One Good Deed Celebrates 18th Anniversary
Approximately 200 people gathered at Temple Sinai to celebrate 18 years of the One Good Deed program.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
One Good Deed, a division of the Jewish Family and Career Services Aviv Older Adults Services program, saluted founders and volunteers celebrating 18 years of growth and success on Sept. 19 at Temple Sinai. The One Good Deed program matches independent older adults with volunteers for companionship thereby reducing loneliness and isolation by providing meaningful social connection.
In her opening comments, JF&CS CEO Terri Bonoff, stated, “These 18 years, ‘chai,’ celebrate the importance of life … our volunteers bringing connection and joy. Note that One Good Deed joined JF&CS in 2016, and so many lives have been touched.”
Bonoff praised Vivienne Kurland, One Good Deed program manager, and Laura Marcus, program coordinator, for helping connect 500 matches where lifelong bonds are formed, and even navigating during COVID to still stay in touch with clients.
Bonoff pointed to an empty chair representing the hole left for the release of hostages and recited the Prayer for the State of Israel. Bonoff then shared the program’s history dating back to 2005 where Honoree Marty and Lisa Halpern, based on observations from a similar program in Israel, returned to Atlanta to jump start the original program. Honoree Sharon Spiegleman was recognized as the founding director. Bonoff concluded, “We were founded by human capital, volunteers.”
Kurland introduced a video featuring genuine and emotional praise about the program where volunteers and clients claimed that each got the most out of the relationships. Some adult children mentioned that their parent didn’t want to be matched, yet when the volunteer came, it was “love at first sight, like a blind date.”
Many spoke of an instant connection, “matches made in heaven,” “a gift from G-d.” Longtime volunteer Lynn Podber said, “The minute I met Syd, we took a selfie with our [coincidental] glamorous sunglasses. I hope to make a difference in people’s lives.” Syd echoed, “She is like another daughter to me.”
A daughter shared that when her father moved into the Cohen Home, she asked for a volunteer match which “clicked,” and sadly noted that he held her [volunteer’s] picture before he died. Rabbi Claudio, a client, explained the difference between being alone and loneliness, the latter “associated with abandonment and lack of connection,” which he counteracted with his volunteer. Not all volunteers are Jewish, as an African American man was featured with his client while providing valuable relief to the family.
Later in the program, Bonoff introduced Halpern as “full of ideas, being humble and creative. He was the man with an idea and a plan.”
Halpern referred to the older woman who had survived the Holocaust and was unable to bear children having suffered from experiments under Dr. Mengele. He said, “She was childless, and inspiring as she explained her long-lasting relationship with a volunteer Israeli visitation program.” Marty offered a “water toast” to the One Good Deed program being set up for success.
Kurland recognized Spiegelman who came to the stage in a wheelchair, and was touched by the full room, humbled and grateful for the opportunity to operate the early program as “chief matchmaker.”
She said, “Most of my friends are 80 and older, and I’m so happy to see so many young people here.” She ended by asking more folks to sign up for volunteering. Marcus concluded that each day she meets wonderful people with the reward of hearing about happy seniors and volunteers.
Before the luncheon, volunteers chatted with the AJT. Melissa Vojita said, “I’ve always loved seniors and feel that society needs to step up with care and respect.”
Susan Amsler sat next to client Ellie Wolfe, who shares mutual interests with Amsler. Joan Benamy, 88, who lives in the Ritz Residences, spoke of her wonderful volunteer. Nancy X., who recently moved into Hammond Glen, stated that the volunteer she had for two years, “followed her there.”
Podber summed it up best, “The relationships are win-win. I really get more out of it than I give.”
Caterer Alex served the 200 attendees spinach salad with dried fruit, fresh strawberries, mandarin oranges, and marinated smoked salmon filets with dill topping and cucumber salsa, veggies atop quinoa, and mini potato piroshkis. Desserts were key lime pie and chocolate mousse.
Good deeds permeated the large room.
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