Ninth Annual Community Mitzvah Day Sunday, November 19 ~ 9:00 am

A Day of Service for Gainesville 

The Jewish Council of North Central Florida, in partnership with Congregation B'nai Israel, Temple Shir Shalom, The Lubavitch-Chabad Jewish Student & Community Center, UF Hillel and many Gainesville area organizations, invites you to join us for the Ninth Annual Community Mitzvah Day! 

Below is the list of Mitzvah Day projects. Click on the hyperlink (in blue) for the project that you wish to volunteer for. Please register for only one activity. Projects have specific registration numbers to accommodate the needs and limitations of the site. If you are able, feel free to donate supplies needed for as many projects as you would like to support! In many cases, gently used clothing, non-perishable food and other items are critical! 

Please contact the JCNCF office at 352.371.3846 or office@jcncf.org with any questions about Mitzvah Day. 

Program Schedule:

• 9:00 Registration & Breakfast at Congregation B'nai Israel  
• Welcome from Virginia Brissette Hirshik, JCNCF President & CEO
• Guest Speaker, Jon DeCarmine, GRACE Marketplace  
• 9:45 Depart to Projects

Some off-site projects have earlier start times. Please refer to the sign up for each project for full details.

Special Drives and Supplies Needed for Mitzvah Day

Drop off the items below at any Mitzvah Day project location and we will get them to their designated charities! Please note that items for refugees should  be dropped off at the JCNCF office ONLY.

Bread of the Mighty Food Bank: Please donate any non-perishable items for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday. Here is a list of foods currently being sought: Boxed Stuffing Mix (like Stovetop), Instant Mashed Potatoes in boxes or packets, Jars of Turkey Gravy or Dried Gravy Mix Packets, Canned Yams, Cranberry Sauce, Canned Veggies (green beans, corn, peas), Cornbread Mix, Canned Pumpkin or Fruit Pie Filling, Pie Crust Mix, Salt and Pepper.

Winter Clothing and Bedding for Grace Marketplace: Seeking winter clothing (jackets, sweatshirts, socks, sweatpants, warm hats, gloves, scarves) and comforters/quilts for cold winter nights. Many people live outside of Grace Marketplace within Dignity Village and need these items to stay warm through the cold nights.

Matilde’s Mentionables: As part of CBI Sisterhood’s mitzvah project this year, they are collecting women’s toiletries. Specifically, all feminine hygiene products to donate to local women’s shelters. This mitzvah project comes directly from the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism initiative Matilde’s Mentionables.

Household Goods For Resettled Refugees: Catholic Charities of Jacksonville is in need of household items for refugee families which they are responsible for resettling. They are in need of new or gently used lamps, alarm clocks, twin and queen beds, mattresses and frames, high chairs, cribs, pillows, blankets, sheets and kitchen tables, chairs shower curtains, bath mats, waste baskets, tooth paste, tooth brushes, combs, brushes, toilet paper, full sized shampoo, conditioner and soap / body wash. Families also need all the necessary items for setting up a kitchen including, pots and pans, sets of plates and silverware, baking dishes, plastic food containers, toasters, can openers, kitchen towels, a mop, broom and bucket. If you have furniture that you wish to donate, please call the JCNCF office at 352.371.3746.

Projects at Congregation B'nai Israel (3830 NW 16th Blvd. 32605)

Family Promise Aesthetic Help: CANCELLED!! 

Assist the organization Family Promise with sprucing up their day center for families. May include painting, clean-up and interaction with families in their program. Family Promise of Gainesville provides homeless children & their families with care that includes education, case management, meals, housing and transportation. For more information on the invaluable service that Family Promise provides in our community, please visit: https://www.familypromisegvl.org/

CBI Grounds Clean-Up

Grab a rake, paint brush or the pressure washer and help B'nai Israel sparkle and shine!

• Team Leader: TBA
• Click HERE to sign up.

Baking for a Cause
All youth, middle and high school students are invited to help us bake for various community organizations.

• Team Leader: Thalia Castro-Vega and Eliza Israel
• Click HERE to sign up 

ArtsGiving: Images of Gratitude
All Elementary aged children will be invited to participate in this project capturing images of gratitude that can be shared with each other and will be shared on display in the community. Working with local senior living facilities to have art displays the week of Thanksgiving throughout our community.
All 3-7^th grade students Invited to Participate 

• Team Leader: Jenifer Petrescu
• Click HERE to sign up

Artistic Display for the Holiday
Bring your crafty skills to help us make beautiful centerpieces for Thanksgiving dinners around our community. Everyone deserves a little beauty at their table.

• Team Leader: Caroline Birdrow
• Click HERE to sign up

 

JCNCF Sponsored Projects

Adopt-a-Street Clean Up: Dr. Pawliger and his team will be cleaning up NW 8th between 13th and 22nd Streets. Necessary equipment, supplies and water will be provided.

• Team Leader: Dr. David Pawliger - davpaw@aol.com
• Click HERE to sign up.

Sorting Clothing: Volunteers will sort clothing according to the needs of several area charities: ARC, Tacachale, Displaced Homemakers, Dignity Village, Pace, and the Helping Hands Clinic. All volunteers are encouraged to contribute to this project and may drop off their clothing donations on Mitzvah Day or before.

• Team Leader: Sharon Hirshik and Kim Feigenbaum
• Specific clothing items needed: Men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, purses, new and used undershirts and t-shirts of all sizes, new and used socks, collared shirts, khaki pants teenage boys and young me, women’s clothing for job interviews and work, school uniform appropriate clothes for children and teenagers.

• Click HERE to sign up.

 

Cooking Breakfast at the Ronald McDonald House: This project is filled. Volunteers will cook a nutritious breakfast for the children and families at the Ronald McDonald House.(1600 SW 14th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608). 

• Team Leader: Marcia Storch - storchmarcia1965@gmail.com  
• Supplies Needed: Breakfast essentials will be provided by Ronald McDonald House. Donations of additional breakfast times are welcome.

Cleaning at Ronald McDonald House: Volunteers will help with the daily cleaning and chores needed to keep Ronald McDonald house in good shape for the families who stay there while their children are undergoing medical procedures

• Team Leader: Marcia Storch - storchmarcia1965@gmail.com  
• Click HERE to sign up.

PJ Library Craft for Kids

PJ Library Crafts: All Preschool – Grade 2 kids will make Thanksgiving themed decorations, crowns and necklaces to be donated to the Pediatric unit at UF Health. 

• Click HERE to sign up.

Projects Sponsored by Temple Shir Shalom (3855 NW 8th Avenue, 32605) 

GRACE Marketplace: Volunteers will help to prepare and serve breakfast at Grace Marketplace, a center for services for the homeless at 3055 NE 28th Ave.  Volunteers must be at least 14 years old, and minor volunteers must be accompanied by an adult.  Upon signing up, more information will be sent.  *Please note, this project runs from 8:45-12:00, so volunteers will not be able to attend the opening breakfast. Volunteers will meet at GRACE Marketplace. 

Up to 10 volunteers.

Eloise Harman is the team leader.  She may be reached at emhmd711@earthlink.net.

• Click HERE to sign up.
  

Habitat for Humanity Build: This project has filled. Volunteers will be working to help construct a safe, decent and affordable house for a family.  No special skills are needed, and no need to bring tools or materials.  Lunch and water will be provided.  Minimum age is 12.  Upon signing up, more information and a volunteer form will be sent.  *Please note, this project runs from 8:30-2:30, so volunteers will not be able to attend the opening breakfast.

• Team Leader: Nancy Parks

Pet Care Supply Packaging: Volunteers will take large bags of dog and cat food and distribute them down into quart and gallon sized bags to be donated to the St. Francis House Pet Care Clinic, which provides free and low cost veterinary care for Gainesville's indigent population.  

• Team Leader: Cindy Puckett, she may be reached at puckettch@gmail.com
• Supplies needed: dog food, cat food, treats, leashes, collars, flea control, toys, towels, gallon and quart sized plastic ziplock bags.
• Click HERE to sign up.

 

 

Projects at Lubavitch-Chabad (2021 NW 5th Avenue, 32603) 

Lone Soldier Care Packages: PLEASE NOTE: This project is for UF and Santa Fe students and will happen at Chabad on Sunday afternoon time TBA. Please email office@jcncf.org. to RSVP. Volunteers will organize and assemble care packages to send to Lone Soldiers serving in Israel. The care packages will be shipped to Jewish Federations of North America in New York, who will transport the packages to Israel on our behalf. 

• Team Leader: TBA
• Supplies needed: hotel or sample sized shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, shaving gel, razors (male/female), tooth brushes and paste, deodorant (male/female), sun screen, anti-insect bite spray or wipes, socks (black or white standard male & female adult cotton socks which can be matched with appropriate deodorant/razors), adult large black or white undershirts.