Volunteers play a crucial role in Jewish Social Services of Madison’s mission to empower families and individuals across generations and cultures to build community and self-sufficiency, with a strong commitment to the Jewish community and inspired by Jewish values. JSS seeks volunteers to assist with programs that decrease social isolation and support the needs of the diverse populations that we serve: from seniors, young adults and families, homeless, displaced, asylees and refugees.
Becoming a Volunteer – Please begin by filling out a Volunteer Application!
Ways to Get Involved:
Individual and Family Support: Extend and provide support by helping clients coping with a move, changes or challenges in their life situations, and being an ally and resource person. Clients and families coping with dementia and memory issues can work in conjunction with support and training from spiritual care and other staff. Scheduling is variable and flexible according to your availability, and schedule and needs of client.
Driver: This may be combined with individual/family support volunteering or as designated shopper. Providing rides to clients for appointments and other destinations is on an as-needed and as-available basis. Whether as a driver or designated shopper, we will do a driver’s record check, and verify that you have current vehicle insurance and driver’s license.
Designated Shopper: Helping people by providing assistance and companionship by going shopping or running errands with them. In some situations, clients may need volunteer to go without them to pick up groceries or other items for them.
Back-up Volunteers for Photography/ videography: Taking photos or videos at JSS events, which will be shared with staff and participants and used for promotional materials and social media.
Office Help: Respond to incoming calls and route them to the appropriate personnel; greet and assist clients upon their arrival.
Volunteer for holiday, social events, and Shabbats: Assisting staff to help participants, family and friends enjoy and participate in meals, holiday celebrations, and various social and educational events. If you would like to help put together holiday gift bags, and/ or delivering holiday treats to people in their homes and facilities – we will welcome you to join our crew!
Odd job/ computer assistance: According to volunteer skill set, we offer help with basic computer tasks, and occasional help with household tasks such as putting up a shelf, help moving a piece of furniture or setting up office desk, etc. We do not offer help with laundry, house cleaning, snow shoveling, etc. We refer to NewBridge home chore program for those requests.
Donations & Storage: Looking for help organizing donated items.
Child care / support group volunteers: Help coordinators with group meetings and possibly with playtime for preschool children of women who are attending support group.
For questions or to request more information, please contact Paul Borowsky, (608) 442-4083, or paul[@]jssmadison.org
To review our Volunteer Handbook, please click here.
