VICKERY MEADOW

Vickery Meadow

The Vickery Meadow neighborhood - located only 3 miles from our Temple - is comprised primarily of multi-family communities and contains one of the largest concentrations of economically disadvantaged residents in Dallas. As a congregation, Temple Emanu-El has a long history of service in Vickery Meadow, including the Vickery Meadow Neighborhood Alliance Food Pantry and Fun Saturdays at Jill Stone Elementary School, where many of Temple Emanu-El's religious school students volunteer and develop lasting relationships.

Vickery Meadow was once the “swinging singles” area of Dallas, but the apartments and condos built in the 1970s and 1980s now house some of the poorest residents in the city. Today this area is a major refugee resettlement location with rising populations from Myanmar, Iran, Iraq and parts of Africa.

One of the earliest to recognize the changing dynamic in Vickery Meadow was Temple Emanu-el member Jill Stone. Jill Stone began working in the neighborhood in the early 1990s and quickly recruited other Temple members to join in her efforts. After her death in 2004, one of the elementary schools in the area was renamed in her memory.

Temple has continued to be a committed partner, working with other faith based organizations, to address the needs of the residents of Vickery Meadow. In recognition of these efforts, the Vickery Meadow Committee was established in 2010 to provide leadership, oversight, evaluation and continuity. In October of 2010 Temple held a congregational wide day of service devoted primarily to Vickery Meadow in order to educate Temple members and strengthen their commitment to the neighborhood.

Currently, Temple members volunteer with the Vickery Meadow Neighborhood Alliance Food Pantry, Fun Saturdays at Jill Stone Elementary School, as well as serving in leadership roles in efforts to build a new playground for Jill Stone Elementary and to establish a community garden. Temple volunteers also serve as ESL teachers at Vickery Meadow Learning Center. As a member of VCAT (Vickery Coalition Action Team), Temple supports the drive to provide uniforms for students each fall.

Temple Emanu-El’s involvement in Vickery Meadow:

Co-Founder of Vickery Meadow Food Pantry
° Serves approximately 400 families per month, nearly 2,000 individuals
° Almost half of the individuals served are under age 17
Member of Vickery Coalition Action Team (VCAT)
Temple members serve as ESL teachers at Vickery Meadow Learning Center
Jill Stone Elementary School
° Fun Saturdays provides activities for 40 – 100 students while their parents attend workshops
° Currently working to build a new playground
° Provide school uniforms
° Help with Reading is Fundamental program 3 times a year
Currently working on establishing a Community Garden

If you would like more information, please contact Saralynn Busch or Debby Stein.
CLICK HERE for the Social Justice Council roster and contact information.

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