December Tikkun Olam Opportunities

You can still make a difference in the lives of others in our city. Temple Emanu-El works with a number of organizations that are still accepting donations through December and beyond.

New: Urban Outreach Center Coat Drive

Please help to keep those warm who do not have a coat this winter season. The Urban Outreach Center on the Upper East Side is requesting donations for our most vulnerable populations. Please consider purchasing a coat during this winter season. The Urban Outreach Center was founded in 1990 as the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program.

In 2014, we became the Urban Outreach Center, recognizing that the breadth of vulnerability extends beyond homelessness alone, when, between 2014 and 2018, 50% of New Yorkers experienced poverty.

Since opening our doors to provide social services to the most vulnerable populations of New York City, we now directly serve nearly 50,000 people each year and reach countless more, representing the full demographic and cultural diversity of guests from all five boroughs and New Jersey.

Suggestions from Amazon:

All coats must be sent directly to:
The Urban Outreach Center of NYC
1745 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10128

No items may be sent to the temple.


Children’s Village Winter Wishes Toy Drive

Temple Emanu-El traditionally hosts a Christmas Party for over 225 Foster Families in December from the Children’s Village where each child receives a gift from our congregants through our Winter Wishes Toy purchase. The Children’s Village believes that children of all ages do best when they are with family. When a child is put into foster care, Children’s Village works to get him or her home as quickly as possible. In the meantime, Chidren’s Village also works with almost 400 loving, supportive foster parents who provide temporary care.

If you would like to brighten the day of a child in foster care, please consider providing a gift from one of these registries: Amazon Wish List or Walmart Registry for Good.

No items may be sent to the temple.


Helping Those Who are Struggling with Poverty and Homelessness

Get answers to your questions about how to help unsheltered New Yorkers:
What happens when I call 311 to report an unsheltered New Yorker in need of assistance?
What services does DHS provide to unsheltered individuals?
What happens if someone declines help from the outreach team?
Should I give money to panhandlers?
… and more!

Learn more here!

Foster Pride Toys for Joy

Temple Emanu-El has a long history working with Foster Pride, an institution that assists over 12,000 children and teens in foster care reach their potential through mentorship and the arts. This holiday season, there are two ways you can bring joy to children who are unable to be with their families.

Just go to our Amazon Holiday Gift List, and you’ll find a list of toys. Click on the one or ones you’d like to donate, and they will be sent directly to The Children’s Center, a shelter where toddlers, children, and teens are taken after they’re first separated from their parents. During checkout, The Children’s Center will pop up as one of your delivery choices; please remember to choose it. Please send gifts unwrapped.

Or you can assist teenage girls who live in group homes who would like gift cards for the holidays. Please go to Foster Pride Donate to make a tax-deductible donation, and we’ll do the rest.

Or, if you’d rather send gift cards (Amazon, H+M, Sephora are favorites), you can mail them to:
Foster Pride
C/O Lynn Schnurnberger
250 West 94th Street, 6F
New York, NY 10025.

No items may be sent to the temple.


The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Holiday Gift and Toy Drive

Through donations to the Holidays From the Heart campaign, CHAM seeks to create hope for families by providing every child and their families with developmentally appropriate gifts during the holiday season. Your holiday gift makes a world of difference to the children and families served year-round.

If you donate, your tax-deductible gift will immediately be put to work to purchase toys and holiday gifts for CHAM’s patients and their families. It will also enable them to create fun, socially distant events for our pediatric patients so that the joy of the holiday season can be felt within the confines of the hospital.

For more information or to make a donation, visit this page. If you’d rather donate a toy, follow this link to see what is needed from the wishlist registry.

No items may be sent to the temple.