As part of Temple Israel of Hollywood Nursery School’s commitment to Tikkun Olam and community involvement, we have partnered with a wonderful place called Aliso Pico for the past five years. Aliso Pico is a low income child care center in Boyle Heights that serves children ages 18 months – 5 years old.
Our Nursery School community has provided a variety of services and assistance to Aliso Pico over the years. We have restocked their art supplies, provided presents for all the children at Christmas, and organized parties for the children and their families including puppet shows. In partnership with Big Sunday, we have also re-landscaped the facility and put in a bike path on the playground so the children can ride their bicycles on a flat, safe surface.
We have also tried to be their angels, responding to needs as they arise. We once received a call about a family whose nephew had just arrived at Aliso Pico from Mexico with nothing but the clothes on his back. Our community mobilized quickly to provide a full wardrobe for this four year old little boy. Each summer, we provide transportation for their students to come to TIOH for an Interactive Concert with our students and the Gwendolyn and the Gang music group.
This has been a wonderful partnership for both Aliso Pico and our TIOH Nursery School families. It has shown even our youngest community members how meaningful and important it is to help others through concrete, hands-on experiences. You certainly do get back just as much as you give!
Chaverim Tovim (Good Friends): A new social action program for the TIOH nursery school community
Two years ago our family coordinated a Big Sunday event at the Beverly Carmel Jewish retirement village. While my husband Danny and I were fairly confident that the visit would be appropriate for our children, we were also a bit nervous about undertaking the visit. Would Teva (3 at a time) be scared of the residents and their walkers? Would Jesse (just born) cry and disturb everyone? Other parents expressed similar concerns as they signed up to join us. Within approximately three minutes of our arrival our anxieties were assuaged as the residents lit up when they saw the children- and kids skipped around delivering cookies and bookmarks they had made in class. We schmoozed, noshed, sang songs and truly had a wonderful time. Since then we have been back with TIOH and Big Sunday families several times.
On behalf of Sherry and the social action committee, I am excited to announce that as part of our social action activities for the year we are instituting Chaverim Tovim, series of "mitzvah visits" with the residents of Beverly Carmel. We are guessing that our community will gain just as much from our interactions as our older " good friends" will.
How it will work: Each month, a different class (or two) will "host" our visit but participation each month is open to all interested families. Hosting will be coordinated through the room parents and entails preparing baked goods to share. In addition, teachers are going to help children practice songs to perform during our visit. Visits will be very casual, appropriate for siblings and entirely optional.
Check back soon for dates!
Please contact Zoe Corwin (zoedan@mindspring.com or 323-469-5661) with questions. Thank you for your support of this mitzvah!
Weekly Mommy/Daddy & Me Classes for 12-30 mos 