JASA Volunteers

JASA Volunteer Ventures Expo- June 7, 2011

2011-04-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

JASA, the largest nonprofit organization in New York City serving older adults, is pleased to announce the annual JASA Volunteer Ventures Expo, a free conference and volunteer opportunities fair for adults 50+ on June 7th from 10am-1pm at UJA-Federation of New York, 130 E.59th Street. This event is being produced in association with UJA-Federation of New York, New York City Department for the Aging, NYC Service, New Yorkers Volunteer/State Commission on National and Community Service, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, New York Cares and The Transition Network.

JASA recognizes the immense talent and experience that older adults bring to nonprofit organizations. The JASA Volunteer Ventures Expo provides older adults with the opportunity to find dynamic and engaging volunteer and civic engagement programs in their communities, and connects New York City nonprofits with talented and experienced older adult volunteers.

At the JASA Volunteer Ventures Expo, adults 50+ from across the New York Metropolitan area will meet with representatives from top New York City nonprofit organizations. Volunteers and staff members from a wide variety of nonprofits including, advocacy, arts, environmental, faith-based and cultural organizations, will answer questions about volunteering with their organizations.
Since 1968, JASA and its affiliates, with its 3,000 staff and volunteers, have provided social, recreational, health, cultural and educational programs for older persons, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity, to help sustain them in their homes and communities and to offer opportunities for a better quality of life. These services are available in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Admission to the Volunteer Ventures Expo is free for adults 50+, but advanced registration is required.

For more information about the Volunteer Ventures Expo or to register please visit http://www.jasa.org/ or call (212) 273-5222 or email lbelcic@jasa.org. Organizations interested in sponsoring a table at the Volunteer Opportunities Fair can also register at http://www.jasa.org/ or call (212) 273-5222 or email lbelcic@jasa.org.

2011-02-28T08:33:00.000-08:00

NextAct: lively and engaging programs for adults 55+.

Thursday, April 14th • 6 –7:30pm

WHAT NOW? FINDING YOUR LIFE’S WORK IN YOUR 50’S AND BEYOND

Speaker: Lynne Morton

Location: UJA-Federation of New York, 130 E. 59th Street

**A wine and cheese reception follows the event.

A must-attend event for anyone looking for meaningful employment or considering a career transition after age 50. An expert panel led by Lynne Morton, a globally recognized executive coach and expert on talent management, will provide tips and strategies for finding meaning in work and life in your next act. This panel also features Diane Levine of The Transition Network and Nancy Perlman of UJA Northern New Jersey.

Lynne Morton is a frequent speaker and author of Integrated and Integrative Talent Management: A Strategic HR Framework, Talent Value Imperatives and Differentiating Talent Management. Lynne recently received the HR Leadership Award at the World Human Resources Development Congress in Mumbai, India, in recognition of her accomplishments.

This event is $15 and requires advanced registration.

Please contact Sara Tornay at (212) 273-5304 or

stornay@jasa.org to register.

This event is co-sponsored by The Transition Network.

JASA has many programs for recently retired individuals, or those thinking about retirement. We know that you want to use your time wisely, pursue your passions, explore new interests, meet new people and have fun! JASA is committed to working with YOU as you plan for your NextAct. The Transition Network is an inclusive community of professional women 50 and forward whose changing life situations lead them to seek new connections, resources and opportunities.

JASA Participates in "Pack It Up For Purim!"

2011-02-17T13:11:00.000-08:00

Every year Jews around the world celebrate Purim, commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from Haman's plot to annihilate them.

As Jewish New Yorkers prepare to celebrate this special holiday, UJA-Federation is teaming up with Americorps' to help defeat hunger in our community.

Pack It Up for Purim, is a communitywide effort to create 1,000 food packages for needy New Yorkers. You too can become part of the Purim tradition of mishloach manot: to offer a food package to a neighbor.

JASA centers around the city will serve as drop-off sites for food packages from March 3 to March 10.

  Purim Package Shopping List:
  1 box of whole-grain cereal or oatmeal

1 box of pasta

1 can of vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, corn)

1 bag of rice

1 box of 100 percent fruit juice

1 package of dried fruit or granola bars

  1 can of tuna
  1 package of dried beans (or canned beans or peas)
  1 jar of peanut butter (plastic containers only)

1 dessert (non-perishable)

Team up with your neighbors, your friends, your family and arrange a package today. Then drop off your package at the most convenient JASA site starting March 3 thru March 10. Your generosity will provide a safety net for the impoverished in New York!

From JASA with LOVE this Valentine's Day

2011-02-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

On Thursday morning, February 10th, 2011, a warm gesture was underway at JASA’s Club 76 despite the biting chill outside. Club-goers teamed up with members from TimeBanksNYC to make Valentine cards for patients at the Metropolitan Hospital.

TimeBanksNYC volunteers Shelly Simpson, Karen Martin, Chrissie Foo, Walter Richardson, and Nelly Hernandez arrived early for set-up. The table was neatly arranged with an array of art supplies and a box of kosher cookies. Before long, however, the table had transformed into the image of an artist’s palette with messy overlaps of colors and indistinguishable lines. Participants immersed themselves in all things card-making. Tamara Maas, Club 76’s Artist in Residence, enthusiastically cut away, designing creative and colorful cards for children. Meanwhile, Gert Steinberg, giving up an intense game of rummy, joined the table and made a handful of cards with heartfelt messages. Mel Stein, initially hesitant, quickly tapped into his artistic craft with the help of TimeBanksNYC’s Chrissie Foo. Among the card-makers were Judy Kronegold and Rose Tamari, who with a calm yet critical eye added detail after detail to their beautiful cards. The ornate cards were signed with love and encouraging wishes of a speedy recovery.

The event was overwhelmingly successful! Scores of beautiful cards were made and by the afternoon, they were on their way to the Metropolitan Hospital.

The project was initiated by TimeBanksNYC, a non-profit organization that connects individuals wanting to exchange skills and services. Similar projects will be held at TimeBanksNYC host sites around the city.

JASA would like to thank TimeBanksNYC for the partnership opportunity and we look forward to working with TimeBanksNYC and other organizations in projects that give back to and strengthen the communities we live in!

JASA TRAINS OLDER ADULTS TO BE EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES

2011-02-01T12:28:00.000-08:00

Democracy requires an informed electorate, but it takes more than reading the newspaper to be a knowledgeable citizen. JASA’s Institute for Senior Action trains those 55+ to be advocates for issues affecting the elderly. The Institute for Senior Action program integrates critical aging policy issues with practical grassroots action ideas.

“It is important that seniors make their voices heard,” said Aileen Gittelson, JASA CEO. “The goal of JASA’s Institute for Senior Action is to help the elderly become informed advocates, speaking with authority and clarity on issues that directly affect them.” To date, more than 750 people have participated in the JASA program.

The 10-week course, which begins Thursday, March 17, focuses on: navigating the federal state, and local legislative processes; public speaking; understanding senior benefits and entitlements; techniques of social action; and intergenerational issues. The sessions will run every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will be held at the Hudson Guild Elliott Center, 441 West 26th Street, Manhattan.

To request an application, contact Bola Aribidesi,
Director of JASA’s Institute for Senior Action, 212-273-5261; ifsa@jasa.org.

Volunteer Spotlight On: Meish Goldish

2011-01-26T07:46:00.000-08:00

Author, musician, and JASA volunteer Meish Goldish was the live entertainment for the Brooklyn Volunteer Expo and the JASA Senior Alliance Holiday Party. Mr. Goldish is an accomplished author who has published over 150 children’s books and has had several books of his poetry published by Scholastic. When he is not writing, he finds time to entertain as a musician and comedian.

On November 10th, Mr. Goldish was the live entertainment for the JASA Brooklyn Volunteer Expo at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Mr. Goldish played guitar and sang for four consecutive hours, stopping occasionally to introduce a new song or to select the winning ticket for a raffle. He entertained the audience with songs like the pseudo-Beatles cover Shalom, Shalom singing, “I don’t know why you say shalom, I say shalom.”

Mr. Goldish then accepted an invitation to play at the JASA Senior Alliance’s Holiday Party in Manhattan Beach on December 23rd. The set consisted of holiday songs, popular music, and traditional Yiddish folk songs. Mr. Goldish took requests from the center’s members for songs. One member even joined him on stage to play a traditional Russian ballad on the piano, while members danced traditional Yiddish dances.

The Volunteer Department would like to thank Mr. Goldish for all he has done for JASA and its members.

University of Mississippi Students Help Out at JASA

2011-01-26T07:38:00.000-08:00

JASA was recently contacted by a group of college students from the University of Mississippi’s Honors College who, in the midst of planning a service trip to New York City, were looking to volunteer for two days with JASA. The students touched down in the city on December 11th, and on the 12th a group was off to attend the H.E.S. Senior Center holiday party. At the party, the students aided the H.E.S. staff in serving a multiple-course lunch. During their breaks from the kitchen, the students could be found on the dance floor, still clad in their aprons and plastic kitchen gloves. Caitlan Eeidt, the student group leader, said of the event, “It was a real joy to be a part of such a warm and festive event…We dreaded leaving, nor did they want us to!”

The following Monday, the students could be found at two of our other senior centers, one group up in the Bronx at Van Cortlandt Senior Center, and another down in Coney Island at the Luna Park Senior Center. At Van Cortlandt, the students helped with a craft project while socializing with the center’s members, then donned aprons and helped serve up lunch.

The Luna Park group spent time sitting with the center members, learning about life in Coney Island and sharing stories about their own hometowns. After serving lunch, the students accompanied center director Adrienne Slomin to Urban Neighborhood Services Inc., a local community organization. For the past weeks, members of the Luna Park Senior Center had been collecting coats to donate to UNS, and the delegation from Luna Park and their donations were well-received. One member of Luna Park, Morris, joined the students on a walk around Coney Island. “On the way, he showed them the home that he grew up in and some of the many Coney Island attractions he enjoyed as a teen, and the new ones that he enjoys now,” said Ms. Slomin.

“While other groups from our Honors College Sophomore Service trip did service projects including picking up litter and sorting books,” said Caitlan Eeidt, “I know that the groups that visited each of the JASA centers had an experience like none other.”

Sailors Visit JASA Williamsburg for Fleet Week

2010-06-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

Check out this great article about a Fleet Week volunteer event at JASA Williamsburg Senior Center!
http://www.usa-patriotism.com/articles/tv/fleetweek_centers.htm

2010-03-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

The JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center has a whole new look thanks to the hard work of some great student volunteers from buildOn! On February 16th and 17th, it was hard to distinguish the JASA Van Cortlandt Game Room from an artist’s loft as Bronx high school students painted, glued, colored and decorated three large banners, a dozen posters and countless placemats and table decorations to spruce up the center. Over the two days, JASA Van Cortlandt hosted seventeen students and two buildOn staff members, all of whom braved the snow and chose to spend a day of their February vacation volunteering with JASA. In addition to the artwork, some students helped serve lunch to the senior center members, and one student volunteer even brought his guitar and played for the senior center members as they ate. The senior center members appreciated having the lively young visitors and will be able to enjoy their art work at the center for a long time to come.

buildOn is on international organization that strives for improvement through education and community service. In New York City, buildOn manifests as an after-school initiative for high school students. Students not only work to improve themselves through education and their communities through service, but also have the possibility to visit developing countries to build schools and promote literacy world-wide.

Answering the Call: A Community Forum on Healthy Aging and Civic Engagement

2009-05-04T15:51:00.001-07:00

Click on images to zoom:

Volunteer Spotlight: Friendly Visitor Viktorija Petrauskaite

2009-03-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

Even before arriving in the US with her husband in February of 2008, Viktorija Petrauskaite knew she wanted to incorporate volunteering into her new life in New York City. Based on her experiences living in foreign countries, she knew how challenging it was to live somewhere without a network of social support. After looking into various nonprofits in the city, she came across JASA and decided to dedicate her time to assisting seniors in need of companionship.

Since September of 2005, Viktorija has been matched with Enid. For her, volunteering serves two equally important purposes: providing her with a new friend in an unfamiliar city and helping out a senior who was also looking for support. Viktorija has only been matched with Enid for 6 months, but it didn’t take long for the two to develop a close friendship. Early in their relationship, Viktorija introduced Enid to her husband. They both wanted to take Enid to Astoria, a place she had always wanted to visit, but had never got the chance to. Besides going on day trips, Enid and Viktorija, can most often be found chatting, drinking tea, sorting pictures, or making floral compositions. Viktorija reports that often time flies by so quickly that the setting sun is the only thing that reminds her that it’s time to leave.

JASA to Host Queens Volunteer Expo and Legislative Forum on Civic Engagement

2009-03-24T07:41:00.001-07:00

Join us for two special events this spring! JASA and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) are partnering on a volunteer fair for older adults in Queens. The event will held on Thursday, April 30th, from 10am-2pm at the Queens Borough Hall in Kew Gardens and will feature a cross-section of Queens nonprofits with interesting volunteer opportunities for older adults.

JASA will also be hosting a special legislative breakfast on June 12th at UJA-Federation of New York entitled Answering the Call: A Forum on Aging and Civic Engagement. The event will feature City and State leaders discussing new initiatives to involve older adults in service and civic engagement programs.

For more information on either event, please contact Kerry Allison at (212) 273-5228 or kallison@jasa.org.

JASA Launches New Volunteer Training Program

2009-03-24T07:39:00.000-07:00

In January, the Volunteer Department hosted the first in a series of volunteer meetings for current and prospective JASA volunteers. Those who attended were treated to a talk by JASA Caregiver Respite Program director, Roy Smith, who discussed what it means to be present and actively engaged with a partner in conversation. Opportunities for further involvement with JASA were also discussed. The next Volunteer Meeting will be held on April 1st from 6-7:30pm and will feature a talk by Angela Allyn of the Educational Alliance’s Project H.E.L.P. (Health Education Leadership Program). Ms. Allyn will discuss substance abuse and misuse among older adults, including how to identify a senior who might be at risk. The program will also feature Charles Anflick, Coordinator of the Senior Choices Gatekeeper Program, who will talk about geriatric mental health issues. For more information on the volunteer training program, please contact Kerry Allison at (212) 273-5228 or kallison@jasa.org.

JASA Launches Service Initiative with Areyvut

2009-03-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

JASA is proud to announce that we have been chosen as one of Areyvut’s partnering organizations for Magen David Yeshiva’s Chesed Initiative. This student-run program places Brooklyn-based yeshiva students throughout their local community in different service positions to do acts of mitzvoth (charity) and chesed (kindness) for those in need. We are excited to say that a group of freshmen will be serving as computer tutors at JASA’s Warbasse Cares for Seniors NORC in South Brooklyn for the duration of the school year. The students will be helping clients navigate the web and use email and will be enjoying the company of some older New Yorkers!

Areyvut is a local organization that provides Jewish youth with opportunities to participate in social justice and community service activities.

HeartWatch Campaign Launched in Brooklyn

2009-03-24T07:33:00.000-07:00

JASA is excited to be partnering on a new, one-year campaign to help improve the heart health of older adults in South Brooklyn. The HeartWatch campaign was developed in response to a United Hospital Fund study that demonstrated a clear and urgent need to improve heart health in the Brighton Beach/Coney Island area. The study surveyed senior residents at three JASA Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), where 40% of senior residents are living with heart disease, and of those, more than 75% describe their condition as fair or poor.

A unique component of this program is its focus on volunteerism to provide services, and the program is funding a dedicated, part-time Volunteer Coordinator. Cameron Gelisse, who served as an Americorps*VISTA Friendly Visiting Coordinator, in 2006/07 is back in the Volunteer Department as the Volunteer Coordinator for the HeartWatch Campaign. Cameron has been working on recruiting and training community volunteers to be peer educators, nutrition educators, fitness coaches, and outreach workers. The program has already increased interest in volunteerism in South Brooklyn

Other partners in this cross-disciplinary program include the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Metropolitan Jewish Health System (MJHS), and Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY).

Season's Greetings

2008-12-23T09:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

The JASA Volunteer Department wants to extend it's deepest gratitude for your commitment to the seniors we serve. We wish you and your family a warm and wonderful holiday season and a New Year filled with joy.

Best wishes,
JASA Volunteer Department
Alex, Abby, Kerry, Caroline, Hugh, and Cameron

PETS Project Announces Gift Card Drive

2008-12-19T12:49:00.000-08:00

The PETS Project is excited to be holding a PETCO giftcard fundraiser in collaboration with Mindy Levine, wife of Randy Levine, President of the New York Yankees.

The event will be held on Saturday, December 20th from 12-5pm at the PETCO on 86th Street and Lexington Avenue.

People who purchase gift cards for this drive will receive New York Yankees giveaways, including limited edition Teddy Bears, T-shirts, lunch boxes, matchbox cars, and much more! Customers who purchase gift cards worth $200 or more will receive a signed New York Yankees baseball, while supplies last.

JASA's PETS Project provides volunteer support and financial assistance for senior pet owners in Manhattan, allowing seniors to keep their beloved pets and stay in their homes and communities.

Thank you, Mindy, for you continued dedication to the PETS Project!

Holiday Gift Bag Delivery '08

2008-12-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is our annual Holiday Gift Bag Delivery at Penn South Program for Seniors!
There's still time to volunteer, please email volunteer@jasa.org if you are interested. Gift bag assembly and card making starts at 5pm and the gift bag delivery will begin between 6-6:30pm. We will be delivering festive gift bags to approximately 75 seniors living at Penn South. This is always a great event, please join us if you can.

PETS Project Profiled in New York Daily News and Time Out New York

2008-11-21T10:43:00.000-08:00

We’re thrilled that the PETS Project recently received two fabulous write-ups in the New York media.

On November 1st the New York Daily News included a full-page article profiling the PETS. The article highlighted the unique service model PETS offers both clients and volunteers. The article quotes 93-year old Maria Zhorella, a former opera singer from Vienna and PETS Project client. Ms. Zhorella and her 16-year-old Tibetan terrier, Maxie, rely on regular support from the PETS Project volunteer corps. Ms. Zhorella told the New York Daily News that “without them, I would be lost…They are all so wonderful, and smart, and kind.”

We were so pleased that the Daily News Article has led to an increase in individual donations and volunteer inquiries.

The PETS Project was also profiled in the Thanksgiving issue of Time Out New York. The brief write-up highlighted volunteer opportunities with PETS and the program’s Thanksgiving pet food drive. Time Out New York reaches a large audience and we are already seeing an increase in volunteer inquiries from the exposure.

Check out both write-ups by clicking on the following links:

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2008/11/01/2008-11-01_older_pet_owners_hail_caring_volunteers.html

http://ny.timeout.com/newyork/articles/own-this-city/69022/have-a-heart/5.html

Holiday Volunteering at JASA

2008-11-06T07:20:00.000-08:00

Get into the spirit this season and help make an
elderly New Yorker’s holiday a little brighter!

Here's a list of JASA's holiday volunteer opportunities.

Thanksgiving Flea Market Help at the
JASA/West Side Senior Center
On-Going until November 26th
(This center is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan)
Help West Side Senior Center seniors sort through, organize and price donated items for their winter Flea Market sale! Mondays-Fridays, 9am-4pm. For more information and to volunteer.

Fall-Fest Party at the
JASA/Manhattan/Brighton Beach Senior Center
Sunday, November 9th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn)
Join the JASA/Manhattan/Brighton Beach Senior Center for a fun Fall-Fest party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Thanksgiving Day Party at the
JASA/Williamsburg Senior Center
Sunday, November 9th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Join the JASA/Williamsburg Senior Center for a fun pre-Thanksgiving Day Party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Monthly Birthday Party at the
JASA/Roy Reuther Senior Center
Wednesday, November 12th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Far Rockaway, Queens)
Join the JASA/Roy Reuther Senior Center for a fun Monthly Birthday Party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

A Night to Remember at
JASA/Van Cortlandt Senior Center
Wednesday, November 19th, 4-6:30pm
(This center is located in the Bronx)
Join the JASA/Van Cortlandt Senior Center for a fun evening dinner party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, decorate, serve dinner, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors with Chinese-themed entertainment.

Thanksgiving Day Party at
JASA/Penn South Program for Seniors
Thursday, November 20th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Chelsea, Manhattan)
Join the JASA/Penn South Program for Seniors for a festive pre-Thanksgiving Day party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve lunch, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Thanksgiving Day Party at the
JASA/Holliswood Senior Center
Thursday, November 20th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Holliswood, Queens)
Join the JASA/Holliswood Senior Center for a festive pre-Thanksgiving Day party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Thanksgiving Day Party at the
JASA/Manhattan/Brighton Beach Senior Center
Thursday, November 20th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn)
Join the JASA/Manhattan/Brighton Beach Senior Center for a festive pre-Thanksgiving Day party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Thanksgiving Day Party at the
JASA/Van Cortlandt Senior Center
Wednesday, November 26th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in the Bronx)
Join the JASA/Van Cortlandt Senior Center for a fun and festive Thanksgiving Day party! Volunteers are needed to help set up, serve lunch, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Thanksgiving Day Party at the
JASA/Manhattan/Brighton Beach Senior Center
Sunday, November 23rd, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn)
Join the JASA/Manhattan/Brighton Beach Senior Center for a festive Thanksgiving Day party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Thanksgiving Day Party at the
JASA/Whitestone Senior Center
Monday, November 24th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Whitestone, Queens)
Join the JASA/Whitestone Senior Center for a festive pre-Thanksgiving Day party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Winter Bazaar and Flu Shots at the JASA/West Side Senior Center
Wednesday, November 26th, 9am-3:30pm
(This center is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan)
The JASA/WSSC Winter Bazaar will help raise money for the center and allow seniors to purchase inexpensive winter gifts. Volunteers are needed to sort items, set prices and sticker items, help set up, and staff tables. Additionally, volunteers are needed to help run the flu shot program by keeping lines orderly and efficient.

Thanksgiving Flea Market at the
JASA/West Side Senior Center
Wednesday, November 26th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan)
Join the JASA/West Side Senior Center for their annual Thanksgiving Flea Market Sale! Volunteers are needed to help sell items, set up tables, and interact with seniors and customers.

Thanksgiving Luncheon at the
JASA/Roy Reuther Senior Center
Wednesday, November 27th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Far Rockaway, Queens)
Join the JASA/Roy Reuther Senior Center for a fun Thanksgiving Luncheon! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Fall-Fest Party at the JASA/Williamsburg Senior Center
Friday, November 28th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Join the JASA/Williamsburg Senior Center for a fun Fall-Fest party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors.
Holiday Party at the JASA/Williamsburg Senior Center
Sunday, December 7th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Join the JASA/Williamsburg Senior Center for a festive Holiday party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Chanukah Party at the
JASA/Manhattan/Brighton Beach Senior Center
Sunday, December 14th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn)
Join the JASA/Manhattan/Brighton Beach Senior Center for a festive Chanukah party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

Holiday Gift Delivery at the
JASA/Penn South Program for Seniors
Wednesday, December 17th, 4-8pm
(This center is located in Manhattan)
Deliver some holiday cheer to seniors in need and volunteer for our 3rd annual holiday gift bag delivery. Volunteers will deliver 100 festive holiday gift bags to homebound and frail seniors living in Penn South.
Wintertime Snow Ball Party at the
JASA/Williamsburg Senior Center
Friday, December 26th, 10am-2pm
(This center is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Join the JASA/Williamsburg Senior Center for a festive Wintertime Snow Ball party! Volunteers are needed to help set-up, serve food, mingle, clean up and enjoy the party with the seniors!

New Year’s Party at JASA/Long Beach Senior Center
Wednesday, December 31th, 9am-2pm
(This center is located in Long Beach, Long Island)
Volunteers are needed to help make this New Year’s celebration extra-special. Help with entertainment, music, raffle selling, food service, and clean-up.

To volunteer for a JASA holiday service project please email volunteer@jasa.org
or call (212) 273-5275.

UHF Conference on Volunteering Across the Generations

2008-10-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

JASA is co-sponsoring United Hospital Fund’s annual conference on volunteerism. This year the conference is titled “Building Volunteer Communities: How to Make the Generation Gap Work for You.” The conference will address:

Understanding the characteristics that define different generations and using information to build productive volunteer teams.
Developing communications strategies that engage different generations of volunteers.
Identifying new ways to work more efficiently with multi-generational teams so that you can truly build lasting volunteer communities.
Rethinking traditional or stereotypical volunteer roles and designing programs that appeal to multiple generations.

Who should attend?

Directors of volunteer services
Hospital auxilians
Community leaders
Corporate volunteer and philanthropy directors
Social service and health care administrators
Individuals seeking innovative volunteer opportunities
Board members and volunteers

Donna Butts of Generations United in Washington, DC will give the Keynote which will be followed by a panel discussion on best practices. Alexandra Collier, Director of Volunteer Services and Special Projects at JASA, will present in an afternoon workshop titled, “Program Development for Multiple Generations.”

The conference is sponsored by United Hospital Fun and co-sponsored by JASA, AARP, CSS/RSVP, Greater New York Association of Volunteer Administrators, Lighthouse International, New York Association for Volunteer Administration, New York Cares, and the Transition Network.

The event will be at UJA-Federation of New York on Friday, November 7, 2008, 8:30am-2:45pm. Cost is $65 per person, but there is a $10 discount if you are referred by JASA. Visit www.uhfnyc.org for more information.

JASA Participates in "Kids for Kindness" Day

2008-10-08T09:07:00.000-07:00

JASA was invited to participate in Areyvut’s “Kids for Kindness” community service day. The August event was hosted at a private estate in Deal, NJ and gave hundreds of Middle and High School students from Magen David Yeshivah in Brooklyn the opportunity to connect with nonprofit organizations in the Metropolitan area. Assistant Director of Volunteer Services, Abby Lerner, represented JASA at the event and led students in a service activity. Participates made hundreds of centerpieces, which will be donated to several JASA Senior Centers.

Areyvut is a local organization that provides Jewish youth with opportunities to participate in social justice and community service activities.

JASA Volunteer Spotlight On...Lourdes Alfonso and Theodore Burton

2008-10-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

Three months ago, interns Lourdes Alfonso and Theodore Burton were presented with a packet of internship opportunities. After finishing their twelve-week program run by the International Center for Disabilities, the two were ready to use the administrative and human services tools they learned and have a hands-on experience working with seniors.

Lourdes, a former recreation director for New York City Parks, was used to programming activities, and JASA Cooper Square presented her with a new challenge: programming for a building of seniors. Theodore, a former security worker, had experience helping others as well and liked that Cooper Square gave him the opportunity to work with seniors, too.

As intern-program directors at Cooper Square, Theo and Lourdes have worked with the fundraisers, Friendly Calls program, bingo, “Movie Tuesdays,” stress management classes, and special events—like the End of Summer Luau Party on September 4th. The best part about interning at Cooper Square for Theo is the positive feedback he receives from the tenants. He likes giving them something to look forward to, and seeing them out of their apartments makes him feel good about his work. As a friendly caller, Theo makes daily calls to tenants whose family is far away. “It makes me feel good, knowing he’s helping someone out by showing I care,” he says about Friendly Calls. Lourdes has enjoyed getting to know the tenants and seeing them enjoy the programs she’s worked on. Seeing someone in the elevator smile at her because they know she’s responsible for many of the programs makes her feel great.
We wish them both luck in the future and thank them for their wonderful work!

JASA Partners with Columbia and St. John's on Freshmen Community Service

2008-10-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

JASA continues to work with area colleges to develop intergenerational volunteer programs. For the first time this summer, JASA was invited to be a site for the University’s community service orientation program for incoming freshmen. For five Tuesdays in July and August, students volunteered at Penn South Program for Seniors, West Side Senior Center, Brooklyn Senior Alliance Senior Center, Astoria Senior Center and Holliswood Senior Center. Students participated in current events discussion groups, helped with office work, planted gardens, helpedserve lunch, and much more! The experience was enriching for students and seniors alike.

JASA also participated in Columbia University’s Urban Experience orientation program for incoming freshmen in August. The program is designed to connect new students with excellent NYC nonprofit organizations and to familiarize them with diverse areas of New York City. A group of students spent a week at JASA, volunteering at the West Side Senior Center, Cooper Square Housing, and the Van Cortlandt Senior Center.

JASA will continue its strong relationship with Columbia. In September, a group of Barnard students volunteered at the JASA NextAct Open House at John Jay College.

PETS Project Receives Major Grant

2008-10-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

JASA was pleased to learn that the PETS Project had received a grant of $40,000 from Amie’s Place Foundation to expand the PETS Project within Manhattan. The PETS Project provides volunteer and financial support to help older adult pet owners keep their animal companions for as long as possible. The grant will enable the PETS Project to serve up to 150 clients in Manhattan from Battery Park to 125th Street.

The Amie’s Place Foundation grant will help JASA to hire new staff person to support the expansion and will ensure that more seniors are able to receive the critical pet assistance they need. The new social worker will act as a liaison to seniors living throughout Manhattan and will provide overall support to the PETS program.

Support from Amie’s Place Foundation will better position JASA to provide much needed help and support to senior pet owners in Manhattan. By keeping seniors and pets together, JASA enables seniors to continue living independently in their homes and communities with dignity and autonomy.

Amie’s Place Foundation was established to fund organizations that provide programs for people who are at risk of losing their pets at times of crisis and help overcome barriers limiting access to their pets when they most need each other. In light of the profound healing effect that pets have on individuals who are going through a difficult, sometimes life-changing event, the Foundation works to provide necessary pet-care assistance and to promote public awareness of the unique bond a beloved pet and its human companion share.

2nd Annual Volunteer Ventures Expo

2008-07-11T12:32:00.001-07:00

JASA once again sponsored the Volunteer Ventures Expo, a free conference and volunteer opportunities fair for adults 50+. This year the conference was held on June 19th from 10am-3pm at UJA-Federation of New York. The conference was produced in association with UJA-Federation of New York, New York City Department for the Aging, CSS/RSVP, ReServe and Idealist.org/Action Without Borders.

The JASA Volunteer Ventures Expo provides older adults with the opportunity to find dynamic and engaging volunteer and civic engagement programs in their communities, and connects New York City nonprofits with talented and experienced older adult volunteers. Participants had the opportunity to learn about new trends in volunteerism and met with representatives from top New York City nonprofit organizations, including New York Cares, God’s Love We Deliver, Mentoring USA and the Children’s Aid Society. Volunteers and staff members from a wide variety of nonprofits including, advocacy, arts, environmental, faith-based and cultural organizations, answered questions about volunteering with their organizations.

Look out for our 3rd Annual Volunteer Ventures Expo next summer!

Paws and Party!

2008-07-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

The PETS Young Leaders Committee had their kickoff event Thursday, June 5th at the Village Pourhouse. The happy hour fundraiser, “Paws and Party”, attracted over 50 young professionals, volunteers, JASA staff, and friends. The Young Leaders Committee raised over $900 for the PETS Project. Money raised will help fund client relief, pet food, and pet care.

The PETS Project Young Leaders Committee was started earlier this Spring to connect enthusiastic young professionals committed to promoting awareness and increasing support for the PETS Project through exciting events and activities. Thank you to the members of the “Paws and Party” planning and host committees!

Friends Seminary Students Help Revitalize Library

2008-07-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

This May, students from the Friends Seminary in Union Square are helping a resident of JASA’s Cooper Square Senior Housing Building revitalize the Cooper Square library. Phyllis Banek, an avid reader, wants all the residents of the building to be able to use the library as a place to find interesting books, relax and read. The Friends Seminary students are helping with the initial task of dusting and cleaning books and shelves and are also helping Phyllis alphabetize and categorize the hundreds of books into an organized and user-friendly system. Phyllis hopes that with the help of the students and other volunteers, the library organization and clean up will be finished by the end of the summer so the residents can look forward to a warm fall and winter, cozied up with lots of books!

Brunch & Jeopardy at Penn South with UJA-Federation of New York

2008-07-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

Last month 15 young professionals from UJA-Federation of NY joined seniors from JASA’s Penn South Program for Seniors for an exciting day of bagels, lox and JASA Jeopardy! The program was sponsored by UJA’s Paint the City Green – Volunteer Day 2008 and all food and prizes were generously donated by UJA. JASA’s Volunteer Department recruited the seniors and created the JASA Jeopardy game which both seniors and volunteers enjoyed. Seniors and volunteers split into three teams and enjoyed an afternoon of good food, healthy competition, and lots of intergenerational fun!

Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks 2008

2008-07-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

JASA is pleased to once again be a Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks partner. Community TeamWorks is an outreach program designed to connect employees at the Investment Bank with local nonprofit organizations. JASA received funding for four projects for the 2008 summer season. At the Long Beach Senior Center Goldman Sachs employees will be joining seniors for a fun and festive “Falafel Fest.” At the Van Cortlandt Senior Center volunteers will spend part of a fun-filled day gardening, planting and beautifying the grounds of the center before relaxing with Van Cortlandt seniors at a summer BBQ with line dancing. At the Trump III NORC Goldman Sachs will sponsor a senior prom complete with great food and dancing. This will be the first year that JASA will be participating in an outing project with Goldman Sachs. Volunteers will escort seniors from the Roy Reuther Center in Far Rockaway on a trip to Ellis Island.

PETS Project Young Leaders Happy Hour

2008-05-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

Don't miss this opportunity to support the PETS Project!

PETS Project Young Leaders Committee Presents

Paws & Party: A Happy Hour to Benefit JASA's PETS Project
Thursday, June 5th, 6:30-9pm
The Village Pour House, 64 3rd Avenue (11th Street and 3rd Avenue)
$15 admission fee at the door

Open bar from 6:20-7:30pm, free appetizers and a raffle with great prizes! Donations of pet food are welcome and will get you free raffle tickets. All proceeds will benefit JASA's PETS Project.

The PETS Project addresses the needs of elderly pet owners whose capacity to care for their pets has been compromised by frailty, illness and/or inadequate income. The program coordinates the efforts of volunteers to assist the elderly with routine care of their pets and to conenct seniors to emergency care and low-cost pet care resources.

Welcome to JASA Volunteer Services

2008-05-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

JASA (Jewish Association for Services for the Aged) Volunteer Services connects community members with meaningful and innovative volunteer opportunities with in JASA. Opportunities include:

Friendly Visiting
Telephone Reassurance
PETS Project
Paws & Reflect Friendly Visiting Program
Volunteering in Senior Centers
Leading a Class, lecture, or Activity at a Senior Center
Conducting an Activity with an Alzheimer's/Dementia Program
Office Work
And Much More!

JASA provides social, recreational, health, cultural and educational programs for older persons, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity to help sustain them in their homes and communities and offer opportunities for a better quality of life. These services are available in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Nassau and Suffolk Counties