Opportunities From: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Program:

The Hand-Up Food Pantry provides food relief to 800+ families monthly throughout San Diego County. We believe in helping clients reach self-sufficiency by providing a ‘hand up’ - not just a hand out - to clients experiencing food insecurity. As part of our Hand-Up Food Pantry, the Corner Market is just as it sounds - a small shop designed to create a shopping experience for clients who need extra support with their groceries each month. Clients are able to select fresh produce, meat, bread, dairy, and non-perishable shelf-stable pantry items in familiar environment, with no money exchanged. Instead, we use a "points" system which assigns a number based only on how many people are in the household. In this way, clients can meet their family's basic needs while customizing their choices to their unique food preferences and dietary restrictions.

Goal of Position:

Volunteers are able to help assist in a critical area of need and help alleviate hunger in San Diego, with an impact that can be seen and felt in every client interaction. Volunteers are needed to assist clients with checking in, shopping, answering questions about food preparation and storage, tallying points used, bagging groceries, and scheduling future appointments. We aim to provide a warm and welcoming experience for all, meeting each client where they are, and providing help without judgment. 

Responsibilities:

Provide excellent and professional customer service to clients Demonstrate a high level of professionalism and empathy at all times and in all encounters on campus Be compassionate, friendly, patient, and to develop and maintain good rapport with clients Be mindful of client arrivals, greet them quickly, check them in for their appointment, and explain the rules and processes of the market Keep accurate and confidential records at all times Answer questions, scan grocery items, and bag selections as needed Assist with scheduling future appointments, as needed Escort clients between the parking area and the market Keep the pantry area clean and in compliance with food safety standards Organize and restock the pantry as needed Make reminder calls to clients as needed using the provided script

Qualifications:

Must be at least 18 years old. Be able to lift bins and boxes up to 25 pounds. Be able to bend, twist and lift, and stand for extended periods of time. Comfortable working with and serving people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures. Demonstrate a high level of customer service and empathy skills. Be able and confident in computer use. Be able to volunteer in person at Balboa Campus. Be willing to follow all current health, safety, and security guidelines. Schedule shifts in advance in Galaxy Digital and give 24 hours advance notice if unable to keep your commitment. Complete and sign current Volunteer Waiver. Pass background check. Complete HIPAA/Privacy and Security training and demonstrate full understanding of the material.

Time Commitment:

Preference given to volunteers who can make an ongoing commitment of at least a 3 months Volunteer shifts will be 2.5-3.0 hours long Volunteers can register for multiple shifts, days, and times as desired Volunteers will need to give 24 hours’ notice if they will not be able to fulfill their commitment 

 

If you feel you would be unable to meet the physical demands of the opportunity, please reach out to volunteer@jfssd.org before scheduling a shift to discuss possible accommodations or alternative opportunities.

Program:

The Hand Up Food Pantry believes in helping clients reach self-sufficiency by providing hand-up - not just a hand-out - to clients experiencing food insecurity. We connect clients to a variety of JFS and community resources in addition to providing food relief. We make and distribute nearly 1,500 meals and hundreds of pounds of groceries each day to individuals and families through our Home-Delivered Meals programs, onsite emergency food distributions. Corner Market, SmartChoice online ordering platform, and community food distributions throughout San Diego County. The JFS Warehouse is located at our main office at 8804 Balboa Avenue, where we receive and process thousands of pounds of food donations daily, and pick and pack orders for home, offsite, and in-person distribution.

 

Goal of Position:

In this dynamic and reimagined role, Volunteers can make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors struggling with food insecurity in a tangible way. Each shift will allow Volunteers to do a variety of tasks depending on the day’s focus. Tasks may include: packing frozen home-delivered meals boxes; assisting drivers to get their vehicles packed and ready to go; packing and distributing emergency food bags to clients during drive-up hours; preparing SmartChoice orders; checking-in clients as they arrive for appointments; gathering food boxes and bags and/or helping to load vehicles with their orders; sorting through food donations; gleaning and bagging produce; helping to restock the Corner Market; other tasks as needed.

 

Responsibilities:

Provide excellent customer service and friendly and professional interactions to all drive-up clients Retrieve orders in their entirety from the pantry and refrigerator as needed Replenish produce and bread racks as necessary Help clients load groceries into their cars Prepare boxes of freshly prepared frozen meals for home delivery Stock food pantry shelves  Assemble food bags for SmartChoice online order distribution Assemble and distribute emergency food bags Help to pack and load boxes into Home-Delivered Meals driver vehicles Assist with bagging produce and sorting through food donations as needed Provide at least 24-hour notice if you need to cancel your scheduled shift Check in with reception before making your way to your assigned work area

 

Qualifications:

Must be 15+ to volunteer independently, or 10-14 years of age if accompanied by a parent or guardian (contact volunteer@jfssd.org to get your children scheduled with you) Ability to lift up to 25 pounds Able to bend, twist and lift and remain standing for extended periods of time. Wear closed-toed shoes and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty (bring layers for the weather as needed) Wear safety gear as needed Wash hands before handling food and follow all food safety guidelines Be able to work in a fast-paced and often physically intense environment Be able to provide own transportation to the Turk Family Center at 8804 Balboa Ave Be willing to work outdoors (canopy provided for shade and shelter) and inside the warehouse as needed Complete and sign Volunteer waiver

 

Time Commitment:

2-3 hours per shift (depending on day and time)

 

*If you feel you would be unable to meet the physical demands of the opportunity, please reach out to volunteer@jfssd.org before scheduling a shift to discuss possible accommodations or alternative opportunities.

Community Need

JFS understands that there are increasing needs within the San Diego community for support, especially around nutrition assistance. We plan to extend our reach into the community by running a drive-thru nutrition distribution program one Sunday each month from 4:00-5:30pm.  Any community member who attends the distribution will receive supplemental groceries – including non-perishables, pantry staples, and fresh produce.

How You Can Help

Volunteers help JFS amplify community support and we can use your help in a few different roles (listed below) on our distribution days.  Volunteers are asked to arrive an hour before distribution begins to help with preparations.

*Please be prepared to assist in any of the roles listed below*

 
Distribution Stations

As cars drive through, volunteers will distribute pre-packaged bags of produce, dry goods, and dairy or protein to each vehicle.

 
Client Intake

Gather brief client information as cars arrive. Comfort with using an iPad is helpful. 

Traffic Flow 

Help keep the line of traffic moving by letting staff outside campus on Balboa Ave. know when more cars can enter campus. Comfort using a walkie-talkie is helpful.

Qualifications

·         Ages 13-17 welcome with parent/guardian

·         Sign volunteer waiver

·         Be able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.

·         Be able to walk and stand for an extended period; lift, bend, and twist.

If you need assistance signing up for shifts, please contact a Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@jfssd.org or call (858) 637-3050.

Program:

Foodmobile delivers warm kosher-style meals to San Diego's home-bound older adults and disabled younger adults. Volunteers are often the only visitors individuals have, making their smiles, time, and compassion go a long way for our clients! Warm meals and warm smiles are the essence of the Foodmobile program.

 

Goal of Position:

Volunteers assist in a critical area of need and help alleviate hunger in San Diego. The goal of this position is not only to fight food insecurity, but also to foster community relationships. Much more than a meal, volunteers provide a positive interaction in the lives of the older adults they serve. 

 

Responsibilities:

Schedule shifts in Galaxy Digital.Pick up meals (packed in hot & cold bags), supplies, and special items at 10:30am at the JFS Main Campus at the rear of the administration building located at 8804 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123. Review Route Summary and log into Mobile Meals app. Deliver meals as assigned on the Mobile Meals app, paying special attention to the driver instructions for each stop. Adhere to Food Safety & Food Handling guidelines at all times.  Maintain confidentiality of all client information (i.e. in your phone or on paper you should not include last names, addresses, or indicate their client status with JFS, etc.) Knock on door, ring doorbell, and/or call client upon arrival. Hand over meals or carry meals into homes (if asked and willing). Never leave meals unattended, unless the client is home and does not want to accept the meals face to face. At the end of the shift, volunteers call, text, or email their JFS contact to confirm completion of the route and report any unusual circumstances and difficulties they experienced. Volunteers send a photo of the food transport log to the JFS contact by email or text as soon as possible after the shift is completed. Return empty hot/cold bags to JFS campus. Do not return any undelivered meals. Please give them to another client or person in need.Occasionally volunteers may be asked to perform simple visual and verbal welfare assessments of clients. By the last day of each month, volunteer can submit a mileage log in order to earn mileage reimbursement. Please note: Mileage for Foodmobile routes is calculated round-trip from/to JFS since you will return to JFS at the completion of your route. Mileage to and from your home to JFS and from the last stop on the route back to your home is not reimbursable, as it is considered the "commute" to/from your volunteer location.

Note- Route locations vary. 

Qualifications:

Drivers:

25 years or older to comply with JFS insurance policy. Able to drive your personal vehicle to fulfill this volunteer role. Mileage reimbursement is available round-trip from/to JFS. Has a personal smart phone and willing to download and utilize a mobile app-based delivery software (Mobile Meals) during the route. Able to bend and twist, and lift up to 25 pounds. Willing to deliver to any area in San Diego County, based on the need for that day. Our routes are subject to change due to holidays or urgent needs. Able to commit to the entire shift. Review and sign Volunteer Waiver. Complete and pass background check. Possess a valid driver's license. Pass DMV check. Provide proof of current vehicle insurance. Complete HIPAA training annually (free training provided). Obtain a Food Handler's Certificate and renew when needed (every 3 years, free training provided).

 

Passengers:

Passengers may ride along to assist with navigation and delivering meals. They must complete all requirements as outlined in the Home-Delivered Meals Passengers opportunity, and must register for shifts under that opportunity. All passengers under 18 helping deliver meal boxes must be under the supervision of a vetted volunteer driver (i.e., parent/guardian) at all times, and must complete current requirements. As a Driver, if you intend to have a passenger come with you on your route, make sure to communicate this to Volunteer Engagement at volunteer@jfssd.org and that they are qualified and registered for the Passenger shift.

Fully vetted Volunteer Drivers may also complete their routes with other fully vetted Volunteer Drivers if they choose and may alternate driving responsibilities or choose one primary driver.

 

Please CLICK HERE to go to the FOODMOBILE PASSENGER opportunity in Galaxy Digital. 

 

After Signing Up for a Shift:
• You will receive a confirmation email with instructions the day before reporting for route.

Time Commitment:

Minimum 3-month commitment preferred. Volunteer shift begins at 10:30 AM and ends at 12:30 PM or sooner. Volunteer shifts will last about 2 hours or less. 

 
 

Program: 

The Loonin Family Kitchen of Jewish Family Service prepares nutritious and medically supportive hot and frozen Kosher-style meals for delivery to clients enrolled in our Home-Delivered Meals programs and various offsite congregate meal sites.

 

Goal of Position: 

Meal Distribution Prep Volunteers will assist with preparation of same-day hot meals and the following day’s frozen meal deliveries including preparing and packaging entrée sides, cutting and packaging fresh fruit, assembling side packages for delivery, and labeling meals. On some days, we might require assistance with loading/unloading delivery driver vehicles, cleaning, and/or straightening the kitchen and storage facilities, or other one-off tasks as needed.

 

Responsibilities: 

Assist with preparation and portioning of entrees and side items. Clean, cut, and package fresh fruit and vegetables. Package bread, rolls into individual servings. Assemble packages of side items from a prep list. Assist with clean up of prep area at the end of shift. Label meals and side items and ready them for distribution. Provide 24 hours minimum notice if you must cancel your shift.

 

Qualifications/Requirements: 

Must be 15+ to volunteer independently, or 12-14 years of age if accompanied by a parent or guardian (contact volunteer@jfssd.org to get your children scheduled with you) Be able to provide own transportation to the Turk Family Center located at 8804 Balboa Ave, 92123. Complete and sign Volunteer waiver. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothing with sleeves.Be able to stand for up to 2 hours at a time. Wear gloves and restrain hair in hat or hairnet (provided). Wash hands before handling food and follow all food safety guidelines. Follow all directions of the Kitchen Volunteer Lead Staff.

 

Time/ Service Commitment: 

2 hours per shift

 

***Please report to the Warehouse after checking in with reception.***

 

 

If you feel you would be unable to meet the physical demands of the opportunity, please reach out to volunteer@jfssd.org before scheduling a shift to discuss possible accommodations or alternative opportunities.

Program:

Foodmobile delivers warm kosher-style meals to San Diego's home-bound older adults and disabled younger adults. Volunteers are often the only visitors individuals have, making their smiles, time, and compassion go a long way for our clients! Warm meals and warm smiles are the essence of the Foodmobile program.

 

Goal of Position:

Volunteers assist in a critical area of need and help alleviate hunger in San Diego. The goal of this position is not only to fight food insecurity, but also to foster community relationships. Much more than a meal, volunteers provide a positive interaction in the lives of the older adults they serve. Foodmobile Volunteer Passengers assist drivers by providing home deliveries of hot meal bags and/or pre-packaged groceries. This role is both physically and emotionally supportive, and is great for those who no longer drive, are unable or unwilling to drive, or for minor children accompanying a fully vetted, adult volunteer. 

 

Responsibilities:

Schedule shifts in Galaxy Digital. Wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothes (bringing a jacket or wearing layers is recommended). Adhere to Food Safety & Food Handling guidelines at all times.  Maintain confidentiality of all client information (i.e. in your phone or on paper you should not include last names, addresses, or indicate their client status with JFS, etc.) Knock on door, ring doorbell, and/or call client upon arrival. Hand over meals or carry meals into homes (if asked and willing). Never leave meals unattended, unless the client is home and does not want to accept the meals face to face. If the client or caregiver does not answer the door or phone to accept the meal bags, the volunteer driver must call their JFS contact to report the situation. HOT MEALS & GROCERY ITEMS SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT BACK TO JFS MAIN CAMPUS - PLEASE GIVE FOOD TO ANOTHER CLIENT. At the end of the shift, volunteers call, text, or email their JFS contact to confirm completion of the route and report any unusual circumstances and difficulties they experienced. Volunteers send a photo of the food transport log to the JFS contact by email or text as soon as possible after the shift is completed. Return empty hot/cold bags to JFS campus.  By the last day of each month, volunteer must log their hours into Galaxy Digital. Please note: Non-Driving passengers are not eligible for mileage reimbursement. 

 

Qualifications:

Volunteers are allowed to serve as Home-Delivered Meals Passengers to assist with navigation and delivering meals. All passengers under 18 helping deliver meals must be under the supervision of a vetted volunteer driver (i.e., parent/guardian) at all times. As this volunteer opportunity requires frequent stops to deliver 25-pound boxes to each client’s door, we do not suggest children requiring car seats or hand-holding participate. However, this position provides a meaningful family opportunity, especially for those with teens gaining experience and completing hours for local community service groups.

Non-driving Passenger Volunteers must complete the following before scheduling a shift or riding along:

Able to commit to the entire shift. Complete and maintain a Volunteer profile in Galaxy Digital. Review and sign JFS Volunteer Waiver (parent or guardian will sign on behalf of minors). Review HIPAA confidentiality requirements and complete/sign the acknowledgement form (18 years or older only). Complete and pass background check (18 years or older only). Obtain and maintain a Food Handler's Certificate (18 years or older only, renewable every 3 years) - certification will be provided at JFS free of charge.

 

Please CLICK HERE to go to the FOODMOBILE DRIVER opportunity in Galaxy Digital. 

 

 After Signing Up for a Shift:
• You will receive a confirmation email with instructions the day before reporting for route

Time Commitment:

Minimum 3 month commitment preferred Volunteer shifts will be between the hours of 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM Monday – Friday Volunteer shifts will last about 2 hours

 

 

 

The Community Need

Older adults in our community often feel isolated and lonely and may also struggle with food insecurity.  Having a communal place to go for a meal and socialization can go a long way in improving an older adult’s mental and physical health.  JFS provides a hot meal and friendly companionship to seniors at the LGBT Center in Hillcrest every weekday, Monday through Friday.

How You Can Help

Volunteers will meet JFS staff at the Jacobs Campus and ride with staff to the LGBT Center for the congregate lunch program.  Volunteers will help older adult clients check-in as they arrive, set up dining tables with cups and cutlery, and assist older adult members as they enter the lunchroom.  A warm welcome and kind smile are additional desired attributes!  Volunteers are invited to socialize with older adults, hear their life stories and provide companionship.

Time commitment

It is appreciated if volunteers can help in an ongoing capacity, however we understand that volunteers are busy, go out of town, have other obligations, etc.  We are looking for folks who’d like to volunteer more than once to develop some rapport with the older adult clients. 

Things to Consider

Volunteers should meet at the Jacobs Campus weekdays (Mon-Fri) by 10:15am for each shift so JFS Nutrition staff is assured they will have necessary help that day.  If volunteers aren’t available, two staff members will be needed.  Volunteers will return to Jacobs Campus with JFS staff by 1:00pm.

Qualifications

·         Reliable transportation to Jacobs Campus by 10:15am

·         Interview with program staff

·         Must be 18+

·         HIPAA, False Claims & CDA Privacy & Security training (provided, online)

·         Background check (free of charge)

If you are interested in getting started with this volunteer opportunity, please reach out to volunteer@jfssd.org to get started.

Program:

The Hand Up Food Pantry believes in helping clients reach self-sufficiency by providing a ‘hand up’ not just a hand out to clients experiencing food-insecurity. They accomplish this by connecting clients to resources in addition to providing emergency food relief to 800 families each month at distributions throughout San Diego County. The Hillcrest Food Distribution serves a multitude of clients from various backgrounds and life circumstances.

 

Goal of Position:

Volunteers can help assist in a critical area of need and help alleviate hunger for individuals and families throughout San Diego County. Volunteers are able to gain valuable nonprofit experience and learn about food insecurity and hunger in their local community while serving those in need. Many of these clients also lack housing and almost all are on a fixed income. We provide more than food assistance - we provide smiles as well!

 

Responsibilities:

Unload box truck and set up shopping area in parking lot outdoors Assist Food Pantry staff in running the client check in process Bag produce and bread for distribution Distribute food to clients Educate clients on additional resources available to them Answer client questions Clean up parking lot and load box truck

 

Qualifications/Requirements:

Must be a minimum of 10 years old (volunteering with a parent or guardian) or 15+ (volunteering on their own).  Must be friendly, patient, and can develop and maintain good rapport with community members. Must provide own transportation to distribution site at Ohr Shalom synagogue. Ability to lift bins and boxes up to 25 pounds. Wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothing that can get dirty (bring layers as needed). Must complete and sign Volunteer waiver.

 

Time Commitment:

The Hillcrest distributions are from 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm on the 3rd Thursday of each month

 

Location:

Ohr Shalom Synagogue, 2512 Third Avenue, San Diego, 92103 Volunteers must park on the street with limited parking

 

 

If you feel you would be unable to meet the physical demands of the opportunity, please reach out to volunteer@jfssd.org before scheduling a shift to discuss possible accommodations or alternative opportunities.

Program:

The Hand Up Food Pantry believes in helping clients reach self-sufficiency by providing a ‘hand up’, not just a handout, to clients experiencing food insecurity. They accomplish this by connecting clients to community resources in addition to providing emergency food relief at distribution sites throughout San Diego County. The Chabad Downtown Food Distribution serves a multitude of clients from various backgrounds and life circumstances.

Goal of Position:

Volunteers can help alleviate hunger for individuals and families throughout San Diego County. Volunteers gain valuable nonprofit experience and learn about food insecurity and hunger in their local community while serving those in need. Many of the people served also lack housing and almost all are on a fixed income. We provide more than food assistance - we provide smiles as well!

Responsibilities:

Set up shopping area in parking lot outdoors.  We operate rain or shine so bring an umbrella if it’s raining! Bag produce and bread for distribution (if needed). Distribute food to clients. Answer client questions. Help re-pack truck and clean up shopping area at end of shift.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Volunteers can be 10 years old (volunteering with a parent or guardian) or 15 years old and older (volunteering independently). Please contact Betty Munoz at bettym@jfssd.org to schedule children ages 10-14 so she can ensure that the child and guardian are scheduled together. Be friendly, and patient, and maintain good rapport with community members. Provide own transportation to distribution site at Chabad Downtown.  Only metered and/or street parking is available. Ability to lift bins and boxes up to 25 pounds preferred (accommodations can be made). Wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothing that can get dirty (bring layers as needed). Must complete and sign Volunteer waiver.

Time Commitment:

The Chabad Downtown distributions are from 9:00-10:00am each Friday (certain holidays excepted). Volunteers should arrive at 8:30 and the shift concludes at 10:30.

Location:

Chabad Downtown, 275 Island Avenue, San Diego 92101

*If driving to this location, volunteers must park on street or metered parking spaces.

Program:

The Hand Up Food Pantry believes in helping clients reach self-sufficiency by providing a 'hand up' not just a hand out to our neighbors experiencing food-insecurity. We accomplish this by connecting families to resources in addition to providing emergency food relief to 800 families each month at distributions through San Diego County. In the past year, the Hand Up Food Pantry has provided 8,969 clients with 310,000 meals.

Goal of Position:

Volunteers are needed to help keep the Corner Market and Hand Up Food Pantry Warehouse shelves stocked, organized, and clean. In addition, volunteers will be transporting food to the Corner Market from the Warehouse. Volunteers will also make sure that displays are attractive, clean, and well maintained to enhance the shopping experience of our clientele.

Benefits:

Learn about food insecurity and hunger in your community The knowledge that you are making a difference in the lives of hundreds of families and individuals Help fight food insecurity with dignity

Tasks/responsibilities:

Sort through food donations Organize and re-stock shelves in the Corner Market as needed Keep the Corner Market area clean and in compliance with food safety standards Locate food in the warehouse and load carts Provide at least 48 hour notice if you need to cancel your volunteer time by emailing handup@jfssd.org

Qualifications & Requirements:

Must be 15+ to volunteer independently, or 10-14 years of age if accompanied by a parent or guardian (contact volunteer@jfssd.org to get your children scheduled with you)Be able to follow stocking and merchandising procedures.Sign volunteer waiver. Be organized, detail oriented, and able to work independently Retail experience is helpful, but not necessary Must be comfortable walking in and out of the refrigerator and freezer

Time Commitment:

Our Corner Market is open Monday through Friday and needs to be organized before shopping appointments Volunteers will need to give 48 hours notice if they will not be able to fulfill a commitment to their shift

Worksite/Department:

Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Turk Family Center

8804 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123

Immediate Supervisor:

Hand Up Food Pantry Assistant or

Hand Up Food Pantry Coordinator or

Nutrition Operations Manager