Free electronics recycling by MERS Goodwill and a gift of life bone marrow and stem cell donation registration drive will be two of the highlights of Congregation Temple Israel’s second annual Mega Mitzvah Day on Sunday, May 5. Most activities will run from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Electronics recycling will open at 10:30 a.m. The entire community is invited to participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor (weather permitting) mitzvah projects taking place at Temple Israel, 1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Dr. in Creve Coeur.  Lunch and refreshments will be available for purchase from several food trucks.  

Eligible items for the electronics recycling drive include computers and all accessories; networking and telecommunications equipment; home and cell phones; clocks; VCR and DVD players; stereos; audio/visual equipment, including cable and satellite boxes; home electronics, and appliances. Donations of clothing and household items will also be accepted. Receipts for tax deductions will be issued on the spot.  For more information, contact Sharon Summers, 314-982-8917 or [email protected].

New to this year’s Mega Mitzvah Day will be a gift of life bone marrow and stem cell registry. This is also free and involves a simple cheek swab. This project is sponsored by Temple Israel’s TIFTY high school youth group. Another new activity will be a health equipment drive sponsored by St. Louis HELP (Health Equipment Lending Program).  Donations of all types of health equipment are welcome, including walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, canes, shower seats, raised toilet seats, etc.

Mega Mitzvah Day will have projects for all ages.  Families are encouraged to bring boxes of cereal and cake mix and cans of frosting that they can use to help build a replica of the Western Wall in Israel.  The food collected will be donated to the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. Other activities will include prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical disposal; collecting eye glasses and hearing aids for recycling; cleaning and detailing of Creve Coeur Police Department vehicles; special craft activities for children and adults; spring cleaning of the Temple grounds and mitzvah vegetable garden, and more.

Mega Mitzvah Day attendees can also purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win an iPad 2.  Proceeds from the raffle, which is sponsored by the TIFTY youth group, will benefit Camp Rainbow, a summer camp program for children undergoing treatment for, and survivors of, cancer and other blood-related diseases and disorders.  Tickets are $10 each or three for $25.  The drawing will take place during Mega Mitzvah Day and ticket holders need not be present to win.

For more information, contact Pamela Dern, [email protected] or visit: www.ti-stl.org/megamitzvah or call 314-432-8050.