Blood Drives
PSC holds several successful blood drives at PSC each year, with Sunday morning visits by the Bloodmobile every 3 months or so. For more information or to sign up, contact Phyllis Lippe at [email protected]. The minimum age to donate is 17, though 16 year-olds can donate with written permission of parent or guardian.
Hesed v’Tzedek Committee
The Hesed v’Tzedek committee includes PSC community members dedicated to providing acts of “loving kindness” in support of fellow congregants in their times of need, such as an illness, a new baby, or a death in the family. Such support takes many forms, among them visiting the homebound in person or by telephone, as well as providing meals to new parents and to those who are ill. Committee members prepare soup or meals to be delivered to congregants in need of a hot, home-cooked meal, and gift baskets are delivered to congregants with new babies.
We’re looking to expand the number of “chefs” willing to prepare a home-cooked meal for families of new babies and when a family member is ill. PSC has been fortunate to enjoy a “baby boom” recently, and we want to make sure all our new moms, dads and big brothers and sisters can count on tasty, home-cooked meals. We also want to support those who are recovering from illness or accidents. You can sign up to bring a Shabbat dinner or a weeknight meal, and you can volunteer as much or as little as you like. Hate to cook? You can also volunteer to deliver a home-cooked meal made by a fellow congregant or the new baby basket to our families.
If you’d like to be added to our volunteer list or learn more, please contact Karen Moen at [email protected] or (650) 315-7982.
LifeMoves
LifeMoves is an organization which deals with issues of homelessness and poverty throughout Silicon Valley. In San Mateo, the organization houses 39 families in need of emergency and transitional housing in an apartment building on Villa Terrace in North San Mateo, with a program called First Step for Families. PSC members prepare, and serve dinner to approximately 40-50 LifeMoves residents on a Sunday evening every other month. If you are interested in helping, by helping shop, cook or serve, watch for a sign up in the weekly e-mail or contact Sue Blockstein at [email protected] or Naomi Preston at [email protected].
Peninsula Multifaith Coalition
PSC is a member of the Peninsula Multifaith Coalition, a group of faith congregations and organizations working together on projects to improve our community. This volunteer-led coalition holds or supports several events each year, such as the Multifaith Day of Service on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, an annual Multifaith Song Fest held in the spring, a Prayers for Peace gathering on Labor Day, and other educational events throughout the year. Please join these events and represent PSC. Look for more information in the weekly e-mail or contact Dana Izenson at [email protected].
Second Harvest Food Bank
PSC works in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB) of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties to provide food for people who are hungry in our community.
Year-Round Food Barrels — We have set up food collection barrels in the office and lobby at PSC to collect non-perishable food items year-round, for pick up and distribution by Second Harvest. We need PSC members to donate food. You can bring the appropriate food items to the barrels at any time. Items that are desperately needed include canned tuna, peanut butter, rice, dried beans, pasta, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables and soups. Pull top cans preferred; no glass containers allowed.
In addition, we hold an annual High Holiday Food Drive. You can make a donation online or bring food to put in the barrels that will be set up at the entrance to PSC.
Shalom Bayit
PS Women participates in Shalom Bayit’s Adopt-A-Family program every Chanukah. Adopt-A-Family provides basic necessities, food, and Chanukah gifts and/or gift cards to battered women and their children facing the holidays alone. Many abused women starting a new life have left their homes and possessions behind. Adopt-A-Family is an opportunity for hope and help in getting back on their feet.
Watch for information about this in the weekly email, or contact Sue Blockstein at [email protected] if you are interested in participating in this program.
