Every night at four secured lots, JFS operates a Safe Parking Program for unsheltered San Diegans living in their vehicles, many of whom are experiencing homelessness for the first time. As these individuals and families work to lift themselves up out of a difficult situation, many are making nightly choices between purchasing food, gas, or other essentials.
In addition, the current pandemic has impacted many of our Safe Parking participants through loss of employment, limited access to food, and/or an overall decrease in public resources.
Knowing the vulnerability of our Safe Parking participants, JFS volunteers Mae Chan and Judy sewed 100 handmade masks to help keep participants safe during COVID-19. These beautiful cloth masks are now helping unsheltered individuals and families stay healthy as they work towards finding stable housing. Thank you for your incredible compassion and generosity Judy and Mae Chan!
Chava is a wonderful volunteer who joined our team at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and helped us get our new drive-thru food distribution up and running. Chava is a consistent, reliable, and inspiring source of support for our team and the agency as a whole!
See below for a few words from Chava:
How is volunteering a valuable part of your life?
It feels good to give back to the community in some small way. Volunteering allows me to experience new situations outside of work, and, most especially, I get to meet a lot of great new people.
If you were to encourage a friend to volunteer at JFS, what would you say?
I would tell people how well-run things are at JFS, how great my experience has been with staff and other volunteers, and all the many great services that JFS provides to our community.
Talk about a high point during your volunteer experience – a time when you felt most engaged and proud of your work.
I was helping put bags of groceries into clients’ cars at the drive thru distribution and it was nice to put a smile on people’s faces and to hear their kind words. It was also a highlight to meet the great staff and volunteers at JFS and see the heart they put into helping others.
Can you tell whether your efforts have had results? What are the indicators?
The smiles on peoples’ faces and the thank you’s are the results 🙂
For nearly three months, Team Rubicon – a disaster response nonprofit that unites military veterans with first responders – partnered with JFS to assist with our expansion of home-delivered meals to older adults during COVID-19. Nate Nash was a key player in delivering thousands of meals every day to seniors across San Diego county. According to his supervisor, “Nate epitomizes selflessness in everything that he does. When necessary, he will pick up the ball and run with it by jumping into a van and taking a route where food may not otherwise get delivered that day. He is a dedicated volunteer who is passionate about the humanitarian outreach efforts of JFS and appreciative to have the ability to assist such a tremendous organization.”
Now, let’s hear from Nate Nash:
How is volunteering a valuable part of your life?
Volunteering has always been a part of my life. When I was kid, I used to help my Dad with the Needy Family Committee via the Chula Vista Fire Department. We provided Christmas Dinners and toys to less fortunate families in the Chula Vista area. I’ve also been a volunteer with the San Diego/ Imperial County Burn Run, MD Boot Drive, Children’s Hospital Kids News Day, and Eastlake Church Youth Ministries. And now I’m here with Team Rubicon in support of the JFS mission of feeding San Diego surrounded by truly amazing people from all over the country, and it’s somewhere I feel at home.
If you were to encourage a friend to volunteer at JFS, what would you say?
That it has been an amazing experience working alongside such a diverse group of great people with incredible work ethic. The campus is pretty sweet too with all the artwork.
Talk about a high point during your volunteer experience – a time when you felt most engaged and proud of your work.
It would have to be when I went from driving the routes out of my personal vehicles to overseeing six vans and a team of volunteers who felt just as committed as I was.
Can you tell whether your efforts have had results? What are the indicators?
Absolutely my efforts have had results. I know that Team Rubicon’s efforts have increased demand for food services throughout San Diego A LOT, and we’ve met those needs every single day. My outlook is to work hard, be a positive influence in the community, and inspire others to do the same for the common good, and I think the huge number of meals we’ve delivered shows our success!
Kerri Abrams has been a Bikkur Holim Friendly Visitor volunteer both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. She always goes above and beyond the call of duty for Shirley, her 102-year-old match. When the assisted living facility where Shirley lives began to prohibit visitors, Kerri helped her learn to use FaceTime so they could keep their weekly visits. Kerri’s incredible heart comes through in everything she does!
Now, let’s hear from Kerri Abrams:
How is volunteering a valuable part of your life?
Volunteering allows me to connect with members of my community on a personal level in a way that my full-time job does not. There has never been one volunteer assignment in my life that has not made me feel touched in some way. Feeling the connection that you can make with an individual or my community, even for a brief moment, can be life changing. These connections allow me to constantly learn and grow as a person.
If you were to convince a friend to volunteer at JFS, what would you say?
JFS is an instrumental part of our community. No matter what type of volunteer work you are looking to do, they will have an opportunity where you can make a difference. There is so much flexibility as far as long term, short term, one-time needs, etc.
Talk about a high point during your volunteer experience – a time when you felt most engaged and proud of your work.
As we have all been greatly impacted by Covid-19, I have never felt that my relationship with my match in the Friendly Visitor program has been more important. Social isolation can be detrimental to everyone, but particularly to the aging population. My match in the program is Shirley, a 102-year-old woman who I often joke is sharper than me. Shirley often reminds me that there aren’t many people left in her rolodex because she has outlived everyone. One day during this lockdown period, Shirley left me a voicemail saying that she has no idea how I ended up in her life, but that she has a closer connection to me than anyone else she knows and that she loves me as family. Knowing that she feels my support through this time means more to me than anything else I could ask for.
Can you tell whether your efforts have had results? What are the indicators?
Shirley literally lights up when I see her each week. I must admit, I probably light up even brighter. Giving Shirley someone to banter with (especially about politics), to be there for her if she needs anything, to laugh with, and to give her something to look forward to on Sundays all solidify to me the importance of my visits and the program. It took Shirley a long time to understand that I don’t actually work for JFSSD, but that I visit her because I enjoy it. Shirley and I very much have a friendship that I believe keeps her hopeful and engaged.
Onsite Opportunity
Hand Up Food Pantry Warehouse Volunteer
The Hand Up Food Pantry believes in helping San Diegans who are experiencing food insecurity reach self-sufficiency by providing a hand up, not a hand-out. The JFS Warehouse is located at our Joan & Irwin Jacobs campus and serves as the hub for all COVID-19 nutrition services. Warehouse volunteers play a vital role in serving hundreds of people every week by preparing food distribution bags and sorting through donations.
Morning Shift (9:00am-12:00pm)
Afternoon Shift (1:00pm-3:00pm)
Virtual Opportunity
Patient Advocacy Card Writing – Family Friendly!
During COVID-19, many residents in Skilled Nursing Facilities are isolated and lonely as visits from loved ones have been prohibited. You can provide a warm hello with a hand-written or hand-decorated card to remind them that they are not forgotten! Click here to learn how to get involved.
Before coming onsite to any JFS location, please ask yourself the following questions. If you can answer “yes” to any of these statements, please let your JFS volunteer manager know that you will need to cancel your volunteer shift or email [email protected].
All staff and volunteers coming to the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Family Campus must first enter through the Turk Family Center (8804) lobby during lobby hours (8:00am-4:30pm) and complete the screening before accessing any other inside part of the Campus
Not sure what to expect? Watch this video about our new safety procedures.
If you volunteer with older adults or are interested in supporting our community’s aging population, check out this free, quick, and informative Dementia Friend training!
Carole Yellen
Senior Director
Katrina Bruins
Supervisor
Maya Allen
Coordinator
Maria Cuevas
Coordinator
Daria Tomsky
Teens & Jewish Community
Cheyenne Arroyo
Training
Questions? Please contact us at [email protected] or (858) 637-3050.
