Center for Values and Community Service:
SWFS Programs

Stephen Wise Free Synagogue has a long history of reaching out to those in need. Below are just some of the many ways you can help make a difference in the community with SWFS. For more information or to volunteer for any of these programs, please contact Heather Stoltz, Community Service Coordinator, at 212-877-4050 x244 or CommunityService@swfs.org.

Emergency Food Program Phyllis Lefkowitz, Program Coordinator and Founder
Every Saturday morning, SWFS volunteers prepare hot chocolate, and add fresh fruit and whole grain bread to our prepared non-perishable food packages and give them to anyone in need. Our guests represent a wide range of ethnic, racial, age, and gender categories. Volunteer Roles: Help to prepare and distribute food packages to guests in need.
Help is especially needed in the summer months.
Times Available: Saturday mornings 8:00-9:15am
Time Commitment: As often as you would like.
Location: SWFS lobby
Click here for more information.

Next Step! Men’s Shelter Pam Tate, Head Coordinator
The SWFS Homeless Shelter works in conjunction with the Partnership for the Homeless Services and the Department of Homeless Services to provide shelter for ten men, five nights a week, nine months of the year. Our goal is to provide a warm, caring, and safe environment for these men who are in a transitional period in their lives; providing not only a place to sleep, but also support and encouragement.
Volunteer Roles: Help to set up and cook for the men; sleep at the shelter; or provide training in resume writing or computer skills.
Times Available: Sunday through Thursday evenings. Set up and cooking 6-8pm; Sleepover volunteers 8pm-6:30am; Other programs vary.
Location: SWFS Berns Lounge
Click here for more information.

Kateri Residence
Kateri Residence provides short-term rehabilitation, subacute and long-term care. SWFS programs at the Kateri Residence are in partnership with UJA/Federation.
Volunteer Roles: Join other SWFS members as we visit the Jewish residents at the Kateri with various programs for Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
Times Available: Once a month on Saturday afternoons (other times may be available if desired).
Time Commitment: Come one time or many!
Location: 87th and Riverside
The next visit will be Saturday, July 26 at 1:30pm

Musical Mitzvah
SWFS members perform for residents in local nursing homes, people in hospitals, and others who could use extra song in their day.
Volunteer Roles: Use your musical talents to bring a smile to someone’s face.
Times, Commitment, and Location: Varies. A rehearsal may or may not be required.

SWFS Caring Community Rhonda Steeg, Chair
The SWFS Caring Community provides assistance to members in times of need and celebrates with them in times of joy.
Volunteer Roles: Friendly phone calls or visits; assistance driving members to and from synagogue or appointments; attend or lead shiva minyan; assemble or deliver holiday packages. We also urge you to contact us if you need any assistance.
Times, Commitment, and Location: Varies.
Click here for more information.

Knit or Crochet for Children
Help bring warmth and comfort to children. Knit or crochet stuffed animals for children at St. Luke's Hospital or blanket squares for adolescents living in a residential treatment center in Westchester.
Times and Location: Can be done anywhere at any time, but a group meets in the SWFS library Wednesdays 9:30-11:00am through June 11.

SWFS Young Adventurers Penny Hyman Schwartz, Program Coordinator
SWFS provides programs to enrich the lives of challenged adults.
Volunteer Roles: Make a difference in the lives of these friends of the synagogue by spending time with them at a program or service.
Times and Location: Varies.

Blood Drive
Once a year, SWFS hosts a blood drive to help save lives. Last year, we collected 82 pints of blood!
Click here for more information.

High Holiday Food Drive
Every Yom Kippur, SWFS holds a food drive. Over the past decade, nearly 30 tons of food has been collected by Stephen Wise Free Synagogue through this program and was distributed to the hungry in our community.
Click here for more information.

Mitzvah Day
Every spring, SWFS dedicates one day to raising awareness for Social Service projects by engaging the community in hands on projects. Projects have included: knitting squares for baby blankets, a sanctuary and synagogue shine-up, collecting books and making bookmarks for the Reach Out & Read program, creating decoupage glass trays and painting flowerpots for the Jewish Home & Hospital, creating welcome cards and wrapping Shabbat candles for our new temple members, decorating tzedakah boxes, packaging food for the Emergency Food Program, nearby park clean-up, and social action projects, such as learning and advocacy programs for the Save Darfur effort.
Click here for more information.

For more information or to volunteer for any of these programs, please contact Heather Stoltz, Community Service Coordinator, at 212-877-4050 x244 or CommunityService@swfs.org.

Also check out these other ways to help:

Also check out our Mitzvah of the Month and see how SWFS Members are giving back to the community in our 100 Minutes in Action Article.