To find out the many ways YOU can make a difference or contact Rebecca Kaplan MSW,  Community Service Coordinator at 212-877-4050 x244 or .

The Center for Values and Community Service is sponsored by the Shaw Family.

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Center for Values and Community Service:
SWFS Programs

Emergency Food Program
Phyllis Lefkowitz, Program Coordinator and Founder

Every Saturday morning, SWFS volunteers prepare hot chocolate, and add fresh fruit and whole grain bread to our prepared non-perishable food packages and give them to anyone in need. Our guests represent a wide range of ethnic, racial, age, and gender categories.

Volunteer Roles: Help to prepare and distribute food packages to guests in need.
Times Available: Saturday mornings 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Time Commitment: As often as you would like.

Location: SWFS lobby

Next Step! Men’s Shelter
Ania Yorinks, Head Coordinator

The SWFS Homeless Shelter works in conjunction with the Partnership for the Homeless Services and the Department of Homeless Services to provide shelter for ten men, five nights a week, nine months of the year. Our goal is to provide a warm, caring, and safe environment for these men who are in a transitional period in their lives; providing not only a place to sleep, but also support and encouragement.

Volunteer Roles: Help to set up and cook for the men; sleep at the shelter; or provide training in resume writing or computer skills.

Times Available: Monday through Friday evenings. Set up and cooking 6-8pm; Sleepover volunteers 8pm-6:30am;

Location: SWFS Berns Lounge

Kateri Residence

Kateri Residence provides short-term rehabilitation, subacute and long-term care. SWFS programs at the Kateri Residence are in partnership with UJA/Federation.
Volunteer Roles: Join other SWFS members as we visit the Jewish residents at the Kateri with various programs for Shabbat and Jewish holidays.

Times Available:
Once a month on Saturday afternoons (other times may be available if desired).

Time Commitment: Come one time or many!

Location: 87th and Riverside

Musical Mitzvah

SWFS members perform for residents in local nursing homes, people in hospitals, and others who could use extra song in their day.

Volunteer Roles: Use your musical talents to bring a smile to someone’s face.

Times, Commitment, and Location: Varies. A rehearsal may or may not be required.

Knit or Crochet for Children

Help bring warmth and comfort to children. Knit or crochet stuffed animals for children at St. Luke's Hospital or blanket squares for adolescents living in a residential treatment center in Westchester.

Times and Location:
Can be done anywhere at any time, but a group meets in the SWFS library.

SWFS Young Adventurers

Penny Hyman Schwartz, Program Coordinator
SWFS provides programs to enrich the lives of challenged adults.

Volunteer Roles: Make a difference in the lives of these friends of the synagogue by spending time with them at a program or service.

Times and Location: Varies.

Mitzvah Day
Sunday, March 4, 2012

Community Day of Service:

Every spring, SWFS dedicates one day to raising awareness for Social Service projects by engaging the community in hands on projects. Projects have included: knitting squares for baby blankets, a sanctuary and synagogue shine-up, collecting books and making bookmarks for the Reach Out & Read program, creating decoupage glass trays and painting flowerpots for the Jewish Home & Hospital, creating welcome cards and wrapping Shabbat candles for our new temple members, decorating tzedakah boxes, packaging food for the Emergency Food Program, nearby park clean-up, and social action projects, such as learning and advocacy programs for the Save Darfur effort.