T.O.R.C.H. provides the Temple Chayai Shalom community with activities that give back to the extended community. They help organize the annual Mitzvah Day where temple members have the choice to participate in events such as visiting our friends at the Arbors Assisted Living in Stoughton, assisting with clean up activities at a local baseball field used by handicapped campers, or inside activities such a making goody bags for Birthday Wishes (an organization that provides birthday parties for children who otherwise would not have a birthday party). Other activities included putting activity books together for Boston Children’s Hospital and selling lemonade to collect money for Children’s Hospital.

On the last Tuesday of the month, congregants spend hours helping unpack and pack food donations at My Brother’s Keeper, a local organization that provides food, furniture and clothing to families in our area in need of assistance. T.O.R.C.H. is an umbrella organization for other good works performed by various TCS organizations and committees such as Sisterhood, Brotherhood, Youth and Grandparents’ Community. One special food drive is organized each year by TeCSY, our senior youth group, at the High Holy Days and food is collected and distributed to the Easton Food Pantry. 

Click here  for a “Resource Packet for Ending Poverty” to learn how you can help…

Family Table, an agency of Jewish Family and Children Services (JFCS) is located in Waltham, MA. The largest kosher food pantry in New England, they provide healthy food on a monthly and emergency basis to individuals and families in need. They presently service 800 individuals in the greater Boston area each month. Family Table relies on the tireless efforts of thousands of dedicated volunteers. Each month 65 area synagogues collect, sort, pack and deliver groceries for recipients.

One Sunday a year, TCS provides up to eight drivers to distribute groceries to recipients. The Temple Chayai Shalom community is committed to collecting 30 cans of tuna and 30 cans of vegetarian beans each month. We also make special collections for holidays such as Passover. At Chanukah, the community donates gift cards to be distributed to parents of low income clients so they may choose their child’s Chanukah gifts.

Temple Chayai Shalom partners with the Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy (GBJCL) in providing tutors for the Arnone School in Brockton. Over the last three years there have been six TCS tutors who volunteered an hour a week to help a student in 1st through 5th grade with reading. The class work is provided by the teacher and tutors work with two students each for a half an hour a week. It is a wonderful experience working both in the school and with these children who are so appreciative of our volunteer time. The time is selected at the request of the tutor in coordination with the school schedule.
Link to GBJCL