Ongoing Projects and Places to Volunteer

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Get Involved with Agudas Achim’s Ongoing Social Action Projects

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

To ease the isolation of prisoners in remote Virginia State prison in solitary confinement the SAC would like to provide pen pals to those prisoners who have no one outside the prison to communicate with. If you are interested in starting such a correspondence, please e-mail Paula Hersson-Rinskog with your address, age, and interests.

Food Insecurity in Alexandria

We cook bi-monthly meals and the annual Christmas Day meal for the Carpenter’s Shelter. We also collect food periodically for the shelter.

We collect food on a regular basis to support ALexandrians InVolved Ecumenically (ALIVE!)‘s Emergency Food Program and Last Saturday food programs. For more than 40 years, ALIVE! is the largest private social service safety net for those in need in Alexandria. It is primarily staffed and managed by volunteers representing more than 40 congregations. We also assist with furniture delivery for ALIVE! See the ALIVE! website for further information on specific volunteer opportunities.

Operation Isaiah – the food drive of the Conservative Movement – joins with MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger to make the High Holy Day season the time of a combined Jewish response to hunger in North America. The goal is to mobilize Jews to take part in the work of tikkun olam, mending the world, by collecting food and funds for hungry people. Beginning on Rosh Hashanah, lists of requested items will be available in the lobby of the synagogue. Families are asked to fill and bring in at least one grocery bag with food on or before returning to the synagogue for the Kol Nidre service. These are distributed to local food banks of the congregation’s choosing.

Housing in Alexandria and the DC Metro Area

Agudas Achim’s Sisterhood collects travel-size toiletries and unopened cosmetics for the Carpenter’s Shelter throughout the year. You may drop them off in a box in the Coat Room.

Let us know if you have other ideas!

Get Involved with our Partners

ACE Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment conducts regular stream cleanups in our local streams. www.ecoactionarlington.org/
AFAC the Arlington Food Assistance Center remains dedicated to its simple but critical mission of obtaining and distributing groceries, directly and free of charge, to people living in Arlington who cannot afford to purchase enough food to meet their basic needs. https://afac.org/
ALIVE! (ALexandrians InVolved Ecumenically) is the largest private social service safety net for those in need in Alexandria. Its programs are developed and supported by volunteers from 45 congregations and the community. www.alive-inc.org/
Carpenter's Shelter Alexandria’s Carpenter’s Shelter serves over 750 homeless and formerly homeless children and adults each year. https://carpentersshelter.org/
DC Central Kitchen DC Central Kitchen’s mission is to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities. https://dccentralkitchen.org/about-us/
DC Diaper Bank empowers families and individuals by collecting and donating diapers and other items needed by babies, baby formula, and feminine hygiene products to low income mothers throughout the DC Area. Agudas Achim collects diapers each year for the D.C. Diaper bank. https://greaterdcdiaperbank.org/
Guest House Friends of Guest House helps women successfully reenter the community from incarceration. Guest House helps women break the vicious cycle of incarceration, reunite with their families, and reintegrate into their communities. https://friendsofguesthouse.org/about/
HIAS protects the most vulnerable refugees, helping them build new lives and reuniting them with their families in safety and freedom. HIAS advocates for the protection of refugees and assures that displaced people are treated with the dignity they deserve. www.hias.org/
JCRC The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington is the central community relations agency of the organized Jewish community in the DMV. The JCRC’s work is focused on four pillars: government relations, Israel advocacy, inter-group relations, and social justice. www.jcouncil.org
MAZON Inspired by Jewish values and ideals, MAZON works to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States and Israel. Through advocacy, education and strategic partnerships, we take action for people who struggle with hunger. https://mazon.org/
Pathways to Housing DC mission is to end homelessness and support recovery for people with complex health challenges. Pathways has housed over 900 homeless individuals in permanent housing since 2004, and provides services to over 3500 individuals each year. Agudas Achim collects socks, underwear and kitchen items for individuals served by Pathways. https://pathwaystohousingdc.org/
Yachad Yachad's mission is to bring communities together by preserving affordable homes and revitalizing neighborhoods throughout the DMV. /www.yachad-dc.org/