Volunteer for JFS-Cincinnati

Volunteer for Jewish Family Service

We rely on volunteers to supplement our staff and limited resources and help sustain our work in the community. We appreciate the dedication, time, talent and enthusiasm of our volunteers – You are a vital part of the Jewish Family Service programs.

To volunteer, contact Sandee Golden, Volunteer Coordinator: 513-766-3352 or sgolden@jfscinti.org

Dr. Samuel S. Rockwern Passover Delivery of Jewish Family Service
Cincinnati Hunger Assistance Initiative (CHAI)
Volunteer Visitors
Administrative Support
Youth and Teen Opportunities
Resettlement Acculturation

Ongoing Volunteer Program Needs
Cincinnati Hunger Assistance Initiative (CHAI)
Jewish Family Service needs volunteers for the following opportunities that support people with food assistance needs. Volunteers play an essential role in fund-raising, food collection and purchasing, sorting, food distribution and delivery.

Centerpiece for Tzedakah
This project raises funds for the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry. Volunteers assemble decorative baskets filled with kosher food and personal care item packages to be used as centerpieces at bar/bat mitzvahs, showers, anniversary parties or other festive occasions. Volunteers are also needed to process and track orders.
Commitment: As needed, 2-4 hours per month.

Jewish Family Service Food Pantry
In conjunction with the Cincinnati Free Store/Food Bank, Jewish Family Service is launching the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry for those needing supplemental kosher food in the Jewish community. Volunteers help with food purchasing, collecting, shelving, bagging, delivering and distributing.
Commitment: 2-4 hours per month.

Dr. Samuel S. Rockwern Passover Delivery of Jewish Family Service
Volunteers are needed to collect, sort, box and deliver Passover food to over 375 Jewish individuals and families who would otherwise be unable to afford to celebrate the holiday.
Commitment: 1-4 hours during the two weeks before Passover

Tzedakah Garden- A cooperative effort between Jewish Family Service and Mayerson JCC
Fresh fruits and vegetables are starting to grow in the Tzedakah Garden, which is a cooperative effort between Jewish Family Service and Mayerson JCC. Volunteers are needed to help with planning, sowing seeds, tending, harvesting and delivering the fruits of their labor to Jewish Family Service Food Pantry.

Volunteer Visitors
We help people who are isolated maintain contact with the Jewish community through the loving attention of our Volunteer Visitors.

Visits might include reading books or magazines, conversing, taking a stroll, playing games or cards, writing letters, organizing photos, alphabetizing phone numbers and addresses, leading prayer, celebrating a Jewish holiday or Shabbat, or recording a personal history.

Isolated community members of all ages thrive on personal visits and daily telephone calls; caring and meaningful relationships reduce the risk of depression and enhance the quality of life.

Jewish Visiting Initiative (Bikur Cholim Project)
Literally translated, Bikur Cholim means visiting the sick, but this wouldn’t accurately describe the Jewish Family Service Visiting Initiative. Not only do we visit the sick, but we also stop by to say hello to the lonely, provide friendship to the chronically disabled, and bring Jewish traditions to the isolated. We’ll even cook a meal or two for post-surgery patients who are recovering from hospitalization.

There is more than one way to help someone feel a Jewish connection.

Volunteer. Today.

Friendly Visitor
Give your time to someone who can really benefit from a cheerful voice and a friendly chat. The person you visit might live in his/her home or in a retirement village. On a nice day, go for a walk. On a rainy day, read together, play cards or games; enjoy music. A single hour of compassionate caring can enrich your life as much as you enrich the lives of others. Contact Pat Rosenberg at Jewish Family Service
513-766-3362 or prosenberg@jfscinti.org
Commitment: Flexible hours according to your availability

Hospital Shabbat
Bikur Cholim literally means visiting the sick. In 2004, Jewish Family Service started a visiting program at Jewish Hospital. It is going strong. Now we are looking to expand this successful model to other hospitals in the area. Volunteers are needed immediately to visit Jewish patients at University Hospital. Training will include hospital volunteer procedures and Jewish Family Service guidelines for successful visits. Visits are not necessarily on Fridays. Ask a friend to sign up with you, and make your visits together! Contact Pat Rosenberg at Jewish Family Service 513-766-3362 or prosenberg@jfscinti.org
Commitment: 4 times a year

Holiday Sensations
Bring holiday rituals and memories to residential communities in the Cincinnati area. Help Jewish residents celebrate their identity where there may not be much of a Jewish population. Present holiday activities for Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Passover, and a summer activity of your choice. This is an especially nice way for congregations to involve their entire membership, by sharing the talents of young and old. Contact Pat Rosenberg at Jewish Family Service 513-766-3362 or prosenberg@jfscinti.org
Commitment: 2-4 hours at holiday times

Friendly Connection
Volunteers visit Holocaust survivors at home on a regular basis. Volunteers may also attend activities such as Friendship Club meetings or cultural/social events with individuals.
Commitment: Time agreed upon by volunteer and individual

Wings on Wheels (Volunteer Transportation Program) Volunteers drive homebound individuals to places they might not otherwise be able to go such as grocery store, doctor’s office, shopping and JFS.
Commitment: Time agreed upon by volunteer and individuals

Administrative Support
Babysitter
Volunteers provide babysitting for children while their parents meet in group sessions or educational classes at Adoption Connection and Alan R. Mack Center. Daytime and evening hours.
Commitment: 2 hours – once or twice per month

Brochure Distribution
Volunteers maintain supply of informational packets or brochures for various departments. Distribute packets and flyers to doctors, dentists, libraries.
Commitment: 1-2 hour shifts, 10:00 to 5:00, Monday-Friday

Clerical and Administrative Support
Volunteers provide needed clerical support to various programs and departments. Commitments vary and duties can include answering the phone, stuffing envelopes for a mailing, typing, filing, copying and entering data.
Commitment: 2 to 3 hour shift as needed

Special Talents and Skills
Volunteer Programs maintains a Talents/Skills Bank for special skills such as carpentry, electrical work, photography, art, calligraphy, sewing, professional marketing, etc.
Commitment: As needed

Youth and Teen Opportunities

Pre-School Through B’nai Mitzvah Opportunities
These activities are available for religious school group projects. Plan to have a teacher and other adult volunteers working with the children for these opportunities.

Student Bikur Cholim Volunteers
The younger children visit with senior adults in a day care or residential home setting. This can be arranged as a field trip during religious school hours or at another time. Children create craft projects with the senior residents. Music programs can be arranged utilizing your volunteer music resources if available.
Commitment: 3-4 hours per event

Holiday Delivery Volunteers
At various times of the year, students will have the opportunity to create holiday gift items for delivery to isolated seniors in need of some holiday cheer. Dr. Samuel S. Rockwern Passover Delivery of Jewish Family Service is an example of a holiday program that involves the handiwork of many small children and the support of adults for supervision and delivery.
Commitment: varies with task

B’nai Mitzvah and Teen Opportunities

Teen Bikur Cholim Volunteer
Teens visit with older adults individually or in a group for sharing conversation/experience, Shabbat and holiday gift sharing. Visits can take place in nursing homes, residential communities and individual homes.
Commitment: 2-4 hours per month, ongoing

Resettlement and Acculturation Program
While the Resettlement and Acculturation Program is funded through the Jewish Federation’s Project Exodus, JFS is the social service agency that administers this program and attends to integrating the émigrés from the former Soviet Union into their new community. Speaking Russian is not a requirement but may be helpful.

Tutor
Volunteers assist in English as a Second Language classes or provide individual English tutoring in the home. May assist in preparing New Americans for the U.S. citizenship test.
Commitment: Time agreed upon by volunteer and individual

Naturalization Welcoming - A collaboration between Jewish Family Service and The Red Cross International Services
Jewish Family Service and the Red Cross have joined together in a program to welcome newly naturalized citizens following the naturalization ceremonies at the local federal courthouse and other designated locations.

Commitment: This involves 2 - 3 hours once a month or every other month. Training provided.