Working for Success
Federation Early Learning Services
1845 Walnut Street, 7th Floor • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-854-1874 • Fax: 215-854-1880 • cs@jevs.org
Jewish women under the age of 65, who are unemployed
or under-employed residing in the Delaware Valley, may qualify for this
free program to receive assistance finding employment through
one-on-one vocational counseling, assessment, workshops and
job-search assistance. Inquire about financial eligibility.
10700 Jamison Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-676-7550 • Fax: 215-676-9498 • FelsKids.org
Volunteers needed to work in classrooms with young children and to assist
teachers. Specific tasks are designed to meet the skills and interests of the volun-
teers and the needs of the classroom.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Abramson Center for Jewish Life
1425 Horsham Road • North Wales, PA 19454
215-371-1816 or 215-371-1820 (auxiliary) • Fax: 215-371-3020
info@abramsoncenter.org • abramsoncenter.org
Volunteers of all ages welcome. Groups can volunteer for a one-time event or
project, or commit to a longer period of service. Students looking to fulfill
school and Bar/Bat Mitzvah requirements can participate in the Project
SHEMA program, connecting young people with elderly residents. Volunteer
opportunities include friendly visitors, hospice volunteers, escorts, sewers and
menders, librarians, Yiddish Club, Sports Club, general activities and games,
and office support. Auxiliary volunteers actively participate in auxiliary-spon-
sored programs including a gift shop, resident library, Shabbat kiddush,
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebrations, birthday parties, luncheons and
other celebrations enriching resident life.
AviCares avicares.org
Runs one-time volunteer opportunities in Philadelphia and the surrounding sub-
urbs once every other month, generally on Sundays and for the Christmas holiday.
No long-term commitment necessary. Most, but not all, volunteer opportunities
involve feeding the hungry. AviCares will be expanding to run more frequently
starting late January 2016 and plans to have a major volunteer day of service
on January 18, 2016 (MLK Day of Service).
Chai Lifeline
732-719-1700 • Fax: 732-886-0065
nj@chailifeline.org • chailifeline.org/nj
Chai Lifeline New Jersey provides seriously ill children and their families in
Pennsylvania care and assistance. Maintains a network of psychosocial support
programs, including medical referrals, insurance support services, emotional
support groups, homebound tutorial programs, special trips and holiday festivi-
ties, toy drives, bone-marrow drives and family retreats. Also offers a summer
camping program called Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special. Many young
patients receive medical care at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Offers a
daily shuttle service from New Jersey locations to CHOP and accommodations
at Chai House, an apartment just minutes from the hospital.
Home-Delivered Meals (Cook for a Friend)
KleinLife• 10100 Jamison Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-698-7300, Ext. 196 • Fax: 267-345-7796 • jeskate@kleinjcc.org
Participate in a local cooking group, volunteer to be a friendly visitor, deliver meals
on a weekly basis or assist in the office to support program operations.
Jewish Information and Referral Service
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
215-832-0821 • info@jfgp.org
Volunteers answer the telephone and assist callers with information about the
Philadelphia Jewish community and its resources. Vol un teers also work on
time-limited special projects.
72 THE GUIDE 2015/2016
Friendship Circle Philadelphia Region
South Office: 754 South Ninth Street • Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-574-1765 • Fax: 270-574-1766
info@phillyfriendship.com • phillyfriendship.com
North Office: 25 North State Street • Newtown, PA 18940
215-497-1003 • friends@fcpa.info • fcpa.info
Connects teens and young adults to youth with special needs and their fami-
lies, offering Jewish and social experiences; developing friendships while
participating in creative arts group activities, Jewish holiday celebrations,
weekly playdates and more. FC fosters the development of a caring, support-
ive community.
The South office serves Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester and
Delaware counties.
The North office serves Bucks County, Huntingdon Valley and
Northeast Philadelphia.
Hosts for Hospitals — In-Home Hospitality
for Families and Patients
326 Conshohocken State Road, #2 • Gladwyne, PA 19035
215-472-3801 • Fax: 215-472-3803
info@hostsforhospitals.org • hostsforhospitals.org
Provides an opportunity to perform the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim — the
bringing in of guests. Volunteer hosts provide free lodging for out-of-towners
who travel to Philadelphia in association with patients who are receiving care at
area hospitals. Guests are responsible for their own food and transportation.
Jewish Family and Children’s Service
of Greater Philadelphia Volunteer Services
7607 Old York Road (Lower Level) • Elkins Park, PA 19027
1-866-JFCS-NOW or 1-866-532-7669
info@jfcsphilly.org • jfcsphilly.org
Volunteers work with JFCS clients and members of the Jewish community in a
variety of programs. Participants drive seniors; visit clients’ homes and senior
facilities; help with organizing homes; shop for clients; deliver challah to hospi-
tal patients; run holiday and Shabbat services; do telephone reassurance; and a
great many more tasks. Volunteers provide support and assistance for individu-
als with special needs through friendly visits, driving clients to program, helping
with cooking, shopping, organization and socialization.
Jewish Relief Agency
200 Monument Road, Suite 8 • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-660-0190 • Fax: 610-660-0191
JRA@JewishRelief.org • jewishrelief.org
Distributes nonperishable food monthly to low-income Jewish families
throughout the region. Needs volunteers to help with food packaging and dis-
tribution. All ages are welcome. The food-distribution center is located at 10980
Dutton Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154; 215-281-1101.
JRAid
200 Monument Road, Suite 8 • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-660-0190 • Fax: 610-660-0191 • info@JRAid.org • JRAid.org
Program of the Jewish Relief Agency that matches volunteers with individuals to
help meet their basic needs. Volunteers provide rides to the doctor and supermar-
ket; complete small home repairs such as changing light bulbs and smoke-detec-
tor batteries; and make friendly phone calls and visits. JRAid also works with pro-
fessional contractors who volunteer their time to complete larger home repairs
and other projects requiring a licensed professional.
Lubavitch House at the University of Pennsylvania
Perelman Center for Jewish Life
4032 Spruce Street • Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-222-3130 • Fax: 215-222-9635
menschmidt@gmail.com • lubavitchhouse.com
Coordinates opportunities to work on volunteer projects.
The Mitzvah Bowl
125 Brochant Circle • Blue Bell, PA 19422
info@themitzvahbowl.com • TheMitzvahBowl.com
A comprehensive website for finding mitzvah projects and volunteer opportu-
nities for Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and high school students looking to fulfill
community service hours. Offers resources for teens and families seeking a
way to help others and make a difference.
Mitzvah Circle Foundation
1561 Gehman Road • Harleysville, PA 19438
267-649-7610 • info@mitzvahcircle.org • mitzvahcircle.org
Nonprofit organization providing material support to individuals and families
dealing with crisis, poverty, homelessness, and serious illness throughout the
Philadelphia Region. Serving people who are unable to obtain immediate or
sufficient help from government agencies and traditional service organizations.
Mitzvah Food Project
215-832-0509 • foodproject@jfgp.org • jewishphilly.org/mfp
Volunteers are needed to pack and deliver food packages, which include non-
perishable food and produce, to low-income households in Greater Philadel-
phia. Monthly or bimonthly packing/delivery schedules available depending on
pantry location. Back-up delivery volunteers are also needed. B’nai Mitzvah
projects welcome. Pantry locations include: Jewish Community Services Build-
ing (Center City); Kaiserman JCC (City Line/Overbrook Park); KleinLife
(Northeast Philadelphia); Congregation Tifereth Israel of Lower Bucks County
(Bucks County); and Beth Sholom Congregation (Elkins Park).
RSVP Philadelphia
KleinLife • 10100 Jamison Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19116
267-345-7787 • saistrop@kleinlife.org • rsvphilly.org
Opportunities for individuals 55 and over to volunteer in social service agen-
cies, schools, museums and consumer groups.
Teen Assistant Program-Reta Emerson Fellowship
Jewish Learning Venture
7607 Old York Road • Melrose Park, PA 19027
215-320-0378 • gkaplan-mayer@jewishlearningventure.org
jewishlearningventure.org Educational initiative through which a group of selected high school students
are trained and mentored to assist children with special needs and those experi-
encing difficulty in congregational classroom settings. Beginning with a week-
long intensive training, and continuing monthly through the school year, teens
study, learn skills, work in classrooms in their congregations and reflect with
one another about their experiences.
YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
BBYO Liberty Region
Aleph Zadek Aleph (AZA)/B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG)/BBYO Connect
610-351-2444 • Liberty@bbyo.org • bbyo.org
Pluralistic Jewish teen movement. AZA and BBG chapters provide leadership
programs and identity enrichment experiences. Through the PANIM Institute
for Jewish Leadership and Values of BBYO, which runs service and advocacy
programs for Jewish teens, BBYO creates a movement of Jewish teens commit-
ted to service, advocacy and philanthropy. BBYO’s Connect program serves
sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.
Bnei Akiva of North America
Lower Merion Synagogue • 123 Old Lancaster Avenue
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 • 484-320-0131 or 484-557-2166
lmbneiakiva@gmail.com • bneiakiva.org
Religious Zionist youth movement offering educational programs
for third through 12th grade.
Three snifim:
Lower Merion--holds weekly Shabbat programs and special events
which take place in Lower Merion Synagogue, in collaboration with
Kohelet Yeshiva High School.
North East Philadelphia--sponsors weekly Shabbat programs and spe-
cial events which take place at B’nai Israel Synagogue.
Cherry Hill, NJ--sponsors a Shabbat program once every three weeks, in
addition to special events. Programs take place at Sons Of Israel Syna-
gogue. Boy Scouts of America-National
Jewish Committee on Scouting
c/o Hartwell Realty Corporation
8200 Flourtown Avenue, Suite 1 • Wyndmoor, PA 19038 • 215-233-5713
Chairman@JewishScouting.org • Jewishscouting.org
Jewish-sponsored Packs: Pack 18 in Northeast Philadelphia; Pack 185 in Elkins
Park; Pack 665 in Dresher; and Pack 498 in Blue Bell.
Friendship Circle Philadelphia Region
South Office: 754 South Ninth Street • Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-574-1765 or 215-497-9925 • Fax: 270-574-1766
info@phillyfriendship.com • phillyfriendship.com
North Office: 25 North State Street • Newtown, PA 18940
215-497-1003 • friends@fcpa.info • fcpa.info
Connects teens and young adults to youths with special needs and their fam-
ilies, offering Jewish and social experiences; developing friendships while
participating in creative arts group activities, Jewish holiday celebrations,
weekly playdates and more. Fosters the development of a caring, supportive
community. The South office serves Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester and
Delaware counties.
The North office serves Bucks County, Huntingdon Valley and
Northeast Philadelphia.
Habonim Dror Eizor Galil
2100 Arch Street • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-350-2245 or 215-832-0676
RoshEizor@campgalil.org • campgalil.org
Labor Zionist youth movement for ages 9 to 17. Emphasizes
Jewish values and social responsibility, Israel and kibbutzim with year-round
activities for its members.
THE GUIDE 2015/2016
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