Submission #15910 by South Jersey Men'S Club - Cherry Hill, NJ (503)
I have read the 2021 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
SJMC Community Outreach
Non-FJMC Program
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The goal of our Tikkun Olam projects is to instill in South Jersey Men’s Club (SJMC) members a sense of social activism by participating in various humanitarian projects of the Jewish Family and Children Services (JFCS) and other agencies of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey (JFEDSNJ). The primary programs involved the Food Pantry, Volunteer transportation, and meal delivery to shut-ins. Fundraising by the Men's Club also contributed to the success of these endeavors.
The JFCS Food Pantry distributes food to thousands of clients monthly at three facilities. Food is acquired by donations throughout the year. Two times a year, during the High Holidays and Passover, large-scale food collections are run through all the synagogues in the area. The food is then sorted (initially kosher and non-kosher and then by food groups) sent to the JFCS facilities to be stored for later distribution. For those people in need who are unable to come to the food distribution centers, there is a program whereby food is delivered.
South Jersey Men’s Club members are volunteers at every step of the process. We also have been able to solve several problems that limited the program’s scope.
- During the holiday bulk food collection, our members help organize the flow of the operation. The food is first sorted and then sent to the main JFCS Food Pantry for storage where our members help coordinate operations. This stage included approximately 15 of our volunteers.
- We noticed that at the Pantry most of the plastic shelving units couldn’t be filled because they were bending under the weight of the food cans. (See photos) After consulting with the JFCS management, we formed a committee to address the problem. This included researching appropriate shelving, funding, ordering, pick-up, installation, and any pertinent governmental regulations. We chose a heavy duty; relatively easy to assemble model from Home Depot. The total cost was under $1,000. Our application to the Home Depot Foundation for the cost of the shelves was denied. The Men’s Club board voted to match any donations made by our members for this project. Assembling and restocking the 15 new heavy-duty shelving units took the efforts of 10 – 12 Men’s Club volunteers These new shelving units have increased the limited space of the food pantry by 25%. We were called back several weeks later to reconstruct the units to comply with a recent inspection that took into account new regulations.
- The total time to date that has been dedicated to the JFCS Food Pantry for these projects was approximately 50 man-hours. We intend to continue the project into the future.
- Several of our (retired) members are volunteer drivers for the JFCS food delivery program for shut-ins. Several others volunteer to pick-up donated food from supermarkets.
- Members are encouraged to come to our monthly meetings with donations of non-perishable kosher food for the pantry. Other volunteers take turns bringing those donations to the Food Pantry.
- SJMC members are volunteers who drive JFCS clients to doctors and hospital appointments within a 50-mile radius. These clients are generally 80 plus years old and need continuous monitoring of medical conditions. We also participate in a similar program called Take the Wheel for Vets where we drive Vets to the VA hospitals for appointments.
In addition, the SJMC members volunteer to do programming every other month for residents in the local Jewish Federation assisted living facility. This action is well received by the assisted care residents, staff, and really satisfying to our club membership. During one visit we conducted a tribute to the veterans and their spouses by wearing our uniforms and recognizing the veterans and their families. We try to have three or four different or our members attend each program.
Another SJMC Tikkun Olam project is participation in the Jewish Federation Mensches with Wrenches program where we do minor repairs for residents in Federation Senior Housing.
During the community-wide Yom HaShoah program, we provide transportation for those who would otherwise be unable to attend. Over the years, our volunteers have distributed thousands of FJMC yellow candles at the program
- Overall, this ongoing Tikkun Olam project falls under the portfolio of our Vice-President for external affairs.
Marketing
Individual volunteers are recognized at every monthly Men’s Club meeting. As an organization, the South Jersey Men’s Club was recognized for its volunteer program at the annual meeting of the Jewish Family and Children Service.
[[ PLEASE NOTE THAT INFORMATION FOR THE PROGRAM ADVANCE PLANNING & MARKETING SECTIONS APPEAR IN THIS SECTION ]]
South Jersey Men’s Club members are volunteers at every step of the process. We also have been able to solve several problems that limited the program’s scope.
- During the holiday bulk food collection, our members help organize the flow of the operation. The food is first sorted and then sent to the main JFCS Food Pantry for storage where our members help coordinate operations. This stage included approximately 15 of our volunteers.
- We noticed that at the Pantry most of the plastic shelving units couldn’t be filled because they were bending under the weight of the food cans. (See photos) After consulting with the JFCS management, we formed a committee to address the problem. This included researching appropriate shelving, funding, ordering, pick-up, installation, and any pertinent governmental regulations. We chose a heavy duty; relatively easy to assemble model from Home Depot. The total cost was under $1,000. Our application to the Home Depot Foundation for the cost of the shelves was denied. The Men’s Club board voted to match any donations made by our members for this project. Assembling and restocking the 15 new heavy-duty shelving units took the efforts of 10 – 12 Men’s Club volunteers These new shelving units have increased the limited space of the food pantry by 25%. We were called back several weeks later to reconstruct the units to comply with a recent inspection that took into account new regulations.
- The total time to date that has been dedicated to the JFCS Food Pantry for these projects was approximately 50 man-hours. We intend to continue the project into the future.
- Several of our (retired) members are volunteer drivers for the JFCS food delivery program for shut-ins. Several others volunteer to pick-up donated food from supermarkets.
- Members are encouraged to come to our monthly meetings with donations of non-perishable kosher food for the pantry. Other volunteers take turns bringing those donations to the Food Pantry.
- SJMC members are volunteers who drive JFCS clients to doctors and hospital appointments within a 50-mile radius. These clients are generally 80 plus years old and need continuous monitoring of medical conditions. We also participate in a similar program called Take the Wheel for Vets where we drive Vets to the VA hospitals for appointments.
In addition, the SJMC members volunteer to do programming every other month for residents in the local Jewish Federation assisted living facility. This action is well received by the assisted care residents, staff, and really satisfying to our club membership. During one visit we conducted a tribute to the veterans and their spouses by wearing our uniforms and recognizing the veterans and their families. We try to have three or four different or our members attend each program.
Another SJMC Tikkun Olam project is participation in the Jewish Federation Mensches with Wrenches program where we do minor repairs for residents in Federation Senior Housing.
During the community-wide Yom HaShoah program, we provide transportation for those who would otherwise be unable to attend. Over the years, our volunteers have distributed thousands of FJMC yellow candles at the program
- Overall, this ongoing Tikkun Olam project falls under the portfolio of our Vice-President for external affairs.
Marketing
Individual volunteers are recognized at every monthly Men’s Club meeting. As an organization, the South Jersey Men’s Club was recognized for its volunteer program at the annual meeting of the Jewish Family and Children Service.
[[ PLEASE NOTE THAT INFORMATION FOR THE PROGRAM ADVANCE PLANNING & MARKETING SECTIONS APPEAR IN THIS SECTION ]]
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Original Program