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Shoe Boxes That Keep on Giving!

01/02/2024 01:50:20 PM

Jan2

By Betsy Abramson and Marsha Mansfield, Co-Chairs, Racial Justice Action Team

In December, Temple’s Racial Justice Action Team partnered with Nehemiah and F.O.S.T.E.R of Dane County to prepare holiday gift boxes for children and adult clients of their agencies who might not receive any other gifts this year. We asked you to help fill shoe boxes with essential or fun items, and you delivered!

Our modest goal for this project was 25 shoe boxes. But by the end of week 2, when boxes started trickling in, we cautiously thought, maybe ... 50? And then the Religious School families started returning their filled boxes the following Sunday, and we were at 73 boxes ... and then as we drove to Temple for the Tuesday evening deadline, we dared to imagine that there would be 27 more to make it 100. 

We needn't have worried, because the TBE community so rocks. Another 29 shoe boxes were waiting for us, bringing our grand total to ...

102 boxes!!!

Because of you, Temple Beth El donated 102 shoeboxes full of gifts for children, teens, and adults who might not otherwise be receiving any gifts this month!  

Because of you, hundreds of our Madison neighbors opened gift boxes to find fresh toiletries, warm socks, jackets (!), slippers, games, toys, treats, puzzles, coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, stuffies, and so much more!  

Because of you, all of these boxes were clearly filled with both the above kinds of items and so much love and caring!

Because of you, our neighbors know that Temple Beth El cares about our greater community and is a partner in sharing their good fortune to bring tangible joy into the lives of others.

We are so fortunate to be members of this incredibly caring congregation.

Our volunteers filled the cars of David Seligman, Marsha Mansfield, and Catherine Copp, to the joy of Jackie Hunt, F.O.S.T.E.R. director. Special thanks to Catherine for helping to organize and pack dozens of the boxes.

Yasher koach (job well done) to all, and a giant todah rabah—thank you very much!

April 29, 2024 21 Nisan 5784