Kick off the Jewish new year with a commitment to service! Sign up to participate in Season of Service, a month-long event hosted by Jewish Volunteer Connection (JVC). Opportunities are available for individuals, families, and friends to make a difference throughout Baltimore, from safe in-person volunteering to meaningful at-home projects. Participate in one or more volunteer programs between October 11 – November 14.
Find a volunteer opportunity that works for you! Sign up for one or more of our Season of Service volunteer opportunities:
- GET OUT TO VOLUNTEER SAFELY: Volunteer in the community with our nonprofit and school partners
- VOLUNTEER FROM HOME: or get together safely with family, friends, classmates, teammates, etc.
- WHO ELSE IS CELEBRATING SEASON OF SERVICE? JVC thanks our participating partners.
GET OUT TO VOLUNTEER SAFELY: Volunteer in the community with our nonprofit and school partners.
JVC is closely monitoring the public health situation due to the ongoing pandemic. For all in-person events, JVC asks that all volunteers 12 and older be vaccinated and all volunteers should be masked in any indoor or crowded outdoor situations. If additional adjustments are necessary, volunteers will be notified before the event.
Bookworms at Timber Grove Elementary – Virtual
October 6th and November 3rd 10:30-11:30am
Join Bookworms to share in the gift of reading with students at Timber Grove Elementary School. Volunteers will read a book from the comfort of their home computer to a classroom of eager to engage students. Bookworms is a monthly reading program for volunteers to join as often as available with pre-registration required for virtual reading.
Volunteer Availability: 8 Volunteers
Restrictions: Volunteers must have a home computer with reliable internet access.
Register Here
Cemetery Clean Up with the Jewish Cemetery Association
October 10th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Bowleys Lane Cemeteries, 6700 Bowleys Lane, Rosedale, 21237
Volunteers are needed to clean and restore monuments, and pick up debris at historic Jewish cemeteries at Bowley’s Lane in Baltimore. Tucked away behind an industrial park in Baltimore City, the historic Jewish Cemeteries at Bowley’s Lane are in constant need of maintenance and attention. Governed and managed by the Jewish Cemetery Association of Greater Baltimore, (JCA) these cemeteries are perfect examples of the important work and necessity of our organization. However, the JCA and the caretakers cannot perform their work alone. One way to help is by volunteering. Sign up to for this day of service, to help clean and restore the many monuments that, over time, have faded or become discolored, and to help pick up debris that inevitably collects throughout the cemetery. Please join us for an important community project that is particularly meaningful during this holiday season.
Volunteer availability: 50 volunteers
Restrictions: Ages 12+, with a parent if under 18
Register Here
Interfaith Blessing Bag Packing Program with Baltimore Jewish Council
October 17th from 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Weinberg Park Heights JCC, 5700 Park Heights Ave, 21215 *Will be held outside
Join the Baltimore Jewish Council in partnership with Word of Life Christian Community Church in an interfaith act of service, packing 300 “blessing bags” with supplies for Marylanders experiencing homelessness. Participants will be able to take bags with them to give to those in need. Limited spots available. For more information and to register click the button below
Volunteer Restrictions: Pre-Registration Required. Masks Required.
Register Here
Donation Sorting for Sol Levinson’s Fall Donation Drive – Project Full
Sundays from 2:00-3:30 p.m.,
October 31- Outerwear (coats, Shoes, Hats, Scarves)-Project Full
November 7- Toiletries and Women’s Hygiene Products-Project Full
November 14- Books-Project Full
November 21- Adult Clothing-Project Full
November 28- School Supplies-Project Full
Sol Levinson’s, 8900 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, 21208
Volunteers are needed to sort and quality check donations that are being collected at Sol Levinson’s through their Sol Levinson’s Fall Donation Drive: A JVC’s ‘Season of Service’ Project. Volunteers will sort and prepare the weekly donations to be delivered to recipient organizations. Up to 10 volunteers will be needed each Sunday from 2:00pm-3:30pm to process the donations alongside Sol Levinson’s staff.
*For more information about the weekly donation drive Click Here.
Volunteer Availability: 10 Volunteers
Restrictions: Volunteers should be 8+, Volunteers under 18 should be accompanied by an adult.
CHAI’s Senior Neighbors Yard Winterization
Sunday, November 14th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers of all ages are needed to assist older Glen, Fallstaff and Pikesville neighbors prepare their yards for winter by raking leaves, trimming hedges and other outdoor tasks. Each team of volunteers will meet at a predetermined address provided shortly after registration. All supplies will be provided and left in the designated yard for use that day.
Restrictions: Please wear closed toe shoes
Availability: 70 Volunteers
Register Here
Western Run Stream Clean-up With CHAI
Sunday, November 14th, 1:00-3:00pm
LOCATION TBD
Join other volunteers and the greater CHAI community by rolling up your sleeves and picking up trash along the Western Run Stream. Trash bags and grabbers will be provided, but please wear long pants and closed toed shoes.
CHAI promotes stable communities for northwest Baltimore City residents through supporting seniors, increasing homeownership and active community building.
Volunteer Availability: 60 Volunteers
Volunteer Restrictions: Volunteers should be 8+, Volunteers under 18 should be accompanied by an adult.
Register Here
DIY Clean Your Street with CHAI
Sunday, November 14th, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (pick up time for kits at the CHAI office)
Pick-up Supplies at CHAI – 5809 Park Heights Ave, 21215
Beautify your own neighborhood with CHAI! Join volunteers around our community and clean up trash from your street/neighborhood. Volunteers can choose to pick up outdoor cleaning kits, free of charge and provided by CHAI, or use their own supplies. Cleaning kits are limited to one per household and are available on a first come first serve basis. CHAI works to strengthen the fabric of neighborhoods connected to Jewish Baltimore, through housing and community development, so residents of all ages can thrive.
Availability: 30 cleaning kits are available (1 per family/household)
Register Here
Donate Blood with the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross has a constant and ongoing need for blood donations, but the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in the number of blood donors. Please consider donating blood at one of the local community drives happening during JVC’s Season of Service.
October 20 – Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC – 3506 Gwynn Brook Avenue (21117)
Register Here
October 27- Beth El Synagouge- 8101 Park Heights Avenue (21208)
Register Here
November 11– Weinberg Park Heights JCC- 5700 Park Heights Avenue (21215)
Register Here
Red Cross Blood Drive—Volunteers Needed for Registration and Refreshments!
Thursday, November 11, 2 hour shifts from 1:00-8:00 p.m.
Weinberg Park Heights JCC, 5700 Park Heights Avenue, 21215
Register to assist the Red Cross in a community Blood Drive at the Park Heights JCC. Volunteers are needed to assist with registration and to run the “canteen” for donors to get drinks and snacks after their donation. Spaces are limited to 2 volunteers per job, per shift.
Shifts:
12:45-3:15 p.m.
3:00-5:15 p.m.
5:00-7:15 p.m.
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Jobs:
Registration OR Canteen Assistant
Volunteer at PJ Library Book Mitzvah Celebration with CJE!
Sunday, November 14, 1:30-4:00 p.m.
Beth Tfiloh Camp, 400 Delight Meadows Road, Reisterstown
Help the community celebrate 13 years of PJ Library in Baltimore by volunteering at the Book Mitzvah Celebration. Volunteers will sort book donations, lead service projects, and assist with other activities. Service learning hours available for volunteers.
Volunteer Availability: 10 Volunteers
Volunteer Restrictions: Volunteers should be 12+, Volunteers under 16 should be accompanied by an adult.
Register Here
PJ Library’s Book Mitzvah Celebration with CJE!
Sunday, November 14, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Beth Tfiloh Camp, 400 Delight Meadows Road, Reisterstown
Celebrate 13 years of PJ Library in Baltimore with a community celebration, including a book donation drive and service projects on site. All books are welcome at the book drive – Jewish, secular, adult, and kid-themed! Register here for the PJ Library Book Mitzvah Celebration!!
Fallstaff and Colonial Village Support Your Neighbor
November 14th, 2:00pm-3:00pm
Intersection of Reisterstown Road and Crest Heights Ave
Meet your neighbors from the Fallstaff Improvement Association and the Colonial Village Neighborhood Improvement Association to help clean-up our bordering communities.
Register by contacting:
Fallstaff Residents- Jenny Torres jtorres@chaibaltimore.org or 302-316-0854
Colonial Village Residents- Kristin Zeminski at colonialvillagepikesville@gmail.com
Volunteer Restrictions: this clean up is intended for residents of the Fallstaff and Colonial Village neighborhoods.
VOLUNTEER FROM HOME: or get together safely with family, friends, classmates, teammates, etc.
JVC’s Live With Purpose Kits and Projects
Throughout October and November
Join JVC in service projects designed to be completed safely in your own space, whether with friends and family, coworkers or your household. Please click on the links below to learn more and sign up!
- T-Shirt Tote Bags: Available starting October 4, while supplies last. JVC provides t-shirts and instructions for volunteers to re-purpose them into reusable tote bags. These tote bags will be donated to Living Classrooms to help with their Thanksgiving food distributions to local families. Just order online, pick up materials from the Park Heights JCC, and return the completed tote bags by the end of October. Learn more and register for your kit here.
- Soup Kits: JVC provides all ingredients for a healthy soup, and volunteers like you can properly portion them into pouches that feed 4-6 people each. Soup kits will be donated to organizations serving individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. Just order materials online for pickup, complete the project at home, and return the soup kits to JVC for donation. Sign up for this hands-on and meaningful project today—click here to get started.
- Casserole Challenge: Take part in our annual Casserole Challenge by preparing your favorite recipe and dropping it off with us on Tuesday, November 30. Last year we collected over 700 casseroles and donated them same-day to 12 nonprofits and schools in Baltimore. Help us make this year even better! Learn more and register for your kit here.
- Bunches of Lunches: Prepare bagged meals at home and drop them off at one of our curbside Bunches of Lunches collections. Every week, JVC and our partners collect homemade meals and deliver them to nonprofits that serve those experiencing food insecurity. View collection dates & locations and sign up now! Collection dates & locations are updated periodically as details are confirmed. Learn more and register here.
Sol Levinson’s Fall Donation Drive
Weekly Collections from October 11-November 30
Make this Season of Service a chance to clean out, clear out, and gift unused or gently used items from your home through the Sol Levinson’s Fall Donation Drive. Each week will feature a different item to donate, including adult and children’s clothing, books, toiletries, and baby items. To see the schedule of collections Click Here!
FIDF Baltimore’s Lone Soldier Shabbat
October 11-17
Join FIDF and other Baltimore synagogues and schools as we honor our Lone Soldiers serving in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), and their families during Lone Soldier Shabbat taking place on October 11-17 throughout the community. Participants will fulfill service projects by making items that show love and support to Lone Soldiers and their families. For more information on how you can participate in FIDF’s Lone Soldier Shabbat visit https://fb.me/e/5p69o6cG8
WHO ELSE IS CELEBRATING SEASON OF SERVICE? Thank you to many of JVC’s partners participating in service during this season.
- FIDF Baltimore, for engaging community members in service projects that benefit Lone Soldiers and their families
- Baltimore Jewish Council, for engaging teen leadership program participants in a beautification project with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, as well as engaging volunteers across different faiths in making blessing bags to benefit people experiencing financial hardships and homelessness
- PJ Library and the Center for Jewish Education, for collecting book donations and doing service projects at the Book Mitzvah event
- 4Front at the JCC, for joining JVC and CHAI at Good Neighbor Day on November 14.
- Beth El, Har Sinai Oheb Shalom Congregation, Beth Tfiloh Congregation and Schools, and Chizuk Amuno Congregation and Schools for hosting Bunches of Lunches collections in October and November.
- The Associated’s Dignity Grows Program for hosting their first packing party for Chapter 2 Alumni.
- Pikesville Jewish Congregation for hosting a casserole making event with families who made and contributed many meals towards JVC’s annual Casserole Challenge.
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