Volunteer Opportunities to Help Our Community During COVID-19

During this time of crisis, there are many ways that we can help the people we serve – children in the foster care system, children and adults with mental illness, and people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Gather and donate critical items

The staff at our programs who provide direct care for people are in urgent need of supplies to keep themselves and the people they serve safe and healthy. Supplies can be dropped off at The Jewish Board’s main offices at 135 West 50th Street. Needed items include:

  • Masks
  • Gloves
  • Sanitizer
  • Non-perishable food
  • Paper goods (toilet paper & paper towels)

Create masks for programs

There is an urgent ongoing need for DIY non-medical masks for Jewish Board clients and staff. Don’t know how to make a mask? The CDC has instructions on how to create masks with and without sewing.

Your completed masks may be sent to any of the locations below:

  • Manhattan: The Jewish Board Headquarters
    135 West 50th Street, 6th floor
    NY, NY 10020
  • Brooklyn: The Seymour Askin Counseling Center
    2020 Coney Island Avenue
    Brooklyn, NY, 11223
  • Bronx: SAP Kingsbridge
    162 West Kingsbridge Road
    Bronx, NY, 10463
  • Staten Island: Staten Island Family Services
    358 St. Marks Place, 4th-5th Floors
    Staten Island, NY, 10301
  • Queens: Rego Park Counseling Center
    97-77 Queens Boulevard
    Queens, NY, 11374
  • Westchester: J. Goldsmith Center RTF
    228 Linda Avenue
    Hawthorne, NY, 10532-2018

Your time, talent and efforts are greatly appreciated–thank you for your support. Please email us at volunteer@jbfcs.org so we can recognize your hard work.

Send “stay at home” supplies for people who live in our residences

On any given day, about 2,000 people of all ages call a Jewish Board residence home. We pride ourselves in making these places truly feel like home, and we are striving to make this time of social distancing as comforting as we can for the people who live with us. You can help by providing:

  • For adults: books, puzzles, activity books (i.e. crosswords, word search), board games, cards, dominoes, adult coloring books & colored pencils.
  • For kids: Art supplies, DVDs, a Wii, Playstation or Xbox with games & controls, games, puzzles, books, tablets.

We also have specific shopping lists for the following programs: Kaplan House, Cedar Knolls House, Abraham III, and the Henry Ittleson Center.

Send food!

Our clients and our staff – who continue to work every day of this crisis to provide essential care – would be thrilled to receive something to munch on, including:

  • A treat: Donuts, muffins, takeout, pizza!
  • A gift card to help us purchase groceries, coffee, and more.

Join us as a Virtual Volunteer or Activities Leader.

Social distancing doesn’t mean our clients need to be bored, or lonely. Virtual activities can be fun, wildly creative, and serve as a crucial substitute for in-person connections. We are open to your creative ideas, such as:

  • Creating a “project in a box” (art, cooking, or other activity)
  • Sending a video message of love and support to our clients
  • Filming a video lesson on your phone – cooking, crafting, or anything else you want to share!
  • Leading (in real time) an activity via Zoom: exercise, music, or more!
  • Hosting a (virtual) scavenger hunt, contest, karaoke competition, or other fun game.

For donations of goods and volunteer activities, email us at connect@jbfcs.org to get matched with a program or to talk about other ways you can help. We are grateful for all creative ideas and help!

Additionally, you can choose to help support our clients and the services we continue to provide for all New Yorkers by donating online.