JFS Volunteer Voice - October 2025

Fall is here!

The air is cooler, the leaves are turning, and it’s the perfect time to pause and take stock of what we’re thankful for. At Jewish Family Service, what tops our list is YOU!

Your generosity, compassion, time, energy, and heart enables JFS to provide life-changing services to our community. Whether you’re greeting someone with a smile, helping out behind the scenes, or showing up when it matters most—you are making a real difference.

Thank you for being part of our JFS family and our caring community of volunteers!

JFS Responds to the Government Shutdown

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JFS is here for San Diegans affected by the government shutdown. Yesterday, we helped 72 families with emergency food and continuing every Wednesday from 4:00-6:00pm, we will be providing supplemental groceries—including non-perishables, pantry staples, and fresh produce—until the shutdown comes to an end.

Thank you to the many JFS Volunteers who were instrumental in making this critical assistance possible. You helped make a difference by assembling food packages, checking people in, or loading food into cars! If you’d like to help out with next week’s distribution, we could use support putting together the bags of groceries Wednesdays from 1:00-3:00pm.

Sign Up Here >>

ABC 10 NEWS FEATURE

Jewish Family Service gives free groceries to federal workers during government shutdown

Jewish Family Service is now offering free groceries to federal employees and contractors who may be at risk of missing their next paycheck. “We recognize this is a new set of folks that need assistance, so we’re here to support,” said Tom Stewart, VP of Strategic Integration from Jewish Family Service.”

Watch the Story >>

Rosh Hashanah Community Challah Bake

Thank you to the more than 110 people who joined our Rosh Hashanah Community Challah Bake to celebrate tradition, meaning, and connection. Together, we braided love and nourishment into 372 round challahs for Holocaust Survivors and individuals and families experiencing hunger. We appreciate you sharing the sweetness of the New Year with our community!

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Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Abe

We sat down with Abe, a JFS Fix-it Service Volunteer since 2012.

What inspired you to volunteer at JFS?

“After retiring from a 40-year career in construction and looking for a way to give back, JFS stood out to me. The organization’s mission to support the community resonated deeply, and as someone who enjoys problem-solving and working with my hands, the Fix-It program felt like the perfect fit and the right place to put my energy and time toward something truly meaningful.”

What is your favorite part about volunteering at JFS?

“The sense of community is my favorite part. My ‘boss,’ Melissa Dennison (JFS Fix-It Coordinator), the people we serve, and the other dedicated volunteers I work with are incredibly kind and supportive. I get to utilize my construction skills to make small but vital improvements, such as installing grab bars, handrails, or building ramps and setting up home and bathroom comfort and safety-related items. Knowing that I’m making a home safer and allowing a senior to live there confidently is incredibly rewarding.

What have you learned from your volunteer experience with JFS?

“I’ve learned that volunteering is a two-way street. While I hope I’ve been a help to others, my time at JFS has enriched my life in countless ways as well. Everyone has a story, and a little bit of help can make a world of difference. I’ll never forget one of the first ramps we built was for a wheelchair-bound individual who couldn’t get out of her home without assistance. With steps at her front door, it was almost impossible for her to go shopping or even go to her doctor’s appointments. The ramp gave her a newfound freedom and access to her vehicle! She was so grateful and appreciative. It’s been a powerful lesson in seeing the good in people and the strength of a community that comes together to support one another.”

What makes you keep coming back?

“The thirteen years I’ve spent with the Fix-It program have flown by. It’s been an honor to be a part of the JFS family, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have grown alongside this amazing organization while doing what I love.”

From Safe Parking to Stable Housing: Meet Kayla

Many of you have served a Safe Parking dinner at one of our Safe Parking lots so you know firsthand how impactful this program is. Recently, one of our former Safe Parking participants shared her journey from homelessness to housing at the Friends of the Family reception in September.

Kayla, a mother of four, spoke courageously about her journey. After experiencing homelessness, a devastating car accident, and months of uncertainty, she found hope through Jewish Family Service’s Safe Parking Lot in Rose Canyon.

At first, she and her children lived in their car. Within a week of enrolling in Safe Parking, JFS was able to provide her family a trailer. For the first time in months, her children had a safe place to shower, a fridge to keep food, and a table where they could eat meals together. “It felt like home,” Kayla shared.

While her husband recovered from life-threatening injuries, JFS staff walked alongside her—helping her secure benefits, apply for jobs, and learn to budget. Within months, she landed a stable job as a security guard. By November 2024, she had saved $8,000 and signed a lease for her family’s first apartment.

“I never want my kids to experience homelessness again. I truly appreciate the Safe Parking Program and Jewish Family Service because without their support, I don’t think I would have been able to achieve what I have today.”

Supporting Our Survivors

At Jewish Family Service, our commitment to Holocaust Survivors includes ensuring that they age with dignity and maintain their health, independence, and connection to the community. We celebrate and honor their resilience, strength, and courage.

Today, our Supporting Our Survivors (SOS) program provides support services to more than 500 Survivors in San Diego and Orange County.

Meet Luba, a Holocaust Survivor whose words will move you deeply. In a matter of seconds, she reminds us why compassion, courage, and memory matter. Watch more at www.jfssd.org/SOS.

Volunteers Impact Snapshot

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Volunteers Moving Forward

We love seeing you in action! Send us photos from your next volunteer experience and you may be featured on our social media, website, or the next Volunteer Voice Newsletter!

Volunteers Virginia and Susan at our downtown food distribution site, wearing their tie dye shirts that they made at our beach volunteer appreciation event in August.

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.