JVC is joining in the basketball frenzy with match-ups that pit our non-profit Partners with Purpose (organizations to which we refer volunteers) against each other. Each Partner with Purpose is matched with a team on the NCAA Sweet 16 bracket and will follow that team through the rest of the tournament. Click Here to see the complete Partner with a Purpose Bracket.
The 6th Branch
The 6th Branch is an independent player with no league affiliation. The 6th Branch utilizes the leadership and organizational skills of military veterans to execute aggressive community service initiatives in Baltimore City. The volunteer bench is comprised of many people who help build community green space and operate a community farm to help meet community member needs. Additionally, The 6th Branch has expanded their work within East Baltimore by providing increased support to schools in the respective communities where they has an existing presence. T6B believes that engaging their volunteer network and themselves in this type of institutional support will complement the volunteer-based work we are also doing in schools, and, in a broader context, that their new schools effort will complement the work that they have already been doing for years, all to help raise the overall health of these respective communities.
Did You Know: You can help cleanup the neighborhood with The 6th Branch on Good Deeds Day! Volunteers are needed from 10am-1:00pm. To register, go to www.jvcbaltimore.org/gooddeedsday
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Something Good VolunTeam
Something Good plays in the JVC VolunTeam League. The VolunTeam League is made up of volunteer-led groups that take on a commitment to service together. They feature a large bench so each player can sub in and out as they need to, while the team continues to play strong and play together! Something Good has changed up the VolunTeam playbook a bit, offering different volunteer opportunities each time, rather than consistently going to one site. With this active road schedule, the Something Good bench numbers more than 500 and they completed more than XXX acts of service last year. To join the Something Good VolunTeam, contact jvcbaltimore@associated.org, 410-843-7490.
Did You Know: The Something Good VolunTeam has participated in all of JVC’s Days of Service, including JVC’s upcoming Good Deeds Day. Whether it be cleaning a park or serving meals, join this VolunTeam as well as other volunteers and register for Good Deeds Day on April 15th.
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Playdate Together
PlayDate Together plays in the JVC VolunTeam league. The VolunTeam League is made up of volunteer-led groups that take on a commitment to service together. They feature a large bench so each player can sub in and out as they need to, while the team continues to play strong and play together! That’s especially important for the PlayDate Together VolunTeam, which features JVC’s largest concentration of junior volunteers, some as young as 6 months old! The PlayDate Together VolunTeam’s home court is a nursing home or assisted living facility, where families with young children share special stories, songs, crafts, and games with residents. The PlayDate VolunTeam bench gets more than they give in this special encounter, as the kids get to know older adults with a lifetime of stories to share. For more information about PlayDate Together, visit XXX.
Did You Know: There’s a Playdate Together program on Good Deeds Day at Springwell Senior Living. If you’re a family of young children (3 months-preschool) sign up and join this Playdate Together VolunTeam on April 15th.
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Gilchrist
Gilchrist is an independent team with no league affiliation. They provide counseling, support and care to people at every stage of serious illness, so they may live life to the fullest. For more than 20 years, Gilchrist has been providing compassionate care and support for people with life-limiting illnesses.
Originally founded as a hospice, today’s Gilchrist extends services to individuals with serious illness who need care and support well in advance of hospice care. In addition to hospice service, they provide counseling and support before and after the loss of a loved one. The volunteer bench at Gilchrist is made up of special individual who support patients and their families in their homes or facilities by providing companionship for patients and respite for caregivers.
Did You Know: Gilchrest holds regular pinning ceremonies to celebrate veterans under their care.
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Sinai Hospital
Sinai Hospital plays in the “Associated” League. Founded in 1866 as the Hebrew Hospital and Asylum, Sinai Hospital builds upon its Jewish heritage, exceptional clinical strengths and history of service to be a model for the nation by being a comprehensive health care provider. Sinai Hospital has 504 beds and 35 newborn bassinets. The volunteer bench at Sinai hospital supports patients, visitors, and staff by serving as greeters, friendly visitors, and administrative support. While it requires a one-year commitment to join the volunteer bench, cheerleaders are also supporting Sinai Hospital from afar by creating gifts for patients, especially children. Sinai Hospital also maintains a junior bench for volunteers over the age of 15 ½ through their summer service program.
Did You Know: Volunteers provided 300 mishloach manot bags to patients at Sinai for Purim this year.
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Healthy Heart Initiative
The Healthy Harbor Initiative plays in the “Baltimore Waterfront Partnership” league of organizations, and plays in partnership with Mr. Trash Wheel. The Healthy Harbor Initiative works to restore and protect Baltimore’s Inner Harbor with the goal of making it both swimmable and fishable by 2020. The Healthy Harbor Initiative depends completely on their volunteer bench to achieve their game plan. Volunteers participate in clean-ups, do alley restorations that reduce trash, foster the oyster population and coordinate events and special activities to celebrate the waterfront. In their home court of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and surrounding areas, the Healthy Harbor Initiative makes Baltimore a cleaner, greener, more sustainable community. For more information on joining this volunteer team, visit http://baltimorewaterfront.com/healthy-harbor/.
Did You Know: You can join Repair the World and work with Healthy Harbor Initiative on Good Deeds Day! To learn more and to register, go to www.jvcbaltimore.org/gooddeedsday
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Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland plays in the national “Meals on Wheels” League. Chartered in 1960 in the Baltimore area, Meals on Wheels enables people to live independently at home through the provision of nutritious meals, personal contact and related services. While the Meals on Wheels starting bench of meal packers and delivery drivers is well known, their bench of volunteers also includes shoppers, friendly visitors, phone pals, and a cheerleading squad that makes gifts to remind recipients that they are part of a community that cares for them. Meals on Wheels has even started a special role for its junior bench, who take the court in their strollers and car seats to volunteer with a parent. For more information on Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, visit https://www.mealsonwheelsmd.org/ and click on volunteer.
Did You Know: You can make service a part of your work day through Meals on Wheels! The Associated Staff recently formed a VolunTeam that delivers meals once a month!
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CHAI and Weinberg Senior Living
Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. (CHAI) plays in the “Associated” league of organizations. Founded in 1983 with the goal of stabilizing the Northern Park Heights neighborhood, their mission is to strengthen neighborhoods with a significant Jewish presence by developing and enhancing housing, affecting community development, and supporting aging-in-community. CHAI supports its home court through foreclosure prevention, homebuyer education, new homebuyer and renovation loans, community activism, and support for schools. At the same time, CHAI supports its “alumni network” through aging services that include affordable apartments for seniors, senior home repair and benefits, the Myerberg Center, and the Northwest Neighbors Connecting Village. The CHAI bench of volunteers helps seniors live safely and with confidence in their homes, drive Village members to appointments and errands, and provide social support. For more information about joining the CHAI volunteer bench, visitwww.chaibaltimore.org and click on the Volunteer link.
Did You Know: You can take part in a stream clean-up hosted by CHAI on Good Deeds Day! To learn more and to register, go to www.jvcbaltimore.org/gooddeedsday
