Hope you've welcomed Winter!
It is beginning to look a lot like the holiday season. Next week, we will be hosting our annual Hanukkah Out of the Cold celebration with gift bags of toiletries, Susan's famous brisket, latkes for all, and candle lighting with some of the older Beth Jacob Hebrew School students. Can you make any hanukkah cookies for our guests? Bring them PLEASE.
Our group has really found our stride, and our guests have really found us! It takes a big commitment from all of you to make sure that Tuesdays are well-staffed. We are now a team and if you would like to wear the team swag, we're offering HOOTC logoed shirts/sweatshirts for purchase. See attached info. Sorry for the short notice; all orders must be in by next Tuesday, Dec 20th accompanied by cash only.
As many of you remember, for many years, our OOTC commitment included a very meaningful shelter component. That ended in 2010 when enough women's beds were available for the need. Times have changed. Too many women are being turned away from the shelters and money to cover emergency beds isn't enough. Therefore, our OOTC Board has agreed to commit to fund ten additional beds at the YWCA which brings their total to sixty. This $30,000 does not come from the Jewish community's Tuesday funds, but it does come from our collective mission to support the needs of the stranger, the widow, the fatherless and the poor.
Unfortunately we had a very disturbing incident occur at our site last Tuesday. As all of our guests were departing dinner service, one of our 'regulars' punched a wheelchair bound guest named J in the face. J required emergency medical attention for a broken nose. Any incidents of a physical nature are very concerning, this one is particularly disturbing to hear considering that Jonathan had just been released from hospital two days before after having brain surgery. Peter, our security guard, responded very quickly and paramedics/police were called. Paramedics treated J at the scene and then transported him to the General for additional care. The police spoke with J at the hospital to obtain his official statement and investigated this matter. We hope for an update tomorrow. As of last Wednesday, the individual is banned from all HOOTC sites. This incident highlights our need to be vigilant at all times.
As we gather to sanctify the holidays this year, it's natural to look skyward, not just for snow but to the One above who has connected us as a group and, therefore, a threat to hunger and despair. “Pray as if everything depended on God; act as if everything depended on you.” Rabbi Ferdinand Isserman
.... and we shall see you tomorrow.
Cindy
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