Dear 9th Ward and St. Mark's Friends,
Our Tikkun Olam Committee organizes volunteers from several 9th Ward Congregations to serve dinner and provide companionship to Families Experiencing Homelessness through Family Promise of Northern New Castle County.
During our next hosting week, May 5-11, we will be partnering with St. Marks Lutheran Church as well. For those of you that have served in the past, you will notice that the sign up sheet looks different and we will be serving more families.
St Mark's and 9th Ward: Family Promise Hosting May 5-11 2024 (signupgenius.com)
Any questions, please email Stacey at tikkunolam@cbswilmde.org
Family Promise
Congregation Beth Shalom together with five other faith-based congregations in the Ninth Ward supports Family Promise of Northern New Castle County, a non-profit, 501-C3 organization, with the goal of preventing and ending homelessness for families with children. During four one-week-long commitments throughout the year, the congregations work together to provide volunteers to set up sleeping accommodations, prepare meals, assist with transportation (van provided), plan and participate in family activities, and provide warm and caring fellowship by interacting with the families. Along with the staff of Family Promise, we help move families along a path to their own independent and sustainable living Family Promise hosting dates are provided each year. To volunteer or to receive more information, please email familypromise@cbswilmde.org.
*Due to COVID-19 families are currently being housed in an extended stay motel in Christiana. Currently, volunteers are able to provide meals and supplies. Case Managers are still working hard to meet the families’ needs and help them to get back on their feet.
Download the Family Promise Brochure by clicking here.
Emmanuel Dining Room
As part of Tikkun Olam, we prepare and serve meals at Emmanuel Dining Room, a dining room offering high-quality, nutritious meals to city residents who may otherwise have to deal with hunger. If interested in helping on our assigned dates, February 6 (2022), March 6, and April 6, or to donate baked goods,
Hanover Food Pantry
Twice a year, during the High Holy Days and Passover, CBS runs a food drive to help restock the pantry which provides free groceries to families experiencing food insecurity in our Ninth Ward community. The pantry is open every Thursday morning and last year more than 2,500 people were served.
Student Mentoring
In our continuing efforts to embrace and serve our community, CBS instituted a mentoring partnership with Warner and Shortlidge Elementary Schools. We are looking for adults who are willing to give 30-40 minutes of their week to serve as a mentor for a student, grades K-5. There is little else that is more rewarding than knowing that you made a difference in the life of a child. To volunteer or to receive more information, email tikkunolam@cbswilmde.org
Refugee Resettlement
Congregation Beth Shalom worked with Jewish Family Services to help newly arrived refugee families. Beginning in 2017, a community coalition of Hanover Presbyterian Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, and CBS supported newly arrived Refugee Families, one from Afghanistan and one from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We provided material support when needed, but mainly provided life coaching skills while extending the hospitality of our houses of worship and congregants' homes. We helped integrate families into the Wilmington community by planning trips to parks, museums, movie theaters, amusement centers and more.
Interfaith Services With Other Congregations
We participate in interfaith services. Look for information about special worship services in observance of Thanksgiving, the celebration of the Late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, and Passover as we come together with other faith-based congregations in our neighborhood. We also support each other in our times of communal need.
Peace Drums
Peace Drums, a Galilean Steel Band, is an interfaith initiative to promote peace among Jewish, Muslim and Christian Youth living in the Galilee Region of Israel. Israeli middle school students learn to play steel drums together with the goal of building trust among children that leads to a future of peace. This unique student band visited the US in April 2016 giving performances in Philadelphia, New York, and Wilmington. CBS families provided homes to house these visitors and formed enduring friendships. They were scheduled to return to Delaware in April of 2020 but the trip had to be canceled due to COVID-19. We hope to welcome them back again soon.
