Temple Solel Kids Helping Others

January 2024

By Dale Rivers, Temple Solel Vice President

You're cruising along, singing your heart out, and feeling delighted that traffic is light. Suddenly, the traffic light turns red, and as you stop, you notice someone right next to your car, asking for help! What would you do?

Your heart might urge you to help, but your head might wonder how you can assist. Perhaps you think, "I might have a few dollars somewhere." But with only around 30 seconds before the light changes, time is running out.

Then, it hits you — you remember the manna bag within easy reach! You roll down your window and hand the bag to the person standing there. The light changes, and you hope you've made a positive difference in someone's day.

A manna bag is a Ziploc bag filled with items that can meet basic needs on the go. The bags currently contain water, Vienna sausages, peanut butter crackers, granola bars, a list of area resources, fruit cups, a spoon, and a napkin. Dale Rivers, Temple Solel vice president and social action chair, shared that they've added a toothbrush and toothpaste this time, and they plan to include socks and possibly gloves in the winter.

Both Temple Solel and Grace Presbyterian congregants are encouraged to give these bags to those in need, demonstrating that no one deserves to feel invisible. This small act of generosity helps individuals in need feel seen and loved while inspiring us to recognize and support those around us. Temple Solel Member, Emma Snipes, said, "This is such a simple thing to help others."

Originally a project of their interfaith partner, Grace Presbyterian, Temple Solel has now taken up the mantle of creating manna bags as a social action project. Congregants donated the items during one of the twice-monthly services, and a few days later, the youth group held a back-toschool pizza party to assemble the bags.

The bags are in the main hallway at Grace, where both Grace Presbyterian and Temple Solel congregants take them to keep in their cars whenever they encounter someone in need. Many people come back to get new bags each week because they've already handed them out. Several congregants have noticed that they become more aware of people in need once they have a manna bag in their car.

This wonderful project extends beyond Fort Mill, with many people taking manna bags when they commute to Charlotte or go on trips.

This is an ongoing project, and if you want to help, please contact info@templesolelSC.org.

At Temple Solel, we offer the opportunity to Pray Together, Learn Together, and Do Together. We warmly welcome the presence, enthusiasm, talents, and involvement of all members and guests. As a Reform Jewish congregation, we've eliminated the barrier of annual membership dues, focusing more on active participation. We meet at 7 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month at Grace Presbyterian Church at 2955 W. Highway 160 in Fort Mill. For more information about our services and other events, please visit https://templesolelsc.org or call (803) 6101707.

Temple Solel kids united

Temple Solel kids assembling manna bags