Focus & Fight Poverty

The current economic recession is testing our community and families. Applications for food stamps and food bank usage are on the rise. Unemployment is up. The need for our Jewish community to come together to address poverty in our community has never been greater. Focus and Fight is our community's response to the crushing burden of poverty too many families and individuals feel.

In its third year, Focus and Fight will be held again during the holiday of Sukkot. Jewish organizations and individuals are working collectively to alleviate poverty and recommit to tikkun olam (repair the world) through a series of coordinated events and activities.

Education: In order to aid the fight against poverty, it is important to speak out against the many stereotypes that surround it. Equally important to our community is to learn about the Jewish view on poverty, and about our obligation to eliminate it.
Action: How YOU Can Make a Difference: A resource for children, teenagers, and young adults who want to make an impact in their communities and do their part to fight poverty.

Advocacy: We direct community members (through action alerts and grass roots organizing) in ways they can help advocate locally and nationally on issues of concern to help fight poverty. Sign up for the Washington State Jewish Action Center to get updated information about ways to fight poverty.

Resources on Poverty: Website links to poverty eradication organizations, and community reflections, as well as information and statistics on poverty in Washington State
- Statistics on Poverty: A brief overview of poverty in Washington State.
- The Greater Seattle Jewish Business Network is a LinkedIn group for Seattle Jewish professionals. It was created to help members of our local Jewish community network with each other to support job searches and hiring. Online networking is complemented by bi-monthly meetings, which feature speakers, consultants and other job-related resources.
- Check out the King County Committee to End Homelessness and the Washington Low-Income Housing Alliance for more information and ways to get involved locally.

Volunteer Opportunities: There are many easy ways to give back to your community on a regular basis. Click on any of the links below to find out how you can help.
- Dress for Success provides women with professional attire and career counseling so that they can find a job and get back on their feet.
- Temple De Hirsch Sinai Homeless Women's Shelter hosts 10 women Mondays through Fridays, 8:30pm -7am. These women are selected by the Noel House, a homeless women's shelter located in Seattle. For further information or to volunteer, please contact Kim Fuqua Alben at kimfuqua [at] gmail [dot] com.
- Family Promise of Seattle: Most shelters are single-gender, which can pose a huge problem when a parent is one gender and a child is another. Family Promise provides an invaluable and rare service by coordinating a network of congregations and volunteers to provide families with food, shelter, transportation and counseling.