Hadassah's Annual Hanukah Gift Fair also charity for a local women and children's shelter

By JEWISH REVIEW

article created on: 2008-11-15T00:00:00

Hadassah’s Annual Hanukah Gift Fair will have unique gifts for all occasions, art, books, clothing, jewelry, toys, children’s shopping area and baked goods available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 7 at Congregation Neveh Shalom, 2900 SW Peaceful Lane.

Sponsored by the Portland Chapter of Hadassah, this year’s fair will also include an area to collect donations for Raphael House, a shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

“We wanted to do a Mitzvah this year,” said Hadassah office manager Carolyn Shain. “We have talked about it in the years past. (It) just seemed this year more than others we needed to help other organizations, to outreach into the community.”
As a women's organization, Hadassah wanted to assist another women's nonprofit organization. Fair organizers listed some organizations and called them.

“As I talked to Jessica Elkan, the Director of Development at Raphael House, she knew what Hadassah was and stood for, since members of her family had been Hadassah members. She thought this would be a great match,” said Shain.

So in addition to shopping for Hanukah gifts, fairgoers will also be able to see a display about Raphael House and donate needed items. Elkan suggested people bring lightly used coats, lightly used teen jeans and paper goods as in toilet paper, paper towels and napkins.

Raphael House of Portland has been offering shelter to women and children fleeing domestic violence since 1977. Each year, more than 300 women and children access shelter, food, clothing, transportation, support groups and individual support at its Emergency Shelter and more than 3,500 people are served by our in-house crisis line. In addition, approximately 400 non-residential survivors receive advocacy services through Raphael House’s transitional program and a program at the Domestic Violence Reduction Unit of the Portland Police.

For more information on items needed by Raphael House of Portland, contact Jessica Elkan at 503-222-6507 ext. 308 or visit our website at www.raphaelhouse.com.

For information about the Hanukah Gift Fair, call 503-244-6389 or email info@portlandhadassah.org.