Good Deeds Day is Sunday, May 1st 2022!
In a nutshell…
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. JFS plans and coordinates projects for the entire community to take part in.
At this year’s event choose from volunteer projects on the David R. Kahn Community Campus or projects around Wake County. Scroll down to read and sign up for this year’s projects:
Join us for an exciting afternoon of “doing good” for the community. Choose from self-paced stations (2:30-4:30) or from timed projects throughout the day, all located on the David R Kahn Community Campus, 12804 Norwood Road, Raleigh.. Scroll down to learn more and volunteer.
Let’s Do Good On Campus, at your pace (2:30-4:30pm):
At our family-friendly, self-paced projects on campus, you will have the opportunity to visit “stations” where we will learn about community needs and do hands-on helping projects. All projects on the Lower Courts will be child-friendly. These volunteer stations will run from 2:30 – 4:30 on the Lower Courts at the David R. Kahn Community Campus, 12804 Norwood Road, Raleigh, NC. and you may visit as many stations as you wish.
JAM Ice Cream will be at this event to keep you cool! A percentage of the sales proceeds will be donated to Jewish Family Services
Support childhood literacy with WAKE Up and Read –
Learn how WAKE Up and Read is working to improve childhood literacy. Children and their families will design or color bookmarks that will go out with WAKE Up and Read’s community book distributions. Please consider bringing new or gently used children’s books (babies-5th grade) to donate.
Clothe children with dignity with Note in the Pocket –
Learn how Note in the Pocket is working to end the stigma of needing help and providing quality clothing to children in the school system. Donations of new and gently used clothing will be accepted. Please check out their wish list. Kids will help sort clothing and decorate notes to thank NIP volunteers.
Help neighbors in need facing the challenges of homelessness, crisis and disaster with the Green Chair Project.
Create “Healthy Home Bundles” for families moving into a new home. Please bring the following items to help: toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, pack of sponges, cleaning spray or wipes, small laundry baskets, trash can or bucket. The Green Chair Project is also accepting new pillows (in packaging) and can openers. We will also write notes to new residents and children receiving their own bedding.
Support mental health, help alleviate food insecurity and help isolated older adults celebrate Shabbat and holidays with Raleigh-Cary Jewish Family Services.
Learn about the role that Jewish Family Services and JFS volunteer services play in helping the community. Make “kindness rocks” and Shabbat crafts for our Shabbat visiting program. Please consider donating food to the JFS Food Pantry. Click here for a wish list.
Advocate for the Jewish community with Jewish Federation/Jewish Community Relations Council –
Visit this station to participate in a postcard writing campaign. Contact your elected officials to advocate for your community.
Teach young children to put Jewish values into action with PJ Library –
Join us at the PJ Library Station for stories and projects that teach about the values of social action.
Let’s Do Good On Campus, All Day:
The projects below have separate sign ups and are held at a different time than our self-paced projects:
10:00am-12:00pm- Help keep the Campus beautiful:
Volunteers 12+ may join us at 10:00 a.m. at the Campus pond. We will help maintain the pond dam and surrounding trail, primarily removing saplings and small trees. Please bring work gloves. Sign up to volunteer HERE
10:00am-12:00pm- Help support families in crisis with Women’s Philanthropy:
Women are invited to volunteer for this project. Women’s Philanthropy will make care packages for families experiencing adversity. Sign up to volunteer HERE
3:00-5:00pm- Support affordable housing with Habitat for Humanity (2 shifts 3:00, 4:00):
Habitat Wake Baffle Project- Baffles are installed in the interior of homes between the roof line/eaves overhang and outside wall soffit. Children will paint positive messages or pictures on the baffles. This project gives younger children the opportunity to help make a difference in their community and is a great way to connect the little ones to our affordable housing mission -- and they get to have fun and be creative all while helping a family in need! Sign up to volunteer HERE
Let’s Do Good Around Wake County
Here are some of the volunteer projects that are taking place across the community. Projects that are open to the community have a sign-up linked in the description. Check back here regularly as we will be adding more projects as Good Deeds Day approaches.
Support affordable housing by participating in the Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Build – 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 1134 Kissena Lane, Apex .
Volunteers age 16 and older may volunteer to help build a new home with Habitat Wake. You must sign-up using the link below and complete all waivers before volunteering. A list of FAQ’s may be found using the sign-up link. Click HERE to sign up and choose the May 1st Day. Chabad Young Professionals and Beth Shalom members will also be participating in this project. Open to all faiths!
Alleviate the blood shortage by participating in one of three Blood Drives:
Blood Connection Blood Drive at Beth Meyer Synagogue (social hall)- 504 Newton Road, Raleigh. Appointments are available between 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Schedule your blood donation HERE
Red Cross Blood Drive at Beth Shalom, 5713 Yates Mill Pond Rd, Raleigh. Appointments are available between 1-4pm. Schedule your blood donation HERE
Red Cross Blood Drive at Chabad of Cary, 4104 Grace Park Drive. Morrisville. Appointments available between 10am-2pm. Schedule your appointment HERE and enter sponsor code “Chabad of Cary”.
Help those experiencing food insecurity by donating non-perishable food to the Temple Beth Or Religious School food drive for the Interfaith Food Shuttle.
Food collection for the Interfaith Food Shuttle boxes will be set out the week before Good Deeds Day. Religious school students will be organizing the efforts.
Additional projects at area synagogues:
More information about other projects at participating congregations will be posted here and on congregational calendars soon! Participating synagogues:
Beth Meyer Synagogue: click here for more information
Beth Shalom: See blood drive and Habitat Build above.
Chabad of Cary: See blood drive above.
Chabad Young Professionals: See Habitat Build above.
Congregation Sha’arei Israel Chabad Center of Raleigh: more information coming soon.
Temple Beth Or: See Interfaith Food Shuttle project above.
