Good Deeds Day is Sunday, May 2nd 2021!
Good Deeds Day is an annual tradition of good deeds. All over the world, hundreds of thousands choose to volunteer and help others, putting into practice the simple idea that every single person can do something good, be it large or small, to improve the lives of others and positively change the world.
The Raleigh-Cary community has been participating in Good Deeds Day since 2013 with Jewish Family Services as the coordinator and convener for the community. Read more about Good Deeds Day HERE
Thank you to the 2021 Good Deeds Day Sponsor, Kisco Senior Living!
This year, we have a variety of opportunities for volunteering depending on your comfort level! You can choose from projects you can do from the safety of your home, you can drop off items for one of our drive-thru collections or volunteer with us safely outside!
The health and safety of our community is our top priority and all projects are being held according to our covid19 the following health and safety protocols. You can read more about our COVID19 Protocols HERE
Check out this year’s volunteer opportunities below:
Can’t volunteer but want to support our volunteer program and efforts? Consider giving a donation instead!
Make sure to sign up in advance as spots fill up quickly! Sign up by 4/20 to reserve your free 2021 Good Deeds Day shirt!
Men’s Club Blood Drive:
At Beth Meyer Synagogue between 9:00am-2:00pm: Do a Mitzvah and donate blood during Good Deeds Day at Beth Meyer’s Men’s Club annual blood drive. SIGN UP HERE
Family Mitzvah Crafts:
At the David R. Kahn Campus (lower courts), 11:00am-3:00pm (Shifts): Families with preschool and school aged children are invited to create craft projects that "do good", including making Tzedakah boxes, coloring cards for Teacher Appreciation or for upcoming holidays, decorating bags for our holiday outreach and more! There will be projects to make and then donate as well as something for families to make and take home to "do good." SIGN UP HERE
Kindness Bags for the homeless with Women’s Philanthropy
At the David R Kahn Campus- 4/25 from 1-3pm (Old Pavilion; women only) and 5/2 from 11am-1pm (field across from the playground; all are welcome) : Join the Women’s Philanthropy group for 2 events to fill Kindness Bags to keep in your cars with essential items to share with those in need in the community.. Fill some, take some, do good for others! SIGN UP HERE
Plant an Herb Garden for Food Pantry Clients
At the David R. Kahn Campus (field across from the playground), 1:00-2:45pm (shifts): Join us on Campus to decorate pots and plant mini-herb gardens. These little gardens will be delivered to the JFS Food Pantry clients and will be sure to bring up some smiles this spring! SIGN UP HERE
Community Clean Up with ICNA Relief
Meet at the intersection of 55 between James St and Salem Apex, 2-4pm. Wonderful interfaith opportunity as the Jewish & Muslim communities continue to come together to Do Good! Volunteers will be doing neighborhood clean up. We will have all the supplies needed on site when you arrive, but come wearing comfy clothes that can get dirty! SIGN UP HERE
Do Good at Beth Meyer Synagogue:
Join the Beth Meyer Community for events on the Beth Meyer campus as part of JFS’ Good Deeds Day. More information HERE ; Activities for all ages and open to all- SIGN UP HERE
Girl Scout Troop 525 Makes Hygiene Kits & Cards for Mitzvah Meals
This project is for members of Girl Scout Troop 525 only. The Brownies of Girl Scout Troop 525 will be meeting on Good Deeds Day to create hygiene kits for Alliance Medical Ministry; The Daisies of Girl Scout Troop 525 will be making cards to go with our Shabbat meals and will learn about food insecurity!
Doing Good with Hillel Preschool
These projects are for Hillel Preschool families only- contact your school to participate. Hillel Preschool will be working on several projects for the community including: writing letters for residents of Brookdale Senior Living, painting kindness rocks to distribute around our neighborhoods and trash pick up in our surrounding neighborhood.
Letter Writing with Chabad Hebrew School of Raleigh
This projects is for Chabad Hebrew school students only- contact your school to participate. Chabad Hebrew School of Raleigh will be writing letters thanking the IDF soldiers that help protect Israel.
Drop off items for one of our community collections at the David R. Kahn Campus any time between 11:00am-4:00pm in front of the Guld Building, drive-thru style! Make an impact and do good for others- from your car!
Books for school age children for WAKE Up and Read:
WAKE Up and Read is a community coalition made up of 30+ committed organizations working together toward one common goal — improving childhood literacy. Bring books for school aged children to our drive-thru and we will deliver to WAKE Up and Read. check out their wish list HERE
Clothes for school age children for Note in the Pocket:
Note In The Pocket provides clothing to impoverished and homeless schoolchildren in Wake County with dignity and love. Drop off clothes during our drive-thru and we will deliver to Note In The Pocket. Check out their wish list HERE
Non-perishable food for the JFS food pantry:
The JFS Food Pantry is the only pantry in Wake County with a Kosher section. On average, we give almost 70 food bags a month and can use your help in sustaining the pantry! Drop off non-perishable food for our pantry. Check out our pantry wish list HERE
New Pillows & Can Openers for The Green Chair Project:
The Green Chair Project reuses essential furnishings donated by our community to help neighbors in need facing the challenges of homelessness, crisis or disaster. They are currently in need of new pillows and can openers. Purchase and drop off during our drive-thru on 5/2!
Clothes & Toiletries for Healing Transitions (drop-off at TBO!):
Temple Beth Or’s Sisterhood will be collecting clothes and toiletries for Healing Transitions- drop off from 1-2pm by the Temple office. Healing Transitions helps those in our community with alcoholism and other drug addictions, specifically to the homeless, uninsured and the under-served. We will be collecting women’s and men’s gently used clothing, in addition to toiletries and feminine hygiene products. The clothing donated should be without tears or stains. Gently used kitchen and household items, including sheets and towels are also welcome.
Doing Good from home? We’d love a sense of how many people will be doing at-home projects. Please help us by signing up: SIGN UP HERE
Assemble Hygiene Kits for Alliance Medical Ministry:
Collect and assemble supplies for a kit build! Alliance Medical Ministry gives these kits to their uninsured patients and they fly off the shelves! After you build the kits, drop them off at 101 Donald Ross Drive, Raleigh. No appointment needed for drop off (Monday - Thursday 9AM - 4PM and Friday 9AM - 12PM). Check out the supplies needed to build a kit HERE
Artistic Card Making with the Chagall Society:
Make colorful cards or small artful objects to go to recipients of Mitzvah Meals or to Senior living Communities. This is an on-going call for artists, crafters and hobbyists to participate in this project. Cards can be dropped off during our drive-thru on 5/2 between 11am-4pm in front of the Guld Building at the David R Kahn Campus, or at the JFS offices anytime after 5/2 Guidelines for this work:
Small artful/colorful cards, possibly landscapes, still life's, abstract or geometric designs;
Medium(s) of choice (ex. acrylic, watercolor, colored pencils, crayons, markers, collages and other mediums that won't flake or rub off)
size no larger than 5 x 7
Suggested text, if used, would be timely revolving around holidays such as: Shabbat Shalom, Shalom, L'shana tova, Chag Sameach.
In-Home Volunteer Projects/Kits:
You can "Do Good" from home! Select one or several of the projects we have planned for you- you can use your own supplies or reserve out in-home kits (for a small fee to offset our costs). If you’d like to reserve a kit (rather than use your own materials), you can SIGN UP HERE. Reserved kits can be picked up during our drive-thru on 5/2 between 11:00am-4:00pm in front of the Guld Building on the David R Kahn Campus:
Tzedakah Boxes: use upcycled items from home or pick up our kit to decorate your very own Tzedakah can. Donate your money to your favorite charity!
Cards for Teacher or for Older Adults: download a template or pick up a kit and make cards to give to your teachers to let them know how much you appreciate them or color cards that will be delivered to isolated older adults served by JFS.
Decorate Holiday Outreach Bags: Make your own of pick up our kit, and decorate bags for upcoming holidays. These will be delivered on Rosh Hashannah and Chanukah to our clients!
Kindness Bags: (no kit available) Fill bags with nutritious snacks, clean socks, disposable masks and a few small toiletries. Keep these bags in your car and hand them to people who are experiencing homelessness.