CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

This year, instead of a one-day Mitzvah Day, Har HaShem, through the Tikkun Olam Committee, has joined Census 2020 to help count populations that were undercounted in 2010, including low-income seniors, children under 5, people of color, people with mental and physical disabilities, and college students. Census data are used to guide the allocation of funds from 55 large federal spending programs including Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), Head Start, School Breakfast Program, Section 8 Housing, Pell Grants and many more. In 2016, the State of Colorado received over $13 billion dollars for these important programs and services. An undercount of our population will have a drastic, negative fiscal impact. It is estimated that every person we fail to count represents approximately $2300 in lost potential funding for these important programs. Paradoxically, the people who need the aid the most are the very people who are undercounted. Helping the count is a social justice imperative.

Please join the Tikkun Olam Committee in volunteering to help with the Census! We want to train at least thirty volunteers to help churches and other non-profits assist their members to complete the census.  The time commitment is five hours—one hour for training—and two shifts of two hours each at a nonprofit.  (Of course, you can volunteer for more hours if you wish.) The period of time over which volunteers will be needed is March 12 to May 31, 2020, although we may be asked to extend that time. Most volunteer times will be on Sundays after church services; however, some slots will be available during the daytime on weekdays. The committee will match your availability with the volunteer opportunities.

Sign up for training on one of two dates:  Sunday, February 16, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. Additional training may be scheduled depending on demand. For questions or requests, please contact Roxanne Bailin at roxanne.bailin@gmail.com .

Thank you!