Happy New Year from your JFS Volunteer Engagement Team! We are excited to continue working alongside you in 2025 to make a difference in our San Diego community.
Your commitment to JFS has made a tremendous impact, and we couldn’t do it without you. You are truly the heart of our organization, and we are so thankful for all the time, energy, and passion you give. We are looking forward to a great year ahead!
Did you know that JFS and the Center for Jewish Care offer several opportunities for mitzvah projects? Check out what’s been happening at our Safe Parking Lots!
A round of applause goes out to Avery who recently hosted a slime making activity for families sheltering in our Rose Canyon Safe Parking Lot. Thank you, Avery, for giving families a fun and creative outlet to play. Mazel tov on your bat mitzvah!
Thank you to Sophia, a ninth grader at Academy of Our Lady of Peace and a member of Girl Scouts, who recently installed a Little Free Library as part of her Silver Award project. Sofia is an avid reader and wanted to share her love of books with families at our Mission Valley Safe Parking lot. Thank you, Sofia, for bringing this great idea to our Safe Parking community. See more in this heartwarming story on CBS 8 news.
Each month, Ohr Shalom synagogue’s social action committee hosts birthday parties for guests in our Safe Parking lot at the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus. The celebrations include dinner and a fun birthday activity like a pinata or cupcakes. Each Safe Parking lot becomes a well-connected community and guests look forward to celebrating their birthdays together!
We are incredibly grateful to Temple Solel, the Brandeis National Committee, and the Gleiberman family for contributing to our toy drive benefitting the JFS Diaper Bank. They helped us collect hundreds of toys to pass out to families who utilize the JFS Diaper Bank, which helped families with the expense of holiday gift shopping.
On January 20, 2025, the new Administration shut down the use of the CBP One Application, which was a pathway for migrants to seek asylum at ports of entry.  This change has directly and immediately impacted JFS’s Migrant Reception Center. Since migrants are no longer able to use the CBP One application, we are no longer receiving new asylum-seeker families. As a result, Migrant Reception Center volunteer positions are currently unavailable. We are closely monitoring for any updates and will keep you informed if the situation changes.
Jewish Family Service remains committed to Welcoming the Stranger with dignity and compassion. There are limited volunteer opportunities available with Immigration Legal Services. To learn more, please contact Sunni Robertson, Sr. Director of Community & Volunteer Engagement, at (858) 637-3050.
The Pauline Foster Planting Seeds of Change Garden is a community garden at the JFS Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus. Cared for by a group of dedicated volunteers, the garden provides fresh produce that is transported to the Corner Market, where it feeds our community members dealing with food insecurity. Read more about the garden and the volunteers who make it possible in our blog!
We love seeing our volunteers making an impact around JFS! Don’t forget to send us your selfies for a chance to be featured in our next newsletter.
We’re making it even easier for you to share your ideas. Use our Virtual Suggestion Box to send us all your questions, concerns, and feedback!
Thank you for being a JFS Volunteer!
Every day, volunteers make our impactful work possible. We appreciate your time and dedication to uplifting our community.
Sunni Robertson
Senior Director of CVE
Marissa Dates
Associate Director of CVE
Kimberly Molin
Lead CVE Coordinator
Anna Davis-Noe
CVE Coordinator
Dalia Perez
CVE Coordinator
Together, we’re creating a stronger and healthier community where everyone can thrive.
Questions? Please contact us at [email protected] or (858) 637‑3050.
