Jewish social service agencies around the Bay Area are gearing up for the winter holiday season, when volunteers are needed for a variety of programs that help underserved populations.
Having already assembled and delivered Hanukkah food bags to seniors and needy clients in the Bay Area, S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services is looking to fill volunteer slots for upcoming meal programs.
On Sunday, Dec. 1, JFCS and anyone who would like to volunteer will be serving holiday meals to the poor at St. Anthony’s Dining Room in San Francisco.
Then on Dec. 24 and 25, JFCS volunteers will help prepare and deliver Christmas meals to Project Open Hand clients with HIV and other chronic conditions.
To volunteer with JFCS, which covers cities from the Peninsula to Sonoma County, visit www.jfcs.org/volunteer or contact Rachel Kesselman, director of volunteer services, at [email protected] or (415) 449-1288.
Meanwhile, JFCS of the East Bay has organized two volunteer events. The first was held this week: a Hanukkah meal delivery to approximately 190 homebound seniors and people with disabilities in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
Another program allows a group or family to “adopt” a JFCS–East Bay client family for the holidays. Clients are refugee/immigrant families or low-income families. In addition, a group — such as a school class, a havurah or a scout troop — can adopt an underserved Oakland preschool where JFCS provides mental health services. These schools often lack art supplies, books and toys.
For more information, visit www.jfcs-eastbay.org/volunteers/volunteer or contact Kathryn Winogura, volunteer coordinator, at [email protected] or (925) 927-2000 ext. 259.
In the South Bay, Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley runs several volunteer programs around the holidays, including its sixth annual Embrace-a-Family program, which needs volunteers to wrap gifts and deliver food and holiday bags. For information, visit www.jfssv.org/volunteer.html or contact Lori Cinnamon, coordinator of volunteer engagement, at [email protected] or (408) 357-7467.
In San Francisco, a big volunteer event is slated for Dec. 11: Jewish Volunteer Day at Project Homeless Connect, at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Some 150 people from the Jewish community are expected to participate in the event, which offers an array of services to homeless and low-income people. Last year 1,000 volunteers provided services to more than 1,720 individuals. Jewish Volunteer Day is sponsored by the S.F.-based Jewish Commun-ity Relations Council and includes a learning component, led by a rabbi and social activist.
Volunteers can sign up for a special assignment, such as providing legal advice or medical care, but there are also general tasks; signups are for either a half day or full day. To register, visit www.tinyurl.com/jcrc-phc, or for more information, contact Joe Goldman at [email protected] or (415) 977-7418.