Interfaith Families Project of the Greater Washington, D.C. Area

Programs

Sunday Programs

Gathering

Programs

Photo from a gleaning. IFFP recognizes that giving of time and resources to the larger community and to those who are in need is a central element of both Christian and Jewish traditions. IFFP has been involved with community service since its inception. In recent years, we have formed supportive relationships with several service organizations: M.O.M.S., Mothers Offering Mentoring Support of the Montgomery County Mental Health Association, a mentoring and support group for young at-risk mothers and their children; Shepherd’s Table, a local soup kitchen, and Springvale Terrace, a senior living residence for people from all income levels.

Our annual service events include a Thanksgiving fundraising drive to benefit Shepherd’s Table, a Thanksgiving dinner for M.O.M.S., and holiday gift collections and parties for M.O.M.S. and Springvale Terrace. Periodic service workdays involve the whole IFFP community working together. As a member congregation of the Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition, SSIHC, many of our projects serve families who are homeless or are in transitional programs. IFFP community service workdays have been devoted to:

working with Friends of Sligo Creek on park and trail clean-up events
building a nature trail and tree house on the grounds of a shelter for homeless families
indoor painting at the shelter
extensive yard work and indoor cleanup to prepare homes for people in need
yard cleanups for elderly people seeking help to remain in their own homes
planting a garden at a shelter for abused women

A special effort has been made to keep these workdays “kid friendly,” so children and parents can work alongside each other and children can experience the rewards of volunteering. These include:

making bag lunches for shelters
gleaning kale and cucumbers from the fields to provide food for Washington area people in need
preparing Easter baskets for families in need
participating in walkathons for the homeless
gathering donations of holiday gifts
gathering donations of food and clothing

Projects also are woven into the Sunday School curriculum and into holiday celebrations. Each Sunday School class makes at least one visit to Springfield Terrace to plant fall bulbs, sing holiday songs, or have activities with the residents. The IFFP Education Director and a parent volunteer serve as liaisons to Springvale Terrace as we continue to extend our partnership with this Silver Spring living center. Each year numerous IFFP members join the Community Service and Social Justice Workgroup to help plan our service and justice work. Thus, as the needs of the community and world events change, our service efforts continually evolve.