JF&CS Mitzvah Day Leaves Lasting Community Impact

On Sept. 10, the Sunday just before Rosh Hashanah, over 200 volunteers participated in Jewish Family & Career Services’ 21st Mitzvah Day at 10 project sites. Mitzvah Day is JF&CS’ annual day of volunteer service for young professionals and families that kicks off the organization’s year of volunteer programming and serves as both a fun and meaningful opportunity for community members to give back.

Baking honey cakes for One Good Deed seniors.

“JF&CS could not carry out our mission to transform lives without the generosity of the community sharing their time and talent to support our clients and professionals. Since the pandemic, the agency has focused on revitalizing ways in which to engage volunteers at every age to give back,” said JF&CS Leadership & Engagement Officer Lauren Harris.

The goal for Mitzvah Day was to provide both young professionals and families with hands-on volunteer opportunities as well as to highlight the diversity of programs JF&CS offers and clients they serve in the community.

All told, 239 volunteers comprised of 90 young professionals and 47 families (149 individuals) participated in projects benefiting JF&CS programs such as the Kosher Food Pantry, AVIV Older Adult clients, The Zimmerman-Horowitz Independent Living program, professionals, and clients and more. In addition to the contributions of the JF&CS Young Professional Committee and Family Volunteering Committee, Mitzvah Day community partners included: Atlanta Community Food Bank, Concrete Jungle, NextGen, Repair the World, Food Well Alliance, The Temple, Temple Sinai, Congregation Shearith Israel, Bagel Rescue, La Dee Da Studio, and Love is Love Cooperative Farm.

Shopping for Kosher Food Pantry donations

By days’ end, participants made 220 Rosh Hashanah gift bags for seniors, painted four picnic tables, sorted 300 pounds of food donated to the Kosher Food Pantry, planted more than 100 winter vegetables in the Giving Garden, made eight macrame wall art decorations, packed 3,900 bagels, sorted food at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, prepared 20 meals, and 18 participants volunteered at Dogwood Farms.

JF&CS Volunteer Engagement Manager Megan Koziel said the agency was “overwhelmed by the support” of the volunteers. “It’s amazing how much impact can be made in one afternoon,” she said, adding, “Our community is better when we come together to help those in need.”

By days’ end, participants made 220 Rosh Hashanah gift bags for seniors, painted four picnic tables, sorted 300 pounds of food donated to the Kosher Food Pantry, planted more than 100 winter vegetables in the Giving Garden, made eight macrame wall art decorations, packed 3,900 bagels, sorted food at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, prepared 20 meals, and 18 participants volunteered at Dogwood Farms.

All smiles after cooking meals for the JF&CS Zimmerman-Horowitz Independent Living Program homes at Temple Sinai.

Heather and Ross Fishbein volunteered with their children Ivy, 13, Dafna, 11, and Isaac, 8. Together, the family made Rosh Hashanah cards and bags filled with tea and honey and made bagel bags that were distributed to the community.

Packaging bagels with Bagel Rescue.

“My family really enjoys volunteering at JF&CS, and in the past my daughter, Ivy, did her mitzvah project which added art supplies for the art room at JFCS. I volunteered in the Giving Garden and also the pantry, so when we saw there was the Mitzvah Day, we were quite excited to be a part of it,” Heather explained. “As a family, I like to take time and show my children how important it is to do mitzvahs and give back.”

A young professional, 27-year-old Ben Halpern, who is an executive vice president with Farmers & Fishermen, described his experience.

“The great work that JF&CS is doing throughout our community has an unbelievable lasting impact on so many. It was such a meaningful experience helping prepare home-cooked meals for the members of the Zimmerman-Horowitz Independent Living Program this past Mitzvah Day. Growing up, my parents always challenged me to try to do at least one mitzvah a day.”

Painting rocks for the Giving Garden.

For her part, Sarah Bernstein, PAL and Young Professional program manager, told the AJT: “We are so grateful for all the Mitzvah Day volunteers, JF&CS professional staff, community partners, and committee members that made Mitzvah Day such a success. Mitzvah Day is a perfect example of what Jewish Atlanta is all about. We hope Mitzvah Day made a lasting impact on those that attended and look forward to bringing more volunteers through our doors at JF&CS.”

For more information about volunteering with JF&CS for community projects, visit www.jfcsatl.org/volunteer.