While Sukkot is a holiday of joy and celebration, sometimes we forget where it came from. Right-- those 40 years when we were wandering the desert and living in temporary shelters--how could we forget? Especially when there are still so many people doing just that in our own country. And now, more than ever, this is a time to think of all the families that have become homeless due to Hurricane Katrina. This Sukkot, think about how far we've come, and rejoice, but also remember those who need a hand in liberating themselves from their own wandering. Grab your friends, some fresh veggies from the sukkah, and check out these homeless initiatives in your own city.

ATLANTA
Marcus JCC of Atlanta
www.atlantajcc.org
Teen Volunteer Connect is a teen community service program that places teens with initiatives of their own interest. See website for contact information.

BALTIMORE
JFS Kosher Food Pantry
www.jfs.org
At JFS, teens can volunteer to help create Centerpieces for Tzedakah which support a Kosher Food Pantry, or volunteer at the annual holiday gift wrap during December's Chanukah for the Hungry Drive. Among other opportunities, teens can also serve meals to seniors in Pikesville with the Eating Together program every weekday.
Contact: Marcia Greenfield, (410) 542-6300, x296 or m.Greenfield@jfs.org.

BOSTON
JCC Teens for Tzedek
http://www.tjcc.org/action/index.asp
Teens for Tzedek has monthly teen initiatives that include working in homeless shelters and even hosting Passover seders for the homeless. Check out for their website for the Fall schedule.   
Contact: Emily, leadership committee chair, emfish1212@comcast.net
Brad Koritzinsky, Program Director, tzedek@jccgb.org , (617) 558-6512

CHICAGO
Inspiration Corporation
www.inspirationcorp.org
The inspiration corp. has two restaurants, the Inspiration Café, uptown, and The Living Room Café, on the south side. At both locations, meals are served and assistance is given to individuals entering back into the community. Their meal program needs volunteers to cook, serve, create bag lunches, and donate food.

FLORIDA
Florida Red Cross
centralflorida.redcross.org
Go to the website and click on Youth Corner. There are lots of volunteer initiatives, especially now. Florida has a great Red Cross chapter for young people and is devoted to helping Hurricane Katrina victims.
Contact: Myra Allcock, Youth Services Volunteer Chairman
myraa@centralfl-redcross.org
(407) 894-4141

HOUSTON
Jewish Federation of Greater Houston
www.houstonjewish.org
The federation in Houston offers lots of opportunities to prepare meals, babysit, and help homeless victims of Hurricane Katrina. Browse their website and click on Volunteer Opportunities.

NEW YORK
92nd Street Y
www.92y.org
Teengiving Event (Nov 13)
On this day of community service, hundreds of teens team up with over 25 organizations in the city to do social action projects including visiting homeless shelters.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Jewish Family & Children's Services
www.jfcs.org/About_JFCS/
JFCS organizes initiatives such as preparing Thanksgiving meals and gift baskets for Rosh Hashana, Hannukah, Purim, and Passover, and preparing Jewish meals for those who need an extra hand. They are also taking Hurricane Katrina donations.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
www.jewishla.org

Tomchei Shabbos of Los Angeles
Find information about the Tomchei Shabbos program which helps Jews in Southern California in need. As a volunteer, you can help create care packages.
(323) 931-0224

Are you doing something unique to help out the displaced Americans from Hurricane Katrina? If so, we want to know about it! Drop us a line at editor@jvibe.com and we might share your stories with other JVibe readers!

Lindsey Silken is Editor-in-Chief of JVibe.