JFS Boulder volunteer retires after 52 years of service
Jerry Sloat has been sounding the shofar for JFS Boulder High Holiday celebrations at older adult facilities since 1971. In fact, Jerry has volunteered to sound the shofar at so many places over the years that he has lost count. After sounding the shofar for more than 50 years, Jerry is happy to let someone take over the mitzvah.
Volunteer and become part of our JFS Altius Farms crew
At JFS Altius Farms, we grow more than 35,000 pounds of fresh produce yearly in our 7,300 sq. ft. rooftop greenhouse, which houses 345 Tower Gardens™. Now, you can volunteer and help us provide healthy, locally and sustainably grown chemical pesticide-free produce for restaurants, local grocers, the community, and the JFS Weinberg Food Pantry for our clients.
September 2024 Volunteer of the Month
We are excited to introduce our September Volunteer of the Month, Ellen S., who volunteers as a Community Table Lunch Companion, helping provide nutritious lunches to older adults who benefit from sharing a community meal with their peers.
August 2024 Volunteer of the Month
We are excited to introduce our August Volunteer of the Month, Danni L., who volunteers in the Weinberg Food Pantry, helping provide nutritious and culturally relevant food to individuals and families in need.
July 2024 Volunteer of the Month
We are excited to introduce our July Volunteer of the Month, Michele M., who volunteers as a Friendly Visitor, helping to provide friendship and support to older adults in our community and with our Refugee Resettlement program providing cultural orientation to newly settled families.
Passover 2024: Finding hope and joy, together
Bringing Passover celebrations to isolated older adults in retirement communities or their homes is such an impactful way to show we care for our Jewish friends. To all our supporters and dedicated volunteers, we thank you for making Passover special to those who rely on us. We truly appreciate your efforts to make these celebrations meaningful.
JFS Boulder volunteer gatherings
May, JFS Boulder held two volunteer gatherings for existing and potential volunteers to join our team, Guests learned about our JFS programs and volunteer opportunities while getting to know other volunteers and staff. We’re already looking forward to planning future informational sessions!
Meet our Boulder Volunteer of the Year
Since 2013, Rob has supported the organization with his dedication to the Friendly Visitor program, as a holiday celebrant, and deliverer of holiday baskets, sharing more than 300 hours of his time volunteering.
Program spotlight: JFS Volunteer Services
This month, we’re excited to spotlight our Volunteer Services department. We sat down with JFS Volunteer Services Manager Marissa Greene to learn about this remarkable team and their work throughout JFS and our communities.
Meet our Denver Volunteer of the Year
Since 2011, Fran Cohen has shared more than 1,350 hours of her time volunteering for JFS with her dedication to the ACC Friendly Visitor program, the Weinberg Food Pantry, Bright Holidays, and more. We are honored to announce Fran as this year’s JFS Denver Volunteer of the Year Award recipient. Read about how Fran truly personifies the spirit of JFS.
Building strong social connections
We have two volunteer opportunities to help build connections with older adults and help prevent social isolation—both of which are essential to promoting a healthy lifestyle. Get involved, foster friendships, have fun, and do good throughout our Boulder community!
Fostering intergenerational friendships and reducing loneliness
If you are looking for a way to make a real impact on the life of a local person, consider joining our Friendly Visitor program. Friendly visitors are matched with an older adult or an adult with a disability for weekly visits or phone calls.
So many ways to do good
At JFS, our volunteers use their strengths to make a difference inside of JFS and throughout their community. They step up and find ways to make life better for those who rely on JFS and help us adapt to meet the needs of those facing hardships and challenges. If you would like to join our dedicated volunteer team, we have an opportunity for you!
Become a Best Buddy
At JFS, our volunteers’ efforts can be seen and felt throughout the organization and community every day, and we are so thankful for their commitment. If you’re a Jewish adult and interested in creating deeper friendships and connections with other Jewish adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we have opportunities for you!
Volunteer Satisfaction Survey Results
Thanks to all of you who completed the annual volunteer satisfaction survey last month. Your feedback will help JFS to improve the volunteer service program and other programs. The survey is not one and done, of course. Please know that Volunteer Services wants to hear from you - both the challenges and the successes.
Meet our Volunteer of the Year
Since 2015, Eve Verderber has shared more than 728 hours of her time volunteering for JFS with her dedication to the Boulder Advisory Committee, Golden West Ambassador, and Friendly Visitor programs and holiday celebrations and the Reel Hope event. We are honored to announce Eve as this year’s JFS Boulder Volunteer of the Year Award recipient. Read about how Eve truly personifies the spirit of JFS.
Do a Little Good
At JFS, we couldn’t help our neighbors thrive without our volunteers—both within the agency and throughout the community.
Friendly Visitor program: neighbors helping neighbors
The JFS Friendly Visitor program promotes connection, engagement, and fun between older adults and volunteers. Volunteers are individually matched with an older adult to provide an hour or so of companionship each week. Our volunteers find that they establish a rich connection with the individuals they meet. We ask our volunteers for a minimum commitment of six months, which gives them time to develop a relationship and form a bond.
Volunteering through generations
At JFS, we couldn’t help our neighbors thrive without the help of our volunteers—both within the agency and throughout the community. It’s exciting to see how we’re experiencing different generations of volunteers working together, making a difference just like their families have done throughout the organization and beyond. Recently, JFS clients were the beneficiaries of Carter, Wyatt, and Brody’s mitzvah projects as part of their bar mitzvah preparations.