Season's Greetings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.