Getting Dirty with Women’s Philanthropy: Volunteer Boot Camp
by Beth Manes Lax
In 2014, Women’s Philanthropy began what is sure to become a long-standing tradition: Volunteer Boot Camp! Volunteer Boot Camp is a program run by the Federation’s Center for Volunteerism. These events are free of charge and open to everyone: men, women, and children are all encouraged to participate.
Deborah Jacob, one of the co-chairs of the series, explains that the goal of Volunteer Boot Camp “is to give people in our community a chance to have a meaningful opportunity to volunteer at incredible venues throughout Greater MetroWest New Jersey.”
Lindsay Napchen, a development officer at Federation, states that the committee takes feedback from prior years’ series, brings back some favorites, and adds new opportunities. She says that although most of the volunteers are young women, the committee has designed the series to appeal to and be accessible to everyone. It is her hope that this series will continue to engage new people and introduce them to Federation.
Some projects are quick and therefore good for children, like “Shabbat in a Box” at Friendship Circle. This activity involves packaging items such as grape juice and battery-lit candles in a box so that people who cannot leave their homes will be able to celebrate Shabbat. Other projects require more physical labor and are longer in duration, such as gardening and working in the kosher food pantry at Jewish Family Services of Central NJ.
Additional Volunteer Boot Camp activities include preparing sandwiches to be delivered to families in need in Elizabeth through the Mandy Reichman Feeding Program at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield; harvesting and gardening on an urban farm at the Newark Conservancy; making lunches for the seniors and socializing with them during mealtime at the YM-YWHA of Union County; creating gift bags for new brides when they come to the mikvah before their weddings, and touring and learning about the mikvah at Mikvah Chana in Livingston; doing yoga with adults who have developmental disabilities at JESPY House in South Orange; and cooking and interacting with residents at the Daughters of Israel nursing home in West Orange.
For some people, Volunteer Boot Camp might be the first Federation program they attend, while for others it is a way to stay connected. Heidi Cohen, a Volunteer Boot Camp co-chair, stated, “After being part of Federation’s Borinsky Leadership program, I was searching for a way I could get more involved. Volunteer Boot Camp was the perfect opportunity for that, and I am so excited to be chairing it. This is exactly what I was looking for in order to continue being active in the community.”
Whether it is your first or your 101st volunteer experience, a day engaging in tikkun olam with members of the Greater MetroWest community is sure to be a day well spent. Last year, Ilana Adams volunteered at Jewish Family Services, Daughters of Israel, and the Newark Conservancy and is now a Boot Camp co-chair. As she reflects, “It was an amazing opportunity to meet incredible women and to elevate my day with chesed.” What could be better than that?
Volunteer Boot Camp has activities planned through August 12. To learn more visit www.jfedgmw.org/bootcamp2015.