Good News for Coffee Drinkers!

The Social  Action Committee in collaboration with the Men's Club is now ordering Mirembe Kawomera (Delicious Peace) coffee every other month!   On July 15 (and on the 15th of every other month thereafter), we'll be placing an order for this Kosher, Halal, Fair Trade, certified organic coffee that comes from the Peace Kawomera Cooperative in Uganda. The proceeds from  our sales will continue to go the Abayudaya community's emergency health fund. Coffee is 11$ per bag for a 12 oz. bag - dark roast, light roast or decaf (please remember to specify ground or whole bean). Five lb bags are also available for $55 each. You can pick up your order at TBE and leave a check made out to Ellen Rosten. We also deliver by request if you can't make it to TBE. CALL IN YOUR ORDER TO 257-8223 and support this coffee with a cause!
 
Mirembe Kawomera Coffee began with one man’s dream. In 2003, JJ Keki, a Ugandan coffee farmer, walked door to door asking his Jewish, Christian, and Muslim neighbors to put aside old differences and come together. Their community of third and fourth generation coffee farmers was struggling to make a living off the low prices offered by the local market. With the assistance of  the US-based organization Kulanu, these Jewish, Christian and Muslim farmers formed a cooperative to build lasting prosperity in their villages and to spread a message of peace throughout the world. They named their coffee Mirembe Kawomera, which means, “Delicious Peace” in the Luganda language.Their website (http://www.mirembekawomera.com/) has updates and a video for those who want to know more.

Social Action Committee

We continue to collect TOILETRIES  (hotel sample sizes included) to donate to Catholic Charities for giving to needy people. Food stamps do not cover these items and they are very much appreciated. Please bring what you can and leave them in the area outside the temple gift shop that says "Necessities For Our Neighbors."  Social action committee members will take them to Catholic Charities as they accumulate.

TBE will be providing 40-60 bag LUNCHES the third Tuesday of each month to the Red Cross Friendship Center.

These are given to low income people from our community including the homeless.

We need two people each month to shop for food, pack the lunches and deliver them to the Friendship Center. The rabbi will reinburse us for expenses, although donations are most welcome.  We have a complete description of what to do, so this is not difficult.  It takes about 2 hours the morning of the lunch to make sandwiches, plus time buying the food and preparing the bags the day before. Please contact Joyce Sirlin-Rand 273 5780 or jsr@twcny.rr.com for more information or to volunteer.

Support the effort to create Equity and Excellence in the Ithaca City School District.

As a result of a presentation I gave about students' experiences at Ithaca High School, I was asked to provide our congregation with information about how people can support equity work in the Ithaca City School District.

Since I am the Instructional Specialist for Educational Equity, I thought it would be useful to provide you with a direct link to my website, where you can find out what's happening to promote equity in the ICSD. This will allow you the opportunity to identify ways that you might get involved to support this effort.

Site Link: http://www.icsd.k12.ny.us/legacy/district/staffdev/bderfel/

Contact Information:
Barry Derfel
Instructional Specialist for Educational Equity
bderfel@icsd.k12.ny.us
607-229-8860

WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE LEFTOVERS?
FROM THE ONEG?
BNAI MITZVAH LUNCH?
DINNER OR BIRTHDAY PARTY?
...No Need to Eat Them All!

Clean food is welcome at the Red Cross Friendship Center
618 W. State St. (across from Kinkos)

They are open Monday and Wednesday 9:30 AM to 7 PM
Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:30 AM-4:30 PM
Saturday 9 AM-12 Noon

Any amount of wrapped food can be dropped off at that location.

Outside of those hours, call the shelter at 273-9177 to arrange to deliver food. Avoid waste... help others... and feel good!

NEED A RIDE TO SERVICES OR AN ADULT ED CLASS, or know someone who does? Call Joyce at 273-5780. Call also to be on a list to offer a ride. Or email Joyce here. Thanks!

If you wish to join the Social Action Committee, contact Joyce Sirlin-Rand at 273-5780 . We welcome new blood! (old blood too). If someone you know needs a ride to a temple function, contact Renee Freed at 273-5325. She will try to match the person with a driver so that anyone who wants to attend services or a TBE event, and is unable to drive, will have transportation. Contact Renee also to offer a ride.