We are very proud to report that JFCS engaged 780 new and returning volunteers through 100 volunteer opportunities in 2021. You can check out our 2021 Annual Report by clicking here. Our volunteer offerings and safety protocols have continued to change throughout COVID-19 and we are grateful to have such dedicated volunteers we can count on in times of need.

dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org, 952.417.2112

National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and is an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world. At JFCS, we are so appreciative of the 780 new and returning volunteers who engaged with us through 100 volunteer opportunities in 2021. Out of the 780 individual unduplicated volunteers, 360 people volunteered more than once. Thank you to all our volunteers!

Join us as we celebrate YOU and all you do for our community. Stop by JFCS anytime between 4-6 p.m. for an open house celebration. Refreshments will be served.

RSVP by clicking the link below by Wednesday, May 18, to receive a special gift at the event. For those who prefer not to attend in-person, please still RSVP and a JFCS staff member can bring your gift out to your car during the event time. We look forward to seeing you there! >Click here to register for the event.

>If you are able to volunteer for any of these opportunities below, email Dana at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org for next steps.

We are recruiting more Garber Transportation volunteer drivers. Sign up for this flexible opportunity to provide rides that work for your schedule and use your own car to pick up clients who need rides to necessary appointments and errands. During COVID-19, clients sit in the backseat on the opposite side of the driver. We also limit the cars to one client, and both the client and volunteer are required to wear a face mask. To learn more about the program, check out these links: >Garber Transportation Program flyer and >Garber Transportation video

Volunteers are needed to help with upcoming events for the JFCS Memory Café group with tasks such as setting up, welcoming participants, helping with activities, interacting with the participants, directing people to restrooms, and cleaning up. Memory Café is a gathering for people with memory loss and their caregivers. Café members meet regularly for activities and conversations in a comfortable, supportive environment.

J-Pride will be participating in the Twin Cities Pride Festival this summer and we'd love to have you join us. Let us know if you are interested in participating. J-Pride’s mission is to create community through queer-focused Jewish programming for LGBTQ+ Jews and their allies throughout the Twin Cities.

We are looking to schedule a blood drive that would be held at JFCS in the coming months. Due to staffing shortages at Memorial Blood Center, our first step is to gauge interest from our community and then we will reach out about getting on their calendar. Click here for general blood donation guidelines.

>We love to hear from our volunteers about their connections to JFCS and volunteer experiences. If you have a story to share, please reach out to dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org for next steps. Thanks for your consideration!

>We love to see our projects in action around the community, so email us any pictures at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org. Thanks!

Hopkins Schools' Meadowbrook Elementary picked JFCS to be one of the recipients of its Service Week projects in February. Students made about 180 cards and bookmarks for JFCS clients and donated 675 pounds of food to to our partner organization, PRISM. >Click here to watch a quick video recap of Meadowbrook's Kindness Week.

Volunteers supported staff with the Caring Connections Musical Sing-a-Long Seder held at Beth El on April 10. The event was funded through the Tybie Proman Endowment Fund at JFCS and Caring Connections members were encouraged to invite family and friends to celebrate together. This was the first in-person Seder for this group since 2019 and 100 people attended.

For 20 years, JFCS has provided referred individuals and families in need with a gift bag of ritual Passover foods and other meaningful items to help celebrate this holiday. This gift is often a family’s only opportunity to obtain the items it needs to celebrate the rich traditions of Passover and we had 229 recipients this year. Many volunteers (including new and repeat volunteers, as well as representatives from J-Pride and NextGen) supported Passover Hag Sameach by assembling bags, making delivery routes and phone calls, and delivering to recipients throughout Hennepin County.

JFCS volunteers also delivered Passover bags to those who will be attending the virtual Freedom Seder on April 18, celebrating freedom from addiction and exodus from slavery. >Click here for more information about the event.

Volunteers delivered Shabbat-themed goodie bags to Caring Connections members around the Twin Cities to help make a virtual JDAIM event possible on Feb. 18 in collaboration with Mt. Zion Temple.

Community members participated in a supply drive for Refugee Shabbat, an initiative for congregations, organizations, and individuals around the world to dedicate a Shabbat experience to refugees and asylum seekers, held March 4-6. Local organizations that solicited donations for Refugee Shabbat include JFCS, Jewish Family Service of St. Paul (JFS), Bet Shalom Congregation, Beth El Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, and Mt. Zion Temple. The recipient organization was Alight, which has partnered with Team Rubicon to quickly and thoughtfully create safe, dignified spaces for Afghan families.

For more information about JFCS volunteer services, contact Dana Shapiro, Community & Volunteer Engagement Manager, at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org or 952.417.2112.