January/February
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
Because YOU are JFS...
In This Issue
Welcome 2017....! 
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January has come and gone and the new year is in full swing! Welcome 2017! Have you kept your new years resolution? Did you never get around to making one because you didn't know what to choose? How about giving back by volunteering with JFS! We have plenty of opportunities if you read on...

In this issue we celebrate our volunteers who had birthdays in January and those born in February as well! You can read about our spotlighted volunteer of the month, the wonderful work that took place at our 2nd Pop Up Clothing Closet event and our Family Assistance Program at Woodrow Wilson. We also learn about the origins of Black History Month and acknowledge those volunteers who have completed 20 hours or more of volunteer work with JFS! 
 
Make a difference, VOLUNTEER!  Recommend a friend too!
Volunteer Spotlight
Name : Danny Abend                                
Occupation: Wendy's Employee          
Time with JFS: 3 years
Volunteer Position: Event and Office Support
                                        
Danny has been volunteering with JFS since 2014 in various different capacities. He has helped us setup for our annual Build-A-Backpack event, prepare supplies for holiday activities at All Stars and Math Academy and is always ready and willing to do what is needed! When he is not volunteering and working at Wendy's, Danny enjoys playing games. He decided to become a volunteer due to his passion for helping children in need. When asked about his favorite part of volunteering Danny said that he enjoys the people and working with others to do good. 
  
Danny thank you so much for your continued support and commitment to JFS, we could not accomplish what we do without you!
February Volunteer Birthdays
The HAPPIEST of BIRTHDAYS to our FEBRUARY BORN VOLUNTEERS!
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Amy Zwanziger February 1st
Emma Freedlander February 1st
Molly Covarrubias February 3rd
Robert Merrill February 4th
Denise Annunciata February 4th
Karen Cohen February 10th
Marcelline Obodou February 11th
Barbara Gainsboro February 11th
Talia Puterman February 13th
Christopher Lugo February 13th
Andrew Tarsy February 14th
Anavi Eagar February 14th
Victor Dietz February 14th
Phelicha Silva February 15th
Liz Riedford February 15th
Harriet Merkowitz February 18th
Michelle Carbonneau February 19th
Christopher Ahearn February 20th
Marilyn Goldberg February 23rd
Debi Golden February 24th
Michael Beall February 24th
Stephanie Juma February 24th
Barbara Shapiro February 24th
Alan Berns February 25th
Adam Bass February 26th
Jordan Kogan February 26th
Martha Lerman February 27th

January Volunteer Birthdays!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY 
to all of our Volunteers born in January !

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Joan Gordon
January 3rd
Deidra Lemus January 3rd
Bathoola Fathima January 3rd
Patience Fon
January 3rd
Betty Saltzman
January 4th
Eva Sartori
January 6th
Joyce Krasner
January 9th
Safaa Atoui-Ghozayel January 9th
Benjamin Ginsburg
January 10th
Julie Wolf January 12th
Barbara Berns
January 21st
Louis Sakin
January 22nd
Ellen Sherman
January 22nd
Carol Mersky
January 23rd
Laura Towvim
January 24th
Catherine Bueker
January 25th
Anneliese Corbett
January 26th
Nancy Gerber
January 26th
Helaine Cohen
January 27th
Elaine Marmer
January 27th
Max Kaufman
January 28th
Elizabeth Sobol
January 30th
Daniel Herman
January 30th
Rachel Rock
January 31st

December Hours & T-Shirts
JFS volunteers have spent   815.75  hours helping others in the Metrowest community  during the months of December and January! Thank you to all of our volunteers for  spending time and dedicating yourself to benefit of others. 

Our clients thank you and we appreciate you for standing up for those in need!
 
Once you've reached 20 hours of service you are eligible for a t-shirt. Those that reached that mark are:
  • Danny Abend
  • Aiswarya Arul
  • Sheila Buckley
  • Matthew Cayo
  • Karen Cohen
  • Jiah Elliotte
  • Adienex Fernandez
  • Benjamin Fink
  • Jared Hagans
  • Jane Joiner
  • Max Kaufman
  • Deidra Lemus
  • Martha Lerman
  • Tyler Quade
  • Rachel Seliber
  • David Silverman
  • Lorrany Vaz
  • Elizabeth Wheeler
  • Yiru (cecilia) Xie
     
Congratulations !  Please let us know how you'd like to collect your t-shirt!

Please remember this is based on the number of hours recorded in our system. If you volunteer for programs other than Wilson or Patient Navigator the system does not auto calculate your hours. If you don't know how to log your hours of service, let us know and we'll help you!
February is Black History Month

Did you know....?

  • "The NAACP was founded on February 2nd, 1909, the centennial anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln."
     
  • "President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."
     
  • "Every American president (since Ford) has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme."
     

  • "Black History Month began as "Negro History Week," which was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator, and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln."


    Facts from History.com
Winter Weather Pop-Up Closet
Thank you to all of our hard working clothing closet volunteers both before, during and after our 2nd Pop Up Clothing Closet event. 
Click here to read more!


Seize The Dream
Our annual Seize The Dream Gala is right around the corner and we are looking for volunteers to help with office support. 
  • Must be very comfortable using a computer 
  • Available at least one day a week
  • Detail Oriented
If you are interested in volunteering please 
call or email Kayla Hopkins at 
[email protected] or 508-875-3100 x.220

Program Spotlight
Wilson Family Assistance
 
At the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Framingham, many families have struggled with unemployment , foreclosure, overdue utility bills, the threat of eviction and abusive relationships due to the economic downturn which has hit especially hard in low-income communities. In viewing this need, JFS created a Family Assistance program at the Wilson School and stationed a bilingual community resource specialist on-site 8 hours each week. 

In this low income community many families have been helped by JFS to apply for benefits and services and have been directed to legal, medical, housing and employment resources. We are proud of the benefits offered through this important program and we thank you for doing your part to assist those in need.



Upcoming Opportunities
JFS's programs are
Growing Rapidly
and we need Volunteers like you in order to keep up...

All Stars/Math Academy is looking for volunteers on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons from 2:45-5:20pm...

Help mentor 3rd and 4th grade students who have a love for learning and pride for their school. 


 
Friendly Visitor is continually matching volunteers
up with clients  and is always looking for more...
Provide consistent support and companionship to an elderly or disabled client through weekly visits and phone calls.

 

Patient Navigator currently has 350 clients enrolled with just over 30 volunteer navigators...

If interested in being a Patient Navigator our next training will be in March from 9am-3pm , so make sure to get those volunteer applications in! 

You can visit our website to learn more  or to sign up for any of these opportunities, please contact Kayla Hopkins, [email protected], 508-875-3100 x220.
We are JFS!
Fabulous February!
 
Kayla Hopkins
Program Coordinator of Youth, 
Immigrant  & Volunteer Services
508-875-3100 x220
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Adoption Choices
Since 1982, Adoption Choices has been helping build families in Massachusetts.

JFS Elder Care Solutions
Using an integrated approach, JFS has been working to meet the needs of elders in our community.

Patient Navigator
JFS volunteers are working to help facilitate communication with elders and their doctors.


Learn about these and other JFS programs by visiting our website.
Stay Connected
475 Franklin St. Suite 101, Framingham, MA 01702