Winter Learning Resources
Mugs of Love and Kid's Oral Hygiene Project Kits
Learn more about these projects:
Thank you for participating in our Service Project Kit initiative! The project selections this winter are kid’s oral hygiene kits and Mugs of Love. Both kits provide recipients with items needed to feel confident and healthy on the inside and outside. This exemplifies the Jewish value of compassion, which in Hebrew is chemla. Members of our greater community experience homelessness and oral hygiene poverty and by making these kits, you are able to show compassion and make them feel cared for.
Did you know?
Facts About Homelessness:
In the US, 95 million people (or about 1 in 3) have housing problems such as payments too of large a percentage of their income, overcrowding, poor quality of the shelter, and homelessness. (Repair the World Facilitator’s Toolkit)
Over the course of a year, 750,000 – 1,000,000 children are homeless in America – approximately 25% of the homeless population. (Repair the World Facilitator’s Toolkit)
Facts About Oral Hygiene Poverty:
- Numerous school hours are lost due to acute/unplanned dental care and socioeconomic disparities exist in those lost hours. (Oral Health Policies and Recommendations)
- Children aged 1-17 years living in families with lower incomes (below 400% of the federal poverty level) are less likely to have had an annual dental exam or cleaning. (Oral Health Policies and Recommendations)
A Jewish Lens:
The Tanakh, or Bible, contains a variety of books, including the Book of Prophets. Zechariah’s teachings are just one chapter within this book. Particularly, Zechariah speaks about compassion for others as a means to redemption.
Thus said G-d: Execute true justice; deal loyally and compassionately with one another.
-Zechariah 7:9
By putting together these kits, we are expressing the Jewish value of Compassion into action by recognizing the needs of others, both physical and emotional.
Consider…
- What does it mean to see yourself in another person?
- How do you want others to see you?
- In what ways can you show loyalty and compassion to others?
Go Deeper…
- Check out these books from PJ Library:
- Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl
- How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham
- Check out this book from the Jewish Library of Baltimore:
- Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gotmman
More Resources
Here are more resources and to learn more about local and national initiatives combating homelessness and oral hygiene poverty.
- Learn more about Zechariah and other minor prophets
- Learn more about homelessness
- Learn more about oral hygiene poverty