action Committee meeting on Sunday, January 8 (10:00 a.m.). For more information, contact Carlos Goebels (SAC Chairperson) at carlosgoebels@yahoo.com or (850) 450-0215.
