JFS Volunteer Voice - September/October 2024

“Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better. Hope is the belief that, together, we can make the world better.”

– Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z’l

Annual Backpack Drive

We did it! Together as a community, we filled 862 backpacks with new school supplies to set up local students for success—bringing much needed relief to hundreds of families in our community who are experiencing financial challenges. Thank you to the many donors, partners, and volunteers who put smiles on students’ faces and helped make this outpouring of kindness possible.

“Thank you so much for giving my kids new backpacks this year. They were so happy to have something new and were even more excited when they realized the backpacks were filled with school supplies. This is such a blessing for our family. We can’t thank you enough.”

– Beatriz, Safe Parking Participant

End of Summer Celebration

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our ‘End of Summer’ Volunteer Meetup! Together, we enjoyed delicious Mexican food and great company. Stay tuned for our next meetup/holiday gathering later this year. We can’t wait to celebrate your commitment and impact in the community!

On The Go on the news!

You may remember reading about the JFS On the Go program in our previous newsletter. One especially dedicated volunteer, Betty, and her rider, Mark, were recently featured on Channel 10 news. Click here to watch the video and learn more about Betty and Mark’s unique friendship!

And a special shout out all our new volunteers who recently joined the On the Go program, especially our volunteer drivers from the Home-Delivered Meals program who have stepped up to provide rides!

Learn more about volunteering with the On the Go program.

Watch Video

Volunteers Help San Diegans Prepare for U.S. Citizenship Test

Pictured above, JFS Volunteers Sam, Albert, Alfredo, Julio and Elicia assist with teaching Citizenship Courses for individuals applying for U.S. Citizenship. Here’s what a few of our class graduates had to say…

“My wife and I have been permanent residents since 1990. I also work for the City of San Diego, but we wanted to feel more secure in our status. I never thought I could pass the test, but this class gave me so much encouragement. Now I have security, and it feels great!”

“My motivation for becoming a citizen was to be able to vote. I also feel less stressed now that I don’t have to worry about traveling.”

“I feel more like I’m a part of my community now, and I can’t wait to be able to vote and have a say in the world around me.”

“I’ve been a legal resident for 30 years, but times are changing, and I felt it was important to become a citizen. Now I can travel with my children and vote in the fall. I feel happy.”

Check out some photos of our graduates below!

Volunteer Spotlight

This month, our Volunteer Spotlight is from JFS’s Legal Immigration Team. Meet Fred Conway, Volunteer Translator since May 2024. Here’s what our Immigration Team had to say about Fred:

“Fred is a Haitian Creole translator who is dedicated to ensuring that all of his translations are as accurate as possible. He will stay for hours to perfect his work and is willing to come in at any time to assist. He has helped us immensely with our shelter pamphlet translations.”

How many languages do you speak?

I speak English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole!

How did you learn about JFS? What motivates you to volunteer?

I got connected through a friend of mine who has raised money for the Safe Parking Program! She and I and another friend of ours all celebrate our birthdays together, so at our birthday party this year, we had a Fundraiser for JFS. She also knew someone who volunteers as an Airport Guide, assisting Asylees with getting through the airport, and she told me that she was working with Haitian refugees. I lived and worked in Haiti for about five years, so I was immersed in the language for a long time. Even though it had been a while since I had spoken Haitian Creole, I figured that not many people speak the language, so I decided to get involved with translation work!

Can you share a meaningful or favorite moment during your volunteer experience?

It’s really kind of funny, I thought I would be translating birth certificates and things like that, but in fact I have been translating legal agreements regarding Immigration services, which is much more complex. It’s been quite a bit of fun to take on such complex language and vocabulary! Most legal Immigration documents are written in passive tense, and Haitian Creole doesn’t really have a passive tense, so it has been a fun linguistic challenge that I have really enjoyed. I am looking forward to starting to do actual interpretation as well!

What were you doing in Haiti?

I’m a retired Cultural Anthropologist, so I went to Haiti about 50 years ago to do research for my Doctoral Dissertation. Then I went back and helped with reforestation programs, helping people plant trees for their farms. For a while after that I taught at San Diego State University, and since I retired I have been doing some work in Spanish. When I got started with Haitian Creole translation for JFS, I found that going back to language came easily to me since I had been immersed for so long in the past!

What do you wish other people knew about volunteering at JFS?

Everyone has been extremely welcoming, and I honestly am almost embarrassed with all the appreciation I’ve received because I am so enjoying it! If anyone is nervous or unsure about volunteering, they don’t need to be because everyone has been so nice.

*To learn more about celebrating an important moment by creating a fundraiser, please click here.

Welcome UCSD College Corps Fellowship

JFS is excited to partner with UCSD’s College Corp Fellowship program. We will be hosting seven of their fellows, the majority of which are interested in the Public Health sector. Collectively, these undergraduate students are dedicating close to 200 hours weekly to public service and have chosen JFS because the San Diego Rapid Response Network Migrant Shelter Services’ Reception Center spoke to them on a personal level.

This will be our first year partnering and we are delighted to welcome Alexa Guevara, Tolani Olanrewaju Ojo, Bella Ely, Uchenna Aniegbuna, Kate Martinez, Dami Olowookere, and Gwendolyn Galindo to our Volunteer Team!

Learn more about UCSD’s College Corp Fellowship program >>