Happy spring and welcome back to our snowbirds! We would love to hear if you got connected with volunteer opportunities at a partner agency across the country while you were away, so send us an email to let us know!

Thank you all for your support of JFCS! We are looking to our volunteer community to gather information about your volunteer experiences so we can can continue to evolve to best serve you. Click here to take a few minutes to share your thoughts for a chance to win a gift card!

We hope you are managing to hang in there with everything, and if not, please reach out and know that we are here to help you. Read on to learn more about the many ways our volunteers engage with JFCS, as well as how you can give of your time and talents in the coming months.

dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org or 952.417.2112

Each spring we make an extra effort to recognize our volunteers who actively support JFCS, and we are so appreciative of the 880 new and returning volunteers who engaged with us in 2023. A heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers! Be sure to check out our social media pages to hear from volunteers and staff about JFCS volunteering in the coming weeks.

>Click here to share your thoughts about volunteering with JFCS for a chance to win a gift card!

We'd love to hear from more in our volunteer community! Click here to share your experience for a future volunteer spotlight.

Calling any community members who want to make a difference in the lives of Jewish families by helping with upcoming PJ Library events. Volunteers help make our events a warm and welcome space and add a personal touch to our gatherings, fostering a sense of community and connection. We can use help with the following two dates for our upcoming Shalom Baby Shower:

Contact Geri Goldman at ggoldman@jfcsmpls.org to help May 30 or June 2, or to be added to the volunteer list for upcoming events.

We will be hosting a booth at Twin Cities Pride on Saturday, June 29, (12-6 p.m.) and Sunday, June 30, (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), and are looking for community members to help us staff it. Volunteers will receive training and information about J-Pride and our program offerings to share with those who stop by the booth. We are also looking for anyone and everyone who wishes to celebrate LGBTQ+ Jewishness by joining us in the parade on Sunday morning! Click here to sign up to help. To learn more about J-Pride, follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Meetup.

Contact Hunter Wengersky at hwengersky@jfcsmpls.org with any questions.

Do you have connections to great online auction or raffle prizes? Would you like to get involved with the JFCS Benefit?

Save the date for Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. Click here to learn more about our biggest fundraiser of the year.

Contact Peggy at pmandel@jfcsmpls.org or 952-542-4814 to help.

Join JFCS Volunteers in Action in the coming months for another puppy parade. We are working on confirming a date and hope to schedule for this spring or summer, so let us know if you want to get information when the information becomes available. This is a family-friendly event and a great opportunity to bring a smile to someone's face by visiting with them with your dog. All dogs participating in this event should be vaccinated and well-behaved around other dogs and people of all ages.

Contact Dana at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org to be contacted when the date becomes available.

Seeking volunteers who are available on Monday and/or Wednesday from 1:30-5 p.m. We're looking for friendly and professional volunteers to help at the front desk on a regular basis by greeting visitors, answering phone calls, and setting the tone to ensure a welcoming and positive experience for clients, guests and staff. Training and support will be provided by the Administrative Professionals Team.

Contact Dana at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org if you are interested.

We could always use more volunteers to serve as friendly Outreach Visitors and to drive our clients to appointments and errands as a Garber Transportation Volunteer Driver. Both of these opportunities have flexible time commitments where you get to set your schedule.

Contact Dana at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org to help a senior.

We are actively seeking Jewish mentors (especially females) and mentees for this program. This program has connected hundreds of kids with caring teens and adults forming long lasting, meaningful relationships for over 40 years! Program highlights include: Access to FREE ticketed events (sporting event, museums, zoos, theater, etc.) through a partner agency called Tickets for Kids, individualized orientation for all volunteers, continued support and ongoing training from professional program staff. No previous experience required. Click here for more information.

Contact Dori Gelfman at dgelfman@jfcsmpls.org or 952-542-4835 with questions.

Looking for a consistent way to make a meaningful impact on your community? Join us to provide ongoing backup coverage during our PRISM food shelf (Monday/Thursday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Kosher Meals on Wheels (Tuesday/Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) delivery shifts. Physical demands include lifting, loading and unloading food boxes. Includes brief contact with recipient.

Contact Dana at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org to help deliver food.

Let JFCS help you prepare for your big day of becoming a B’Mitzvah and embracing the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repair of the world). Our projects are open to anyone and are great options for individuals (B’Mitzvah students, teens, and adults) and groups (families, schools, book clubs, mahjong groups, community organizations, businesses, etc.) looking to make a positive impact in the community. Click here for program flyer.

Contact Dana at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org to get involved with a mitzvah project.

Volunteers of all ages recently filled and delivered bags of Passover food to more than 350 people referred to the Hag Sameach (Happy Holidays) Program this year.

Ella, Audrey and Cym participated in JFCS-themed mitzvah projects. Ella assembled beautiful centerpieces for her Bat Mitzvah containing art supplies she purchased to be provided to ParentChild+ Program program participants. Audrey and her mom Cym also worked with JFCS staff to put together a meaningful mitzvah project. They decorated and filled bags containing snacks they purchased for clients to enjoy while waiting for their food shelf appointments at PRISM, so they don't have to "shop" while hungry.