Jewish Federation volunteers share a passion for doing good and a commitment to collective action — and know how good it feels to make a meaningful difference.
Find rewarding experiences and opportunities to use your talents to serve your community. All you need is the desire to get involved. You may just find that you get just as much as you give.
To join a Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia committee, please contact Shara Swift at sswift@jewishphilly.org.
COVID-19 Volunteer Opportunities
MITZVAH FOOD PROGRAM
Deliver pre-packed bags of food and emergency supplies. Drivers are needed from the Mitzvah Food Pantry sites in Center City, Main Line and Northeast Philadelphia. Someone will be in touch to schedule your exact pickup time. Deliveries generally take less than two hours. Sign up here.
KLEINLIFE
KleinLife’s Home Delivered Meals program fills an essential need for 700 homebound seniors. To coordinate a weekly time (delivery day is Tuesdays) to deliver pre-cooked meals, contact John Eskate at jeskate@kleinlife.org.
VOLUNTEER VIRTUALLY
Can you make regular friendly phone calls to check in with a local senior citizen? Fill out the form to be matched with an isolated community member. This service may expand to include the option of helping a senior order groceries online.
JEWISH RELIEF AGENCY
JRA helps nourish over 6,000 diverse low-income individuals across Greater Philadelphia.
Opportunities for all ages include packing kosher food boxes at JRA’s Food Distribution warehouse and delivering those boxes to clients.
To volunteer click here or contact JRA@JewishRelief.org or 610.660.0190.
WRITE A LETTER OR CARD TO AN OLDER ADULT
Many seniors are now homebound due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We’re collecting letters and cards written by members of the community to lift their spirits. Great activity for kids! Send to:
Northeast NORC
Attn: COVID Relief
8546B Bustleton Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19152
LIFT A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR’S SPIRITS
We are collecting short videos of well wishes for home-bound and isolated Holocaust survivors. Take a short, positive video of you or your family and send it to covid19@jewishphilly.org.
Volunteer With The Jewish Federation & Partner Organizations
HISTORIC CEMETERIES
Help maintain one of Greater Philadelphia’s most sacred treasures, our historic Jewish cemeteries. You can help by cleaning up litter, raking, pruning and weeding. Some data collection opportunities are also available. School and synagogue groups are welcome.
To volunteer, contact mtcarmelcemetery@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0813
JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDRENS’ SERVICES
JFCS is a human services agency serving vulnerable populations throughout Greater Philadelphia. They offer a variety of volunteer opportunities include opportunities to connect with children, Holocaust survivors, and people with disabilities.
B’nai mitzvah volunteer projects are also available.
To volunteer click here.
ABRAMSON CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE
Jewish senior living and geriatric care facility welcomes volunteers of all ages. Opportunities include friendly visitors, librarians, hospice volunteers (training provided) Yiddish Club, games, art projects, and office support. Participate in programs and celebrations enriching resident life.
To volunteer click here or contact info@abramsoncenter.org or 215.371.1816.
CHALLAH FOR HUNGER
Brings people together to bake and sell challah in an effort to raise money and awareness for social justice causes.
To volunteer click here or contact 267.423.4415
FEDERATION EARLY LEARNING SERVICESJEWISH FAMILY & CHILDRENS’ SERVICES
Volunteers are needed to work in classrooms assisting teachers with young children, or for office work. Specific tasks are designed to meet volunteers’ skills and the needs of the classroom and center.
To volunteer click here or call 215.676.7550.
HIAS PAHIAS PAABRAMSON CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE
“Welcome the stranger” by supporting immigrants and refugees. Volunteers can collect school and housing supplies, help set up a home for a newly-arriving family, make welcome baskets, or spread the word by giving a presentation on the work of HIAS PA to their school or synagogue.
To volunteer, click here for a full list of ideas, then contact community@hiaspa.org.
JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA (JFCS)
Volunteers for the social services organization JFCS help enrich the lives of those who are vulnerable and in need of help, including older adults, children and people living with disabilities. Opportunities include: helping with art therapy, cooking, celebratory and other programming at the Barbara and Harvey Brodsky Enrichment Center; helping with the clothing-assistance program; delivering challahs to hospital patients; “hands-on” service projects through Circle of Hands. B’nai Mitzvah projects welcome!
To volunteer click here or contact rgoldberg@jfcsphilly.org or 267.256.2267.
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE PHILADELPHIA REGION
Connects teens and young adults to youth with special needs and their families, offering Jewish and social experiences; developing friendships while participating in creative arts group activities, Jewish holiday celebrations, weekly playdates and more. Fosters the development of a caring, supportive community. Volunteer opportunities exist for adults as well.
To volunteer in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester or Delaware Counties, click here or contact info@phillyfriendship.com or 215.574.1765. To volunteer in Bucks County, click here or contact jamie@fcpa.info or 215-497-9925 ext. 17
MITZVAH CIRCLE FOUNDATION
Volunteers work alongside staff sorting and organizing donations and assembling essential supplies. The Mitzvah Circle Foundation is a non-faith based organization providing materials support to individuals and families dealing with crisis, poverty, homelessness and serious illness.
To volunteer, click here or contact info@mitzvahcircle.org or 267.649.7610
THE MITZVAH BOWL
A comprehensive website for finding mitzvah projects and volunteer opportunities for Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and high school students looking to fulfill community service hours. Offers resources for teens and families seeking a way to help other s and make a difference.
For more info, click here or contact info@themitzvahbowl.com.
RSVP PHILADELPHIA
RSVP Philadelphia brings together volunteers ages 55+ with non-profit agencies to meet community needs, including: tutoring in elementary schools; advocating on behalf of crime victims; providing friendly visits in hospitals and nursing homes; cooking and delivering meals for the homebound; serving as guides for museums, historic sites and cultural centers; providing clerical assistance.
To volunteer click here or contact jeskate@kleinlife.org or 267.345.7787