PORT (People Offering Resources Together)

PORT will operate its winter shelters in Newport News again this year, and Rodef Sholom is again participating by providing dinner the evening of December 25th and a carry-out “breakfast in a bag” for the morning of December 26th.

Our work will take place at the New Beech Grove Baptist Church, at 361 Beechmont Drive, Newport News, right next to the Wawa in the Denbigh area.

The need for volunteers is higher than ever due to the growing number of unhoused members of our community. We need volunteers to help with shopping, assembling breakfast bags, as well as on-site help with sign-in of guests, serving dinner, and cleanup.

If you are not able to volunteer, please consider making a donation to the RST Social Action Fund to help cover the cost of food. Any way in which you can help, either by volunteering or with a small donation, will truly help make this year’s work a success.

Please use the following link to sign up for the areas for which you would like to volunteer.  The sign-up form will show how many people we need for each volunteer slot.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4AAFA829A0F4CF8-53136169-rodef

A Zoom meeting with those who have signed up to volunteer will be scheduled for the beginning of December to review the timeline of when food for the breakfast bags needs to be purchased and then assembled, and the procedures for signing in guests, serving dinner, and clean-up after dinner is served at the church.

SPECIAL NOTE: Our night to serve dinner at the winter shelter this year, on December 25th, also happens to be the first night of Hanukkah, including the UJC community lighting of the menorah at City Center. The RST PORT volunteers this year will instead join us in practicing Gemilut Hasadim during Hanukkah, as we give food and pass out clothing to individuals and families in need.

Thank you for supporting this much-needed work.

Allen Fraley & Ann Chapman, PORT Co-Chairs