SHAARE TORAH MITZVAH DAY 2026!
Sunday, March 22, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
As we celebrate 30 years rooted in community, this year’s Mitzvah Day theme, “Rooted Here for 30 Years: Jewish Values in Action,” reminds us that even small acts of kindness can make a big impact. Mitzvah Day is designed for all ages and offers a variety of hands-on projects both on-site and out in the community.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER
Collections:
Starting on Monday, March 16th, bins will be in the lobby for you to drop off NEW items for various collections. Please note: For your convenience, we have also created Amazon Wish Lists below for each collection to make donating easy and accessible. The wish list items will be sent directly to Shaare Torah.
MoCo Tree House Emergency Therapy Toolkits: MoCo Tree House provides free, trauma-informed therapy to children and families in crisis.
NEW Items Needed: Small bubbles, journals, paint kits, kinetic sand, small playdough containers, stress balls, and kaleidoscopes. Click here for Amazon Wish List
Hygiene Kit Collection Drive: Help us assemble essential care kits for individuals and families experiencing hardship.
NEW Items Needed: Individually wrapped toothbrushes, travel-size toiletries, deodorant, combs/brushes, hand sanitizer, tissues, washcloths, lip balm, Band-Aids, hair ties, small comfort items, reusable zip bags, and menstrual products. Click here for Amazon Wish List
Birthday-in-a-Box Collection: Help create birthday celebration kits for local children in need.
NEW Items Needed: Boxed cake mix, candles, decorations, small gifts, and gift bags. Click here for Amazon Wish List
VOLUNTEERING OPTIONS FOR MITZVAH DAY 2026:
All participants will meet at Shaare Torah at 9:00 AM for a brief Opening Ceremony, coffee and cocoa to go, as we gather to fulfill the mitzvah of service together.
- Montgomery County Park Clean Up
- Description: Large Park clean-up projects can restore important benefits from nature and restructure how a community imagines its open spaces.
- Activity: Picking up litter, cleaning off signs, clearing out playgrounds, etc.
- Age: All Ages Welcome
- Social Action Committee Sandwich Making Station:
- Description: Shaare Torah’s Social Action Committee engages the congregation in acts of Tikkum Olam (repairing the world) in order to address economic and social needs in our local community, Israel, and the world at large.
- Activity: Making sun butter and jelly sandwiches for a local Men’s shelter and the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless
- Age: Ages 4+
- Manna Food Collection:
- Description: Teen volunteers will collect and sort donated food items at the Manna station to help support local families experiencing food insecurity.
- Activity: Teens will volunteer at the Kentlands Giant, collecting donations from shoppers to support neighbors facing hunger in our community.
- Age: Teenagers 14+
- Frozen Meal Making:
- Description: Support individuals and families facing food insecurity by helping provide ready-to-heat meals
- Activity: Prepare and package nutritious frozen meals for local community partners
- Age: Ages 4+
- Family Art Stations:
- Description: Families will rotate through creative, hands-on stations
- Activity: Decorate rocks and lunch bags, write thank-you notes for IDF soldiers and Walter Reed patients, create cards for sick children, and make birthday cards
- Age: All Ages Welcome
- Assembling Care Kits
- Description: Work together in assembly lines to create meaningful care packages that support children and families in need throughout our community.
- Activity: Sort, pack, and assemble Emergency Therapy Toolkits for MoCo Tree House, Hygiene Kits, and Birthday-in-a-Box packages
- Age: Ages 4+
Important Reminders for Mitzvah Day 2026:
- Limited Spots: Please register early as space is limited.
- Supervision: Children and teens must be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times (except Madrichim).
- Age Requirements: Some activities have specific age guidelines.
- No Religious School: This event replaces religious school classes for the day and is an integral part of our hands-on curriculum.
- SSL Hours: Students 6th grade and older can earn SSL hours—contact Leah Miller for assistance with your SSL form.
Please sign up by March 13th!
Questions? Contact Leah Miller.
