Tikkun Olam Plans ‘Annual Cycle’ Of Campaigns

 Shul members and the Tikkun Olam group are stepping up again this year with other community organizations, churches and individuals to participate in a shared goal to provide for those in need. The charity is called the Common Ground Project — growing veggies to stock local food pantries, including CAST, the shul’s designated charity.

The project was initiated by Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greenport, thanks to a grant from the Episcopal Ministries of Long Island, the generosity of Treiber Farms, which has donated the land and watering system, and the hard work of a dedicated group of volunteers, who are cultivating a quarter-acre on Route 48 in Peconic.

Pictured preparing one of the two plots maintained by the shul are Veronica  Kaliski, Adrianne Greenberg and Tom Byrne. Not pictured, Madelyn Rothman and Susan Rosenstreich. Planted are tomatoes, bok choi, watermelon and onion. Others to come are peppers, beans, carrots, zucchini and some herbs. Pots of cherry tomato plants have been delivered to CAST for distribution. Ornamental Plantings donated the containers.

While the Tikkun Olam Initiative’s focus for the summer is planting, maintaining and harvesting the veggies, the group plans to offer seasonal assistance to neighbors in need — a cycle of community-oriented campaigns: the winter holidays, spring renewal, summer farming, and a fall project.

For more information about the Tikkun Olam Initiative, call the shul at 631-477-0232 and leave a message for Veronica Kaliski.                                                                                   Susan Rosenstreich photo