Looking for a way to help at this critical time? JF&CS has a variety of meaningful volunteer opportunities to support our clients and their increased needs. Your caring can make a difference in our community.
Volunteer with JF&CS Family Table
Deliver food to clients in need:
JF&CS Family Table is looking for volunteers* to help at our Sunday distributions in Waltham, Marblehead and Canton.
We need volunteers on-site to pack and deliver groceries. Please be assured that we have put measures in place so that you will be able to practice social distancing at our distributions. In order to protect our clients, we ask all volunteers to complete a CORI background check. If interested, please fill out a brief Family Table application for Waltham, Marblehead or Canton if you have not completed a volunteer application previously. Lisa Katz, Family Table volunteer coordinator, will be in touch, or you can reach out to Lisa directly at lkatz@jfcsboston.org.
*Please note: Based on guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, we have determined that individuals may not attend distribution if any of the following apply:
- You are 70 years of age or older
- You have an underlying health condition, such as moderate to severe asthma or serious heart conditions, or if you are immunocompromised
- You are feeling unwell
- You have recently come in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or if you have been in close contact with someone who is ill and whose COVID-19 status is in question
Gift Cards for JF&CS Family Table
Help our clients put food on the table:
Our Family Table food pantry is accepting donations of Stop & Shop gift cards in $25 increments. Please mail cards to: Bernice Behar, Family Table Director, JF&CS, 1430 Main St., Waltham, MA 02451. If you have any questions, please email Bernice at bbehar@jfcsboston.org.
Card-Making Project
Reach out to isolated older adults:
Write personalized “Thinking of You” cards that we can send to our isolated older adult clients. In the past, this generation primarily communicated through handwritten notes and letters, so your personally written message will be particularly meaningful. If you are interested, please follow these card-making directions. Contact Sue Spielman with any questions at sspielman@jfcsboston.org.
Social Media Engagement
Help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities:
We are creating a library of activities for our clients who are at home, without structured daytime activities. Volunteers can record themselves on their phone doing an adaptive art project, dance, workout, yoga, song session, relaxation or meditation. Clients will be able to access the videos on the JF&CS YouTube channel. To get involved, please contact Angie Waring at awaring@jfcsboston.org.
Amazon Wish List
Provide basic needs for families with young children:
Our Amazon Wish List highlights our greatest needs around providing diapers, wipes and other essentials to our clients. You can purchase items directly from our Wish List or send us a gift card to help support our clients and their families.
Caring Crafts
Knit, crochet or craft for our clients:
Make scarves, a lap blanket or shawl for isolated older adults. Your handmade gift will help bring warmth and compassion to our clients. For more information, please contact Ava Harder at aharder@jfcsboston.org.
Making Masks
Keep our clients and frontline staff healthy by making masks:
JF&CS is accepting donations of homemade cloth masks for our clients and staff. For more information, please visit our mask-making page.
We cannot care for all of our vulnerable clients with the support of our volunteers. Thank you!
Please contact Ava Harder, volunteer services manager, at aharder@jfcsboston.org if you have any questions about these opportunities.
This post has been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content are presented solely by the author, and JewishBoston assumes no responsibility for them. Want to add your voice to the conversation? Publish your own post here. MORE