Every May, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across the US collect nonperishable goods from their postal customers who participate in the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive.
This year, the William Taft Post Office in Clairemont generously allowed our JFS volunteers to sort all the food they collected and donated it to the Hand Up Food Pantry at JFS. The grand total of 16,200 pounds of food will go on to help hundreds of community members experiencing hunger. Thank you to our volunteers for helping us sort through literally TONS of food, and a heartfelt thank you to all who contributed.
Meet Betty, a volunteer driver for JFS. Betty, pictured with frequent rider and friend, Mark and his dog Luca, has been a volunteer driver with On the Go for the past seven years. To date, she has given more than 1,400 rides.
“After I retired, a friend suggested that I start driving for On the Go. I love being a volunteer driver because it’s nice to be helpful and I’ve made some really good friends at the same time. I would definitely recommend becoming a volunteer driver because you make friends, you enjoy yourself, and you go places, and not just to the doctor, you can take them anywhere they need to go.” – Betty
Meet Molly and Michael. Molly has been at JFS for four years as our CalFresh Outreach Coordinator. Her favorite part about JFS is that “Everyone here has the same drive to help others. We all come from different backgrounds to empower people and build a stronger community.”
Molly’s passion for helping others was so much of an inspiration to her husband, Michael, that he started volunteering weekly in December, “I like volunteering here because I know I’m making a difference, and I know my efforts contribute to the positive impact that JFS has on the community.”
Meet JFS Volunteer John and his Friendly Match, Emma. JFS Friendly Match Program matches older adults with caring volunteers who offer companionship and a steady connection to the community through weekly in-home visits. John very much wanted to be matched with a Holocaust Survivor in our community. At his first meeting with Emma, they hit it off immediately—enjoying conversation and companionship!
Ready for a #FeelGoodFriday success story? In a recent report from KPBS, meet Safe Parking participant Zora, a recent high school graduate, who doesn’t let homelessness keep her from moving forward. And hear from JFS volunteers, Rita and Margaret, who are passionate about supporting families in our Safe Parking Program.
On Saturday, May 18, JFS hosted our annual Heart & Soul Gala. Our biggest event of the year honored community leaders, Sharon and David Wax, immigration partners, The Shaprio Foundation | HIAS, and highlighted the critical and compassionate work JFS does every single day.
Click below to watch our Gala video highlights and learn more about this year’s honorees.
On June 26, JFS welcomed a group of 18 campers from the Hess Kramer summer camp to join us for a fun day of volunteering at the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus. Campers helped out in the Balboa Avenue Older Adult Center (BAOAC), sorted hygiene products, prepared sandwiches for Safe Parking participants, assisted with food prep in the Loonin Family Kitchen, and sorted diapers in the Diaper Bank. JFS looks forward to welcoming a second group of campers on July 23!
Irina is a former JFS employee who worked at JFS for 21 years. Now she volunteers at the JFS College Avenue Center and with the Supporting Our Survivors (SOS) program!
What brought to you JFS originally? How long did you work here?
When I first came to the U.S. from the Soviet Union, JFS supported me. Then, for a while I was working at the Hebrew Home; in 1997 or 1998, JFS inherited that program, so I transitioned to working at JFS. I worked at JFS for 21 years before I retired.
What was your favorite part about working in the Loonin Family Kitchen?
Providing meals for the seniors, and for the staff! We never let people go hungry.
What inspired you to stay on as a volunteer when you retired?
I wanted to stay involved with JFS, keep myself busy, and keep helping! I used to supervise at the College Ave Center and would socialize with all the seniors, so that’s where I started with volunteering.
What is your favorite part about volunteering?
It feels good! It makes you feel like you can give something back to the company and the people in the community.
Show us your JFS Volunteer T-shirts! If you completed ten volunteer hours in the last year and haven’t received your shirt yet, please contact the JFS Volunteer Engagement team to schedule a time to pick up your shirt.
It feels like summer is just beginning, but before we know it, it will be back-to-school time! If you’re looking for a way to engage, as a group or by yourself, in a fun and meaningful activity that supports students in need, we invite you to participate in JFS’s annual backpack drive! In the past, many groups collected the necessary school supplies, then had a backpack-making party. All backpacks and supplies will go to families currently receiving services from JFS and will help students start school off on the right track. We need your help to reach our goal of 400 fully stocked backpacks! Click the link below to learn more and view the complete list of supplies.
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
Director
Kimberly Molin
Lead Coordinator
Jennifer Labrada Valencia
Coordinator
Anna Davis-Noe
Coordinator
Evan Rhoderick
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.
