Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ honors volunteers
Jewish Family Service of MetroWest held its annual Kenneth Glass Volunteer Appreciation program on May 13 at the Woodland in Maplewood. It honored and celebrated over 200 volunteers whose service has helped so many people throughout the year. The program was underwritten by Merle Glass in honor of her husband, Kenneth Glass z”l.
“Over the last year, our group of more than 200 volunteers helped 2,847 people in the community through 5,564 hours of dedicated service,” Taylor Ruszczyk, JFSMW’s director of volunteer services, said. “But the impact is more than numbers. It’s immeasurable and has shaped our community for the better.”
The event spotlighted the wide-reaching effects of JFS programs:
Reading Buddies — reaching about 900 students, creating lasting relationships and fostering literacy and a love of reading.
Listen to Children — volunteers supporting a dozen students with meaningful, one-on-one emotional support.
SHIP Medicare counselors— guiding 1,700 beneficiaries through healthcare decisions with care and expertise.
Friendly Visiting, Tessie’s Touch, Shop & Drop, and Caregiver Respite programs — addressing social isolation and providing support to homebound seniors and their caregivers.
Holiday meal delivery— bringing food and companionship to more than 150 Holocaust survivors and isolated older adults.
Chai Café and Café Europa — offering vital connections for Holocaust survivors with the support of long-standing volunteer partnerships.
There were also 50 JFS volunteers who contributed to about a dozen partner agencies, supporting homeless families, seniors, students, and hospital patients across the region.
For information about JFS volunteer programs, go to www.jfsmetrowest.org.
comments