Mitzvah Project Ideas

Description of Organization:
Shalva, which means peace of mind, was founded in 1990 and today provides services to over 400 special needs children each month, infancy to young adulthood, and their families, who represent all sectors of Israeli society.

Shalva's enables special needs children to thrive and develop at home rather than being institutionalized and helps their parents cope with the challenges of raising such a child at home, enabling them to maintain a normal family, social and professional life. Shalva's multitherapies help each child develop independent living skills and reach his or her maximum potential, both personally and socially.

Shalva's award-winning therapeutic programs include recreational activities for special needs children and young adults, such as trips, summer day camp and sleep away camp, holiday celebrations, birthday parties, and bar/bat mitzvot.

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:
Shalva's Bar/Bat Mitzvah program is designed not only to make the Bar/Bat Mitzvah a more meaningful experience, but it also enables the child to begin fulfilling their newly acquired obligation to give tzedaka and to know they are helping children with special needs in the process.

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah student adopts Shalva as a tzedaka project. By doing so, they commit to give a certain percentage of the gifts they receive to Shalva or to organize a chesed project, such as a fund-raising project or collecting and delivering items for Shalva's children, such as baby clothes, art supplies, etc. Many families choose to arrange a visit to Shalva in which the family or an extended group of family and friends come to Shalva to allow the bar/bat mitzvah child to present the children at Shalva with their gift personally. Visitors can also arrange in advance to participate in an activity with Shalva's children, such as sports, cooking or arts and crafts.

All Bar/Bat Mitzvah participants receive a beautiful certificate, which can be displayed at their celebration, acknowledging their participation in the program. Shalva also provides beautiful table tent cards, letting guests know that the Bar/Bat Mitzvah student has chosen Shalva as a tzedaka project.

Shalva has established a beautiful dedication wall especially for families and children who wish to share their simcha with the Shalva children through a donation of $1800 or more. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah student receives a dedication plaque on Shalva's magnificent "Children Helping Children Bar/Bat Mitzvah Torah Scroll of Honor" located in the main entrance of the Shalva Center in Jerusalem.

In a few special instances, families have chosen to make a significant gift to Shalva and host their children's bar/bat mitzvah celebration at Shalva, providing a beautiful and very meaningful experience. The funds from these events enable Shalva to provide bar/bat mitzvah celebrations for challenged children whose families would otherwise not be able to do so.

Description of Organization:
Our mission is simple: To provide gently worn shoes to those in greatest need around the world. Each shoe we collect is processed & sanitized before they are shipped to where they are best needed.We think it is important to educate & involve our children who have so much to be involved & realize what is happening in other parts of the world That is where our slogan originates..Children Caring Children Sharing

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:
Organize a shoe drive (guidelines are on our website)
Come to the Warehouse and help sort, polish. sanitize and pack shoes to be shipped.

Description of Organization:

Sharsheret, Hebrew for "chain," is a national not-for-profit organization of cancer survivors dedicated to addressing the unique concerns of young Jewish women facing breast cancer. Sharsheret has developed three core programs in response to the needs of young Jewish women facing breast cancer: The Link Program, a peer support network connecting young women newly diagnosed or at high risk of developing breast cancer with others who share similar diagnoses and experiences; Education and Outreach Programs, including health care symposia addressing the concerns of young women facing breast cancer; and Quality of Life Programs, including the Busy Box for young parents facing breast cancer, Best Face Forward to address the cosmetic side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Empower, for single women facing breast cancer, Genetics for Life to focus on concerns and issues relating to hereditary breast cancer, and Embrace, for women living with advanced breast cancer.

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:

Description of Organization:
Shoes That Fit is a non-profit children's charity. Our mission is to build the self-esteem of children in need by providing them with new shoes for school. We do this by matching sponsors such as Temples, Churches, businesses or adolescents looking for volunteer opportunities with schools that have children in need.

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:
Children or sponsoring groups have organized shoe drives in conjunction with a school in need. The school staff identifies and measures a specific number of children in need based on the number of children the child or sponsor wants to help. Donations of new shoes for our Emergency Warehouse and of course, monetary donations are always welcome. Volunteers are encouraged to contact the office of Shoes That Fit for guidance.

Description of Organization:
As the only full-service Jewish Community Center on Long Island's North Shore, the Sid Jacobson JCC provides a full range of recreational, health, fitness, educational, cultural, arts, and social services programs. Through their doors come tots and teens, the vigorous and the infirm, singles and families, young professionals and mature retirees, Jews and non-Jews, the spiritually committed, and those still searching. The Sid Jacobson JCC is a place to find a friend, to nurture children, to join together in providing a better community for the benefit of all.

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:
The JCC has opportunitites for youth ages 11-13 working with a variety of different populations, including: young children, adults, and seniors. Volunteers can also work in their sports department, theatre department, or with their support staff. The JCC can help provide a unique volunteering experience based on an individual's interest and abilities too!

Description of Organization:
Rescue and Adoption Agency, located in Briarcliff Manor since 1883. Our mission is to find homes for every dog and cat in our care, which number about 200 at any given time. We receive no federal, state, or local funding and rely entirely on the generosity of individuals, foundations, and companies for our support. Our volunteer program is geared to making the lives of our homeless animals as good as it possibly can be while they are with us at our shelter, at the same time we are looking for loving "forever" homes.

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:

Description of Organization:

St. Joseph's Baby Corner provides for the immediate needs of babies and young children in poverty. The only information they have on the child is age, sex and weight. They are often asked for diapers, car seats, clothing, equipment and toys. They also help provide for the burial of babies under two years of age in families that cannot afford to bury the child that has died. They know nothing of the religious background unless it is relevant to what is needed for the baby. They also make "Flee Bags" for women fleeing domestic violence. The bags contain what these women needs for the first 48 hours -- tooth brush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, etc. The bags need not be brand new, but they must be sizeable tote bags. Often the effort to leave is torpedoed because she leaves with a big plastic bag with what she can carry. The tote bag makes her invisible to the people at the train depot or bus terminal. It keeps her safe until she can leave town quickly.

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:

Collection of baby items: soap, ointment, diapers, bottles and bottle brushes, as well as items for "Flee Bags".

Description of Organization:
We offer the worldwide Jewish community the opportunity to show Hakarat HaTov (appreciation) to Israeli Soldiers for defending our people and our land. We do this with a hospitality trailer carrying drinks, food and cold treats to soldiers all over Israel.

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:
We can tailor special projects and programs depending on the unique situation. If the child is coming to Israel , they are invited to go out with us to the soldiers and distribute food and drinks. We can do barbeques at army bases, pizza parties or other special events here in Israel. For families not visiting Israel, children can participate in many different activities such as letter writing, fundraising for specific events or foods and many more.

Description of Organization:
Students Against Terrorism is a student-run organization based in Dallas, Texas which raises money for victims of terror in Israel through a number of programs. Their main fundraiser is the community wide 3-on-3 Points for Peace Basketball Tournament, now in its fourth year. They also created the Standstrong 4 Israel wristbands. They have sold over 30,000 bracelets across the world. Overall, in four years, Students Against Terrorism has raised $140,000 for victims of terrorism. They have used that money to purchase an ambulance for Magen David Adom, currently in use in Israel. Last year, they paid for sixty kids to attend "Camp Koby," a summer camp for relatives of terrorist victims. S.A.T. has united the Dallas Jewish community - and other communities - behind victims of terror and stood with them in their time of need.

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:
Students Against Terrorism is open to new and original Bnai Mitzvah projects. Currently, they have a number of programs that are perfect for Bnai Mitzvah projects. Their Standstrong 4 Israel bracelets are a wonderful opportunity to raise money for Students Against Terrorism, and Israel. S.A.T. will ship bracelets, free of charge, to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah student. A goal is to set a maximum amount to be sold. All proceeds from the wristband sales are sent to S.A.T.'s sponsored organization. The bracelets are a fun, fashionable way to show support for Israel. They are an easy sell for many people, and make for a very successful, easy, and important Bnai Mitzvah project. Other than the bracelets, Students Against Terrorism is currently seeking to expand to other cities. Any Bar or Bat Mitzvah student interested in spreading awareness about the situation in Israel and work on behalf of victims of terror should certainly be in touch.

Description of Organization:
Summit today cares for 960 children, youth and young adults in two programs: 1. A foster care program for abused and neglected children and youth (aged 0-18) in the Jerusalem and southern regions of Israel. 2. A rehabilitation program in Jerusalem caring for 230 adolescents and young adults (aged 18-35) from throughout Israel with a history of psychiatric illness.

In addition to the day to day coordination of the foster placement, Summit organizes holiday parties, bi weekly group therapy sessions and funding for classes in music, sport and computers skills for the benefit of children in foster care. We attempt to give all those in our foster program the love and support most people have the privilege to receive from their families. Please contact our US representative, Aynat Libman, to discuss the many opportunities available to assist Summit's foster children.

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:
Summit offers the opportunity for B'nai Mitzvah to connect with an Israeli child their age and create a life long bond in many ways:
1. B'nai Mitzvah can “adopt” a foster child. We welcome a pen pal type relationship. Summit can match you with a child with similar interests, whether sports, music, computers, etc. B'nai Mitzvah will gain a deeper understanding of life in Israel for children their age. At the same time, the Bnai Mitzvah can sponsor classes for their pen pal in music, art, sports.
2. Should the teenager come to Israel they can sponsor and participate in a celebration for a child that otherwise, does not have the resources for a celebration.
3. B'nai Mitzvah can choose to donate some of the gifts they receive. Or B'nai Mitzvah can dedicate financial gifts received at their celebration to Summit's foster care program.

Description of Organization:
Sunday Friends is a secular non-profit organization located in San Jose that serves homeless and very-low-income families. Our goal is to bring about change in the lives of families that lack the financial resources and community support it takes to get back on their feet. Sunday Friends empowers families in need to break the cycle of poverty by providing a safe place where children and their parents are provided opportunities to earn the things they need to promote self-reliance and a healthy, productive lifestyle. Through everyday activities, such as preparing healthy meals, writing letters to donors and making gifts for nursing home residents and hospitalized children, they give back to their community as they develop self-sufficiency. All of our activities foster the growth of developmental assets in children. We include their parents so that the practice of positive life skills will continue throughout the week. We call our unique approach “The Working Alternative to Charity”.

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:
Sunday Friends offers a personal and meaningful, yet safe and wholesome volunteering opportunity. We provide detailed instructions and orientations so that all volunteers have a positive experience that allows them to expand their pictures of themselves, of people with different life circumstances and of their potential roles in the world.
1) Organize a drive to collect things Sunday Friends needs including school supplies, new toys, basic necessities such as diapers, soap, toothpaste, laundry detergent and other consumables. We can offer you lots of support to help you with this effort.
2) Have a party or movie night and ask every guest to bring one or more items to donate to Sunday Friends. Be sure to look at http://www.sundayfriends.org/party.html to review some fun ideas.
3) With adult supervision, 11 to 13 year olds can volunteer at Sunday Programs where they will assist with constructive projects, including cooking, art, writing, reading and educational games. This is an opportunity to serve as a positive role model for young children while helping them to practice work ethics, manners and academics. The setting is healthy, warm and supportive

Description of Organization:

We raise money for backpacks and supplies through fundraising and asking for donations. 

Bnai Mitzvah Projects or Volunteer Opportunities offered by the organization for children ages 11 - 13:

* Fundraising

* School supply drives 

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