Temple Solel's Social Action Committee undertakes numerous projects throughout the year to help those in need. Many of these projects are locally oriented, but the committee also has done work with a national and international focus. The latter area includes projects such as the anti-malaria Nothing But Nets program for African children (under the aegis of the Union for Reform Judaism), Maryland legislative briefing panels on bills in the state legislature of interest to the Jewish community, and and an action day on the situation in Darfur.

The Social Action Committee has two projects that have been ongoing for several years: to be of steady assistance to the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry and Emergency Aid Fund, and to help provide needed supplies and other donations requested by Fisher House at Andrews Air Force Base.

The food pantry provides food -- and emergency financial aid, under certain circumstances -- to low-income persons in Bowie and throughout Prince George's County. Fisher House provides a place to stay at Andrews for families of wounded service men and women who are undergoing treatment in the base hospital. Every few months, Fisher House gives the temple lists of supplies that are not provided on base, but are needed to help the recovery of the wounded servicemen and servicewomen. The Social Action Committee sends out e-mails to congregants updating the needs of the Bowie Food Pantry and Fisher House, as well as updates in the Temple Topics newsletter.

The chair of the Social Action Committee is Jackie Newstadt. Please feel free to contact her with questions, suggestions, concerns, etc.

The committee always welcomes new members. We meet on a Sunday each month at 9:30 AM at Panera Bread in Bowie Town Center.  The 2010-2011 meetings will be held: Aug 29, Sep 26, Oct 24, Nov 21, Dec 19, Jan 9, Feb 27, Mar 13, Apr 3 and May 15. If you are interested in social action, just come to the meeting!

Below are the most current needs for the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry and for Fisher House

• Canned soups other than chicken soup
• Spaghetti sauce/pasta sauce in 28 ounce to 32 ounce jars
• Canned vegetables, including canned potatoes. Canned carrots and yams are especially healthful choices.
• Canned fruits of all kinds
• Peanut butter
• Jelly and jam
• Canned meats such as chicken, beef stew, chili, ham
• Canned fish such as tuna and salmon
• Rice mixes such as Rice-a-Roni
• Desserts (this category can include cake and cookie mixes, packages of Jell-o and Jell-o pudding, and other such items that often can be picked up on sale and have a long shelf life)

• Liquid clothes detergent marked HE (high-efficiency) on the packaging, to be used in front loader washing machines
• Individual packages/cups of chocolate pudding
• Individual packages/cups of Jell-O (other gelatin brands are okay)
• Rolls of paper towels

The temple sanctuary was filled to capacity Saturday night, January 10, for a benefit concert featuring local jazz and pop vocalist Ruth Capobianco, accompanied by her talented musical combo (including temple member and pianist Dr. Norman Lieberman). People came from Gaithersburg to Glen Burnie, Bowie to Bethesda to hear this terrific concert. Ruth was joined by several of her voice students for two numbers and even got the audience to sing along toward the middle of the program. She received a well deserved standing ovation at concert's end, as she concluded with a lovely rendition of "Over the Rainbow."
 
The concert raised $700 for the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry, in addition to canned food donations from concert patrons that filled one large wicker basket and one very large box.  Kudos and thanks were showered upon the Temple's Social Action Committee from every corner for organizing this wonderful event, to which the committee replies, "You are very welcome -- it was truly our pleasure!"