Making Connections
Dear Friend,

Thanks to the over 2,300 people who generously share their time and talents, JF&CS has one of the state’s most active volunteer programs. As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week, we want to recognize these passionate and caring volunteers, and to highlight some of the many ways they support and advance our work. 

Twenty-five thousand hours a year makes an enormous impact—in deliveries of groceries, personalized visits, groups supported, and more. Every single volunteer helps expand the breadth and depth of our work…ensuring that many more people feel connected, valued, and safe. We are so grateful.

Why are these volunteers so committed? In the words of so many: “it feels good”. It feels good to put your skills to work in meaningful ways. It feels good to know that you are improving lives and amplifying impact. It feels good to connect with others who share similar interests and values. And for those who volunteer with their children, it feels good to create a culture of giving that will last for generations.

For JF&CS, this commitment makes all the difference. The financial impact of our volunteer time is estimated at $850,000 this year. That is an extraordinary contribution. And the human impact is even greater—because the passion, caring and life experience of our volunteers are simply invaluable. 

While many of our volunteer stories feature direct service work, it is also important to acknowledge the equally valuable efforts of our committee members. From our Board of Directors to our individual program and operational committees, these volunteers dedicate countless hours to organization and program strategy, fundraising, and so much more. 

On behalf of our staff, our clients, and our community, thank you to ALL of our volunteers for your vital support! 
Be well,


Gail Schulman
Chief Executive Officer
Thousands of beautiful cards, nutritious holiday meals, caring connections, warm scarves…and so much more! Thank you for the many ways you say "We are Here" for JF&CS and our clients!
Volunteers help keep a beloved tradition going...outdoors!
Over a dozen volunteers—children and adults—helped us host the annual Chaverim Shel Shalom seder—safely outdoors in the JF&CS parking lot! Chaverim Shel Shalom (Friends of Peace) is a program for Jewish adults living with chronic mental health challenges, many of whom have been feeling isolated over the past year. We are grateful to the staff and volunteers who made this beloved event possible. 
Caucasian woman with glasses
Ava M.A. Harder,
Manager, Volunteer Services

Q: How did you find your way to this role? 
A: Before having children, I worked (and stressed!) in the for-profit world. After the birth of my first child, I participated in a JF&CS New Parents Group. It was such an important part of my baby’s first year and my first year as a mom—we still have close friends from that group! I always wanted to find my way to what I considered more meaningful work, and when a friend at JF&CS told me about a position at the agency, I knew I had to “go for it!” That was five and a half years ago, and I have loved being a part of an organization whose work touches the lives of so many people in such powerful ways.

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“It's a natural for our family to think of those less fortunate as we celebrate life's blessings—my mother's special birthday was one of those moments. Rather than receiving gifts, she suggested that guests direct their generosity to a Family Table link listed on her evite. Together, we celebrated my mother by raising a significant amount of money in support of a very worthy cause: providing groceries to support individuals and families in need. The joy that we all received by encouraging this act was overwhelming. Gifting in this way will now become a go-to for our family (and hopefully for those that we brought to the 'Table')."
—Karen Rosenberg (JF&CS volunteer and donor)
Adult and child with medical masks on stand with a child's toy wagon outside
Every month, over 500 volunteers provide more than 2700 bags of groceries for Family Table (through Sunday Distribution, Marketplace and Emergency Deliveries) from our home bases in Waltham, Canton and Marblehead. Volunteers pack the groceries, deliver them, and (in non-pandemic times) often enjoy a personal, brief visit with the recipients. Some of these relationships last for years! Despite constraints on volunteers’ access to our indoor space, Family Table did not miss a beat this year. In fact, we responded to unprecedented demand, and increased deliveries of emergency groceries five-fold. Thank you to the wonderful Family Table volunteers who are our essential partners in fighting food insecurity.
We both have our Bat Mitzvahs on May 8th—we thought we could have a bigger impact in the community if we combined our efforts on a mitzvah project. It’s been hard to find meaningful volunteer work for our mitzvah project during the pandemic because we have had to social distance and the options have been limited.
Through the Lauren & Mark Rubin Visiting Moms program, volunteers provide weekly visits to new parents adjusting to the demands of parenthood. Their dedication and commitment is extraordinary; some volunteers have been contributing their time for more than a decade! While the pandemic has meant that most visits have been virtual this year, the new parents really appreciate this antidote to the extreme isolation of caring for a baby during COVID.
jfcsboston.org | 781-647-JFCS (5327)
Waltham Headquarters | Brighton | Canton | Central MA | North Shore
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