Volunteer Opportunities
Opportunities abound for adults, teens, children and families!
- Prepare or deliver food packages to isolated seniors and families in need.
- Become a Chaplain Aide and lead Shabbat services for nursing home shut-ins.
- Join Knitzvah and warm your own heart as your provide warmth to others.
- Be a Friendly Visitor and bring the world to isolated elders.
- Assist refugee job seekers from around the world.
- Put your writing and layout skills to good use with our newsletters and other publications.
- Tutor émigrés or assist with an ESL class.
…and more! Volunteers do make a wonderful difference. Days and hours are flexible.
Volunteering for Kids, Teens and Families
Inspire your children in giving to others. Volunteer opportunities for kids, teens, or the entire family abound - preparing holiday packages of gifts and food for our local elderly and families in need, holiday decorating of senior residential facilities, participating in holiday toy drives for needy children, and much more. Teens can earn community service credits for school. More importantly, doing good deeds (mitzvot) strengthens all who participate, from the youngest children, to parents and grandparents. Everyone benefits!
Knitzvah: Knitting for Good!
Since Knitzvah began in 2006, the "fabulous and amazing" Knitzvah members have created nearly 7,000 cuddly creations for 18 agencies serving thousands of people.
If you love to knit, crochet or sew; or really want to learn how, this is the group to join! Knitzvah meets monthly and creates beautiful handmade items for preemie babies in the NICU, seniors who appreciate lap blankets to keep warm, cancer patients in need of colorful caps, and so much more. All ages welcome.
Once a month on Sunday from 10:30am to noon; dates and places posted below.
FREE!
| When | Where |
| February 19, 2012 | JCC Adult Lounge |
| March 18, 2012 | JCC Adult Lounge |
| April 15, 2012 | Chai House |
| May 20, 2012 | JCC Adult Lounge |
| June 24, 2012 | JCC Adult Lounge |
Info:
Barbara Berlant at auntbarbara@comcast.net
Cherie Ravel at cherier@jfssv.org or (408) 357-7467
Knitzvah a Mitzvah with PJ Library
Tuesday, January 31, 3:45pm to 4:45pm
Levy Family Campus
Designed for children 4-7 years old, this program brings together PJ Library participants and Knitzvah volunteers from JFS for an afternoon of knitting crafts on behalf of needy children in the San José community. Story time, songs and snack. RSVP to www.jvalley.org/pjlibrary. Participants are asked to consider bringing a new or gently used child's backpack to donate to a Children's Shelter.
Embrace a Family:
Make a Difference in Our Community at Hanukkah
Only a few days left! Get your giving dreidel before December 16, 2011
[see flyer]
Hanukkah will be coming soon and JFS wants to make sure that we share the miracle of light with as many people as we can! Here’s how Embrace-A-Family works: From November 15 through December 16, thoughtful donors pull a dreidel tag, purchase the specially selected item on the tag, return the gift and tag to the JFS SV office, and put a large smile on someone’s face.
New this year: JFS is collecting new gift bags for Embrace-A-Family purchases. Please donate never-used bags of all sizes to the JFS office.
Embrace-A-Family Gift Boards will be placed at 12 locations:
• Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
• Yavneh Day School/JCC Preschool lobby
• Congregation Beth David
• Congregation Shir Hadash
• Congregation Sinai
• Temple Emanu-El
• South Peninsula Hebrew Day School
• Gan Yeladim Preschool
• Smadar’s Daycare
• Liat’s Family Home
• Gan Ronit
• K’tantanim Ba Emek
Bring new unwrapped toys, clothing, and household goods (we will provide information on what is needed), to the JFS offices at to do a truly wonderful mitzvah for those children, families, and seniors who would otherwise have to go without anything new during the holidays.
Info:Cherie Ravel
(408) 357-7467
cherier@jfssv.org
Be a Shining Light This Hanukkah: Volunteer through JFS
We need volunteers in several areas this Hanukkah.
Office Assistants
Adult volunteers are needed to sit at the JFS reception desk to greet people, receive and process Embrace-A-Family gifts and donations, and answer the main phone line. Training will be provided.
Dates: Now until December 23, 2-5 PM, Monday – Friday.
You may sign up for a minimum of 5 days during this time period. More days are welcome and encouraged!
Gift Wrappers
Adult and teen volunteers are needed to wrap Embrace-A-Family holiday gifts.
Dates: now until December 16; times to be arranged.
Food and Gift Package Deliverers
Adults (including children) are needed to help deliver Hanukkah food packages and Embrace-A-Family gifts to seniors. This is a great family activity. Hanukkah food and gift packages will be delivered December 14, 15, 16 and 19.
If you have time to give, come volunteer with us.
Please contact
Cherie Ravel, Director of Volunteer Programs
408.357.7467 or cherier@jfssv.org.
Community Group Programs
Volunteer programs are available for your synagogue, chavurah, service organization, school or youth group. Help us to give support and care to our isolated seniors, refugees, recent émigrés, families and others in need during the holiday seasons, as well as, all year round.
Helping Isolated Seniors
JFS SV volunteers make a big difference in the lives of our senior community, including Holocaust survivors. Holiday Package Preparers and Deliverers bring connection and nutrition to frail elderly. Chaplain Aides lead Shabbat at local senior retirement facilities, and JFS’ Friendly Visitors bring friendship and a sense of community to isolated seniors. Decorate a senior retirement facility or nursing home for Hanukkah.
Refugee & Emigré Support
Support JFS SV resettlement programs support a multitude of clients who struggle to make a new life in America. Our volunteers include ESL (English As Second Language) tutors and teachers, and career mentors.
ESL Tutoring
JFS SV needs experienced ESL teachers to volunteer in our classroom. We need people with ESL teaching experience who can commit a minimum of 1 to 2 hours per week for at least six months to work with ESL beginners.
Career Mentors
Do you have knowledge of any of these fields: education, finance, medicine/healthcare, environment, beauty, IT, machining and manufacturing, construction …or other industries?
JFS SV seeks volunteers willing to provide tips and information to help our clients learn about working in the U.S. Many of our clients have advanced degrees and work experience in other countries, but need guidance in finding opportunities here.
As a volunteer mentor, you will provide advice on job trends, entry-level opportunities or internships, professional associations and perhaps even referrals to good contacts about jobs or informational interviews. You may help by reviewing a resume and directing the job seeker in the right direction.
We need mentors from many industries, currently working or recently retired, willing to accept a phone call or take time to meet with our clients at our offices at the Levy Family Campus.
If you can help, please contact:
Helen Sappa, Job Developer
helens@jfssv.org
(408) 357-7459