Combining coffeecake, a kitchen and a dozen incredible women (as well as a four-year-old helper), our Sisterhood recently began making lunches for homeless women in Santa Monica. This monthly mitzvah helps us give back to our community while we connect with one another.

University Synagogue Sisterhood (Los Angeles, CA) has launched S.O.S., which makes and packs 150 lunches (sandwiches and other goodies), and then delivers them to Ocean Park Community Center's Daybreak Shelter in Santa Monica. Students in our nursery school help by decorating the lunch bags to be used and several women write cheerful notes and greetings to be included
with the food.

Daybreak Shelter provides basic survival services to more than 500 homeless women, including food, shelter, clothing, showers, case management and health care. They also obtain employment and permanent housing for women. The beginning effort has been declared a success both by the women of the shelter and by the women of University Synagogue’s Sisterhood. One woman said it meant a lot to her to be able to spend time with her sisters while helping those in need. Another described it as “a great way to exercise my soul.”

Sylvia Rose    University Synagogue Sisterhood