Shul members spearheading Tikkun Olam at our shul have designated February as the time they will initiate a drive to provide gently-used warm winter outerwear plus T-shirts, socks and underwear to the 30-40 homeless men who seek out John’s Place every Tuesday night.

John’s Place, located in the Parish Hall of St. Agnes Church in Greenport, provides the men with a warm place to sleep, hot showers, and clothing from November through April. John’s Place also provides dinner at night, morning breakfast, and a brown-bag lunch to-go.

Tikkun Olam will place a large container at the kitchen door on Thursday, Feb. 1, to be stationed there through February and emptied throughout the month when filled. Tikkun Olam is hopeful that shul members will respond as generously to the drive for clothing (M-L-XL) for John’s Place as they have for various CAST drives, most recently Toys For Tots, which was so successful in December that CAST personnel had to empty the overflowing big red barrel several times during the drive.

Veronica Kaliski told The Shofar that if people have items to donate but can’t get to the synagogue to deposit them in the barrel, she will provide pick-up service. To arrange for pickup, email ctigreenport@gmail.com with a message for Veronica Kaliski