Many young adults preparing for their Bat/Bar Mitzvah milestones, and beyond, find it fulfilling to participate in or initiate a Mitzvah project, contributing to the community and helping others as they become a Jewish adult. As the only national organization dedicated to supporting young Jewish women facing breast cancer, Sharsheret Mitzvah projects provide meaningful volunteer opportunities.
Mitzvah project ideas for students:
Go for the Goal - Exercise your love of sports and competitive edge to raise awareness about breast cancer. Schedule a basketball or hockey tournament and solicit sponsors to support your game. Sponsors can donate based on the number of baskets hit and goals made. Distribute breast cancer awareness items and Sharsheret information materials to all players, sponsors, and fans.
Create and Sell - Use your creative and artistic abilities to create and sell crafts such as jewelry, greeting cards, t-shirts, and hats. The proceeds earned from sales can be donated to Sharsheret in honor of your Bat/Bar Mitzvah.
Spread the Word - Help spread the word about Sharsheret so that Sharsheret can help more women. Distribute Sharsheret brochures in your community to local doctors’ offices, hospitals, cancer centers, breast cancer organizations, women’s organizations, Jewish organizations, community centers, and wigmakers. We will provide Sharsheret brochures and brochure holders for distribution.
Babysitting and Tutoring Network - Organize a network of babysitters and tutors available to help younger children and families in your neighborhood. A portion of the proceeds raised from the network can be donated to Sharsheret.
Organize Pledge Activities - Organize community activities such as bowl-a-thons, walks or races, and fashion shows. Sharsheret can generate Pledge Forms for your special activity and help you plan your big event. Each year hundreds of students make a difference as they join Team Sharsheret at the NYC Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a monumental breast cancer awareness and fundraising event. With more than 700 women, men, and children, Team Sharsheret NYC has won the award for the largest Race Team for 3 consecutive years! Florida, California, Washington, DC, and Minnesota also feature Team Sharsheret at their local Races.
Volunteer - Sharsheret’s office is located in Teaneck, New Jersey. If you live in the area, you may set aside hours to volunteer in the office and assist the staff in coordinating Sharsheret’s programs and upcoming events. For those who prefer to provide assistance from home, Sharsheret will prepare projects such as mailings or assembling information on our programs and services to be sent to women facing breast cancer, health care professionals, and Jewish organizations nationwide, which can be delivered to our office upon completion.
Collect Toys and Make-Up for Sharsheret’s Quality of Life Programs -Organize toy drives or make-up collections to enhance two important Sharsheret programs: The Busy Box and Best Face Forward programs mailed to young women with breast cancer. Each Busy Box includes activities and toys for young children with a parent facing breast cancer. The Best Face Forward kit contains cosmetics products to help young women address the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.