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JVN Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

The Federation provides meaningful direct service volunteer opportunities for the Jewish community to engage in the work of repairing the world – tikkun olam.

Volunteer at PJ Library Goes to Camp Wise
Sunday, August 29, 12-5 p.m.

Volunteers will assist Camp Wise staff in welcoming and registering attendees, connecting with families as they participate in activities, and ensuring a warm, welcoming and FUN event. The event is FREE for volunteers (age 14+) and their immediate family members, and a 2-hour shift still leaves lots of time to PLAY at Camp Wise. Learn more.

To sign up, contact Kelly Rubanenko at krubanenko@jcfcleve.org or 216.593.2900, ext. 232.
Tutors Needed at Ginn Academy
Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the school year

Make a difference by helping improve a student’s literacy skills in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The Federation’s Public Education Initiative (PEI) has expanded to a sixth site at Ginn Academy, an innovative school in the Collinwood neighborhood, to provide reading tutors for their 9-12 graders. Ginn Academy is a structured, rigorous, all-male high school which emphasizes scholarship, leadership and service. Training is provided and required.

Contact PEI Director, Jessica Semel, at jsemel@jcfcleve.org or 216.593.2900, ext. 263.

JVN Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Category
 Hands-On Opportunities
Virtual Opportunities
Literacy
 Tutor elementary age children in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (must be 15)

Tutor at the Juvenile Detention Center (must be 21) 		Collect and wrap Christmas presents

Collect new school supplies for students
Nursing Homes

 Be a friendly visitor

Help with arts & crafts, bingo and holiday celebrations

Participate in a Junior Volunteer program (ages 12 and up)

Assist in the snack shop or gift shop

Assist staff on outings

Transport residents

Play cards, chess or checkers with residents

Lead discussion groups

Assist staff with serving breakfast to residents

Sing and entertain residents

Act as a Russian translator

Help with Kiddush		 Organize Jewish holiday card project
Holocaust
Survivors
 Enjoy a one-on-one friendship with an isolated survivor

Help serve, socialize or provide transportation at a weekly socialization group

Educate middle and high school students about the Holocaust 		 
Homebound Seniors
Deliver home-delivered meals

Provide transportation to medical appointments and social activities

Plan an event, set up and clean up at an independent living site

Assist with Helpline emergency response system 		 
Hunger

Prepare and serve a meal at a shelter or soup kitchen

Sort donated produce and non-perishable food

Sort food and get it ready to be delivered to food pantries

Serve lunches to children during the summer

Deliver holiday food packages to homebound seniors

Organize a food drive (kosher and non-kosher food) to be donated to a local food pantry or foodbank
Environmental
 Help with upkeep of community gardens

Help plan the annual community clean up at the Hebrew Cultural Garden

Plant a garden at a group home and maintain it

Start a recycling program at your synagogue or school

Work on an environmental newsletter

Introduce the natural environment to students through hiking and related activities

Assist with a community-supported agricultural organization
Coordinate the donation of produce to local shelters
Children's Welfare


 Volunteer at a school for autism (must be 21)

Assist in nursing home day care center

Sort, count and box clothing to be donated

Plan a childrens activity in a shelter or transitional housing agency

Help with a teen play about abuse

Participate in lunchtime social/emotional mentoring for 4th graders in Cleveland

Aid classroom teachers in early childhood center (must be 21)

Lead art or music class in juvenile correction facility
Collect backpacks and school supplies

Organize a toy drive to be donated at Christmas time

Collect and donate art supplies to be donated to a school or neighborhood center
Special Needs
 Provide transportation to employment or volunteer opportunities for young adults

Assist with outings and socialization activities

Assist with basic maintenance and upkeep at a group home

Plan a social or holiday event at a group home
 Make holiday cards to send to group home residents

Organize “kitchen shower” for a new group home
New Immigrants
Provide English as a second language (ESL) tutoring

Help individuals study for their citizenship test

Be a Russian translator, help at medical appointments and nursing homes 		 

Military

 See "Virtual Opportunities"

Collect non-perishable food and toiletry items to send to soldiers overseas

Collect DVD's, CD's, puzzle books and current magazines for soldiers

Make and send holiday cards

Organize holiday food drive to send overseas

Send letters and packages to IDF soldiers

Transitional
Housing
 Prepare and serve meals to residents

Plan an arts and crafts or music activity for children

“Adopt” an apartment by preparing the space for a new family moving in		 Collect new pillows and linens

Collect gently used professional clothing for women

Collect and wrap toys for Christmas

Make cookies and deliver to residents
Hospice

Assist with direct patient care

Run errands and do special projects for patients

Provide supportive visits

Teen volunteers: Visit patients at a residential facility, cook/bake in family kitchen, play games with patients and plan activities for children 		 
Medical
 Sort medical supplies to be donated overseas

Volunteer your professional skills at a “free clinic”

Make friendly visits in hospitals

Help transport patients in wheelchairs

Serve as an emergency room liasion

Serve coffee, visit with patient’s families in the hospital's hospitality suite

Facilitate STD & HIV prevention workshops for teens and local groups

Be a pharmacy technician (training provided and required)

Organize blood or bone marrow drive

Knit, quilt or crochet items for patients from birth-18 years old (items must be made in a smoke-free home)
Family Violence
 Provide transportation for victims of domestic violence

Help coordinate teen play about teen violence 		 
Chaplaincy
 Visit Jewish patients to lend comfort and support

  
General
 Help with mailings and general office support

Assist at a Judaic giftshop 		 


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Past JVN Events
 •  2010 Brunch & Bloom
 •  2009 Cemetery Clean Up at Chesed Shel Emeth
 •  2009 Brunch & Bloom