Let’s do good together! Sign up for Jewish Volunteer Connection’s (JVC) annual Good Deeds Day on Sunday, April 16. Good Deeds Day is an international celebration that unites people around the world with doing good for others and the planet. JVC’s Good Deeds Day offers local volunteer opportunities to do out in the Baltimore community as well as at-home, for all ages and abilities.
Spaces are limited, so be sure to register online in advance by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 9.
- Celebrate Bunches of Lunches’ 3rd Birthday!
- Volunteering Throughout the Community
- Good Deeds Day To-Go Kits
Celebrate Bunches of Lunches’ 3rd Birthday!
Sunday, April 16 | 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom Congregation
(7310 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21208)
Whether you’re a regular Bunches of Lunches volunteer or a first timer, join us in assembling 400 bagged meals and celebrating 3 years of donating lunches! Plus, hear from our nonprofit partners, host sites and frequent volunteers about the impact of this program. Stay for the whole 2 hours or drop in and out as needed.
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.: Sandwich and snack mix making, bag decorating.
2:00 – 2:30 p.m.: Q&A with frequent Bunches of Lunches recipient organizations, hosts, and volunteers.
2:30 – 3:00 p.m.: Assembly line time! Put together 400 lunch bags.
Volunteer Capacity: 100 individuals
Please note that sandwiches will include peanut butter. Those with allergies are encouraged to choose other stations like snack mixes or bag decorating. Those with airborne allergies should choose a different volunteer opportunity. Thank you for understanding—PB&Js are requested by our nonprofit partners as a protein-filled vegetarian option.
Keeping in mind the health and safety of our guests and staff members, Jewish Volunteer Connection (JVC) will continue to monitor the safety practices and protocols, recommended by the venue, local, state and CDC guidelines at the time of the event. All guests attending events, meetings and programs are highly encouraged to be fully vaccinated and to practice social distance. If you or anyone in your family is not feeling well, please refrain from attending. *Precautions are subject to change to be in line with health guidelines and local Covid-19 data.
Register Here
Volunteering Throughout the Community
Check out these available volunteer opportunities and be sure to register early as space is limited! Please note the health and safety requirements for each opportunity, as determined by our service partners.
Sort Donations
Second Chance, Inc.
Sunday, April 16 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
1700 Ridgely Street Baltimore, MD 21230
Volunteers will sort, organize, and prepare warehouse materials and donations, which will then be sold at Second Chance, Inc. Second Chance, Inc. provides job training and skill development to those re-entering the workforce. Volunteers will also spend time with Second Chance, Inc employees. Please note that this opportunity involves physical labor (carrying, sorting, stacking items, and standing for long periods of time). This project includes both inside and outside work, rain or shine. The warehouse is not climate-controlled; please wear long pants, closed-toed shoes, and clothes that you do not mind getting dirty. Volunteers should also bring a reusable water bottle (water stations available). Street parking is available, and carpooling is encouraged. Parking should be available beside the building on Bush Street (One way heading west to east). Second Chance, Inc. Will provide all materials needed for this project.
Volunteer Capacity: 50 individuals
Volunteer Restrictions: Volunteers 16 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Volunteers 17 and older do not need a parent/guardian present. This opportunity is mask-optional.
JVC’s Suggested Age Range: 13 and older
Serve a Meal
Our Daily Bread Employment Center
Sunday, April 16 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
725 Fallsway, Baltimore, MD 21202
Volunteers are needed to serve food, clean tables, and socialize with clients at Our Daily Bread. Our Daily Bread provides legal services, lunch, healthcare services, case management, and employment assistance to adults in need. A parking lot is available for volunteers.
Volunteer Capacity: 15 individuals
Volunteer Restrictions: Volunteers under 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. All volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination with them when volunteering. Masks must be worn at all times. Volunteers should bring/wear a hat if they would rather not wear a hairnet.
JVC’s Suggested Age Range: 10 and older
Family Gardening Projects with PJ Library
Arden Courts Memory Care Community
Sunday, April 16 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
8909 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208
Join PJ Library at Arden Courts Memory Care Community for a morning of gardening and reading! Volunteers will be gardening in the courtyard and planting small pots for residents of Arden Courts to keep in their rooms. Then, read a PJ library story and socialize with residents! Arden Courts is a residential memory care facility for older adults. A parking lot is available for volunteers. This opportunity is mask-optional. All supplies will be provided by Arden Courts. This is a great option for families with young children!
Volunteer Capacity: 30 individuals
Volunteer Restrictions: No age restrictions; any volunteer under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
JVC’s Suggested Age Range: All ages welcome, especially young children!
Morning Clean Up
The Baltimore Humane Society
Sunday, April 16 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1601 Nicodemus Road, Reisterstown, MD 21136
Help clean dog, cat, and small animal kennels and other spaces at The Baltimore Humane Society. The Baltimore Humane Society provides care to thousands of animals each year, and provides low-income pet owners with services such as low-cost spay and neuter, vaccines, and more. Volunteers will clean and help with other shelter tasks to make the area warm and inviting for animals. Volunteers should wear closed-toed shoes and clothes they do not mind getting dirty/wet. A parking lot is available for volunteers. This opportunity is happening rain or shine.
Volunteer Capacity: 15 individuals
Volunteer Restrictions: Volunteers 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Volunteers 13 and older do not need a parent/guardian present. This opportunity is mask-optional.
JVC’s Suggested Age Range: 10 and older
Cemetery Clean Up with Jewish Cemetery Association (JCA) of Greater Baltimore and Sol Levinson & Bros
Bowleys Lane Cemeteries
Sunday, April 16 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
6700 Bowleys Lane Rosedale, MD 21237
Volunteers will help clean up debris in and around Bowleys Lane Cemeteries, including refurbishing monuments. Sol Levinson & Bros and the Jewish Cemetery Association will provide all materials for this project. A parking lot and street parking is available for volunteers.
Volunteer Capacity: 30 individuals
Volunteer Restrictions: All ages welcome; volunteers 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. This opportunity is mask-optional.
JVC’s Suggested Age Range: 10 and older
Sort Donations and Inventory
Leveling the Playing Field
Sunday April 16 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1794 Union Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21211
Volunteers will sort through Leveling the Playing Field’s inventory of used sports equipment. Leveling the Playing Field provides underserved schools and communities with access to sports through donated equipment. Volunteers should wear closed-toed shoes and clothes they do not mind getting dirty. Volunteers should bring a water bottle and gloves (if they do not want to directly handle used equipment). While this opportunity is indoors, The Leveling the Playing Field warehouse is not climate controlled-please dress accordingly. A parking lot is available for volunteers.
Volunteer Capacity: 15 individuals
Volunteer Restrictions: Volunteers must be at least 8 years old and be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Volunteers ages 8-12 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Volunteers 13 and older do not need a parent/guardian present. This opportunity is mask optional.
JVC’s Suggested Age Range: 8 and older- this is a great option for families!
Serve Dinner
My Sister’s Place Women’s Center
Sunday, April 16 | 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
411 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Volunteers are needed to serve dinner to women and children at My Sister’s Place Women’s Center. My Sister’s Place Women’s Center is a day resource center for women and children in Baltimore City. Volunteers will also help with clean-up, socialize with residents, and more. Volunteers must arrive by 4:00 p.m. for set up, meal service will begin at 5pm. Street and garage parking is available for volunteers.
Volunteer Capacity: 5 individuals
Volunteer Restrictions: Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and have a parent/guardian present. Volunteers 16 and older do not need a parent/guardian present. All volunteers must wear a mask at all times, be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and bring proof of full vaccination when volunteering.
JVC’s Suggested Age Range: 14 and older
DIY Neighborhood Clean Up
Sunday, April 16, when and wherever you are!
Rally your family, friends, and neighbors to clean up your street or neighborhood. JVC encourages everyone to go outside and take part in picking up trash, weeding, and beautifying our neighborhoods! Volunteers must provide their own supplies for this project.
Volunteer Capacity: no maximum
Volunteer Restrictions: N/A
JVC’s Suggested Age Range: All ages-this is a great option for families!
Donate Items to “Bottoms Up” Collection
Community Crisis Center, Inc.
Sunday, April 16 | 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
725 Main Street, Reisterstown, MD 21136
Support women and children in need. Donate new, unopened packages and/or partially used opened packages of diapers (especially sizes 5,6 and pull ups) and feminine hygiene products (pads preferred) along with unopened, unexpired containers of formula and baby wipes. Donations can be dropped off at Community Crisis Center or at the Bunches of Lunches program. Donations should be labeled “JVC-BU“. If you have any questions, please contact Gail Schuman at gschuman5@comcast.net
Read more about this important initiative, and its connection to the Passover story.
J-Serve with BBYO Northern Region East: Baltimore Council
Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC Fields
Sunday, April 16 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
3506 Gwynnbrook Ave, Owings Mills, MD 21117
Teens will participate in several projects to address food insecurity in the Baltimore Community, and service hours will be given upon request. Admission is $5 a person or free with a NUT-FREE bake sale item. This event is open to all 7th-12th grade Jewish teens in the Baltimore area. Please register here!
Good Deeds Day at Bolton Street Synagogue
Sunday April 16 | 10:00 a.m.
212 W. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21210
Join the Bolton Street Synagogue community in their Good Deeds Day Celebration! Volunteer opportunities will be available indoors (assembling kits, no-sew blankets, bagged meals, and more) and outdoors (synagogue and neighborhood cleanup). Participants are invited to bring a lunch to eat together and then join the community at the Black Lives Matter Interfaith Coalition Rally at Rawlings Conservatory at 1:30pm.
This program is open to the public. If you are interested in participating in part or all of the planned events, please contact Cory Hermann at chermann@boltonstreet.org
Good Deeds Day Book Collection at Bolton Street Synagogue
212 W. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21210
Have books to donate? Drop them off at the Bolton Street Synagogue library before Good Deeds Day on April 16th. Books will be donated to Correctional Libraries and the Maryland Book Bank. Please direct questions to dahlia.pousson@gmail.com or Dinah.winnick@gmail.com
Good Deeds Day To-Go Kits
Participate in Good Deeds Day right from home or safely in a group with our to-go project kits! Learn more about our offerings and sign up using the links below.
Assemble Summer Break Kits: Put together kits that students can use this summer while they’re out of school, including activities, water, sunscreen, and reusable drawstring backpacks. Volunteers will pack these bulk items into individual kits and JVC will donate them to after-school programs and shelters.
Get Started
Thank you to our Good Deeds Day 2023 Sponsors
The Macks Center for Jewish Connections supports Jewish journeys for Baltimoreans through Jewish living, learning, and service. By combining the work of Jewish Volunteer Connection (JVC) with the family engagement and inclusion agendas of the Macks Center for Jewish Education, we are creating experiences to help all people across our community build meaningful connections to Jewish life.
