If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life.  -Author Unknown

The High Holy Days have come to an end for the year and the Pope has been to Philadelphia. Organizations are continuously challenged on how to stay current, vibrant and alive. Having an active corps of volunteers is one way that an organization can more effectively serve the needs of the persons we assist. Attracting volunteers is a competitive business because a volunteer has the choice as to where he or she wants to spend time.

I was elated on a Friday morning to have a group of Muhlenberg students arrive to volunteer at our Food Pantry. I took the opportunity to talk with them about what JFS does and to try to offer some ways they could be helpful.

What I found out is that they were already going to B’nai B’rith House to lead services with some of the residents and many of them had multiple volunteer experiences under their belts. Fairly quickly, I realized that they wanted to organize our pantry shelves and unpack food rather than hear me speak. These Muhlenberg students were not alone in their desire to make a difference in their community. On Super Sunday last year, a terrific group of students from Lehigh University visited residents at Country Meadows of Allentown. 

JFS especially needs volunteers who will drive and/or visit older adults in their homes or residents. JFS values the contributions volunteers make to our Board of Directors and our committees. The act of volunteering is all about having meaningful relationships that enhances the life of the volunteer as well as the recipients of the volunteerism. It is a choice to volunteer and it can be a powerful transformative opportunity. 

Please call JFS if you are interested in volunteering with us. I’m quite certain that it will make a difference in your life and the lives of those you help.