Volunteer Opportunities

During this challenging year, older adults in our community continue to benefit from the work of our wonderful volunteers.

As more of us are vaccinated and COVID restrictions ease and protocols evolve, we want to thank all our volunteers for staying involved, often via telephone, internet and expanded holiday gift giving and deliveries.

Now that there are expanded ways to safely interact, requests for volunteers as friendly visitors, shopping partners, and other tasks are coming in quickly. We will also be having volunteers help with Shabbats and hopefully more in-person events beginning this summer. Also, we are receiving more families for refugee resettlement. JSS has a van that can be used for larger families. If you are comfortable picking up and driving the van or have a larger vehicle yourself, we are always looking to have a good size pool of drivers.

For those of you who would like get more specifics about these and other emerging volunteer opportunities, or know someone who may be a good fit for our programs – please contact Paul Borowsky via email or phone number below. 

We understand that as we move forward volunteers and those we help will have varying degrees of comfort level and needs regarding any in-person visiting or transportation help. We will work together with you and clients to respect that and keep us all safe.

11/8/2021 Volunteers needed to help newcomers ride the bus
JSS is seeking volunteers to help newcomers learn to ride the bus. Newcomers are very much dependent on public transportation when they first arrive, to go to appointments and get to work. If you’re willing to ride the bus and know how to use the maps function on your smart phone, you will be able to help us teach our new neighbors how to navigate their new home. Please contact Becca Schwartz at becca@jssmadison.org or (608) 960-7883. Thank you!

Volunteers needed to deliver menorahs to seniors
Celebrate the Festival of Lights by bringing some light to seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Volunteers deliver electric menorahs before the 1st night and pick up the menorah at the end of the holiday. The first candle is November 28th. Contact Paul Borowsky at 608-442-4083 or paul@jssmadison.org. Consider bringing some cheer to an older adult.

6/16/21 Volunteer opportunity: Adult learners need your help with English language and literacy

Thanks to Jewish Federation of Madison through the Cheryl Rosen Weston Fund – Jewish Social Services is partnering with the Literacy Network to offer training and volunteer opportunities this fall working with adult learners in English as a Second Language, GED preparation and/or general literacy skills.

It will involve an initial training session, gaining familiarity with lesson plans and materials prepared by Literacy Network staff, and weekly meetings with an adult learner. The fall session begins in September and runs through mid-December. Until further notice, all meetings will continue to be online.

Research shows that adult learners with basic skills need individualized support. Through a unique model in which interns plan individual lessons delivered one-on-one by volunteer tutors, Literacy Network provides effective and efficient direct support to hundreds of adult learners each year. Staff creates personal education plans thru a flexible curriculum, and provides opportunities for follow-up and feedback between staff, clients and volunteers.

To get further info about this opportunity, please contact JSS volunteer coordinator, Paul Borowsky, 608-442-4083 or paul@jssmadison.org. Check for further descriptions, specific training dates, applications, and other details on the Literacy Network website: https://www.litnetwork.org.