Off The
Beaten Path
WAYS TO VOLUNTEER THIS CHANUKAH
JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF
T he thing about doing good for others is that there is an
inexhaustible supply of opportunities and, of course,
others. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365
days a year, there are people who need helping and a lot of diff erent
ways to help them.

Th at December has become a season to “give back” in the
United States has much to do with Christmas and little to do
with Chanukah. But you’d be hard pressed to fi nd a bad time to
recommit to service, so why not do it around the festival of lights?
Th is year, we have a couple of lesser-known options for giving a
helping hand to those who need it.

JEVS Human Services off ers a program called 3 Cups of
Coff ee, which just celebrated its fi rst anniversary. First created
by Pennsylvania Women Work, it is a short-term mentorship
program designed to help job-seeking individuals connect with
professionals in their chosen fi eld for job advice and networking
assistance. Professionals fi ll out a simple application to be
connected to prospective mentees. Aft er they’re paired up, based
on mutual career interests, the two meet up for three one-hour
coff ee meetings over six weeks. Better yet, lucky mentor-mentee
pairs who fi nd themselves near a Saxby’s can get a free coff ee for
their eff orts.

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photography courtesy of Jay Gorodetzer
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32 NOVEMBER 28, 2019
WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE
Celebrating Our
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What has growing
food in a desert
3 Cups of Coffee pairs job-seeking individuals with
professionals in their field.
Photo by Linette Kielinski
In the year that the organization has operated the JEVS banner,
16 pairs have been made, according to Chris Richter, marketing
communications manager at JEVS. The barrier for entry is low,
and the time commitment is, too.

“You don’t have to have been around a really long time to be a
mentor,” Richter said.

Another way to pitch in this Chanukah season is KleinLife of
Northeast Philadelphia’s annual Adopt-A-Family program.

The program, like 3 Cups of Coffee, pairs someone to give with
someone who needs giving. Interested families and businesses
are invited to “adopt” another family that can’t afford to purchase
Chanukah gifts. Each year, participating volunteer families donate
toys, clothing and gift items to deserving families.

This year, said Inna Gulko, director of support services at
KleinLife of Northeast Philadelphia, seven or eight families have
already been “adopted” through the Adopt-A-Family program,
with contributions from individual families, private donors, syna-
gogues, sisterhoods and the American Heritage Credit Union. Still,
there is plenty of time left for interested parties to help brighten
another family’s Chanukah when they need it most.

“It always feels great to cheer them up, and help them during
the holiday season,” Gulko said. l
jbernstein@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740
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KNOWLEDGE MOVES
US. MONICA LOEBL
National Director of
Development T: 561.948.3342
E: mloebl@afhu.org
From left: Amy Anderson; Inna Gulko, director of support
services for KleinLife; and Melissa Garman
Photo by American Heritage Federal Credit Union
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 28, 2019
33