adopt a family

The Adopt-a-Family project, a community outreach activity of the Temple Sinai's People of the Book - Literacy Project, started in 2004 at Lazear School, one of our partner schools. It is now at Greenleaf Elementary School, Oakland.

Many of the families who have children at this school have limited finances and so cannot purchase holiday gifts or new clothing. Each year numerous Temple Sinai families and friends have donated generously to this program which brings great cheer to well over one hundred students. Numerous families testify to the joy brought into their homes. Donors are given the names, ages, and wish lists of the children in the family they adopt. The donors deliver the gifts to the school in December.

The Outreach Coordinator at the school manages the logistics, including matching donor and recipient families, forwarding the wish lists, and distributing the gifts.
To donate gifts, contact Rodolfo Perez at Greenleaf or Debbi Berenberg as early as November 1 each year. To assist with other organizational tasks, contact Debbi.

The program stirs many hearts. One example of the responses:

"Thank you so much for your time and donations. Our students and families appreciate your generosity. Your gifts brought so much joy to our families and students; it's amazing to see their eyes light up when they realize that another family went out of their way to support theirs."
- Melanie Schoeppe, Greenleaf TK-8 Principal