Month: February 2018

Week 7: Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas

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February 16, 2018

I love volunteering with my family. We try to volunteer together whenever possible, and have several special service projects we look forward to every year. With a long weekend for Winter Break, my 16-year-old son and I signed up for a shift in the Food Pantry at Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas. We enjoyed a tour of the facility and a visit with the volunteer coordinator. We spent the next two hours stocking shelves with staples, trying not to get in the way of the shoppers and volunteer assistants. We were amazed at the variety of items in the small grocery store and storage area above, and in the efficiency of the operation.

Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas (JFS) is a nonsectarian mental health and social services agency that impacts more than 13,000 lives a year. For more than 65 years, JFS has welcomed those in need regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or the ability to pay. Their mission is to provide professional, effective, and affordable mental health and social services that promote lifelong self-sufficiency and well-being for anyone in need.

The Jewish Family Service Food Pantry is an affiliate of the North Texas Food Bank, providing food for qualified families and individuals in 20 North Dallas and Carrollton zip codes.

The Food Pantry is open by appointment on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Individuals are able to choose food items just as they would in a grocery store. Home delivery for the home-bound or disabled individuals is also available.

Volunteers are asked to first fill out an application. One person may complete the application for all members in a group. Volunteers may work in the Food Pantry, or in a variety of other roles. Individuals and groups are also needed for one-time special events. Students 16 years and older are encouraged to apply for the Internship Program.

Week 6: Valentine’s Cards for Seniors

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February 7, 2018

For my sixth week of service, I brought first and second graders in my Lower School Community Connections Club together to prepare Valentine’s Day cards for residents at C.C. Young Senior Living. We provided red, pink, and white construction paper, scissors, glue, stickers, doilies, and markers, and let everyone get creative with the cards they made.

Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrating love and friendship. However, for many seniors, this annual day dedicated to love can be a day of increased loneliness and sorrow. Many seniors are widowed or living alone, and receiving a hand-made Valentine can help them feel connected and loved.

The cards we made were delivered to C.C. Young Senior Living to be distributed to their residents as desired. This is an easy project to pull together, and a great way for children of all ages to show their love and support for seniors.

Other great ways to get involved with  C.C. Young are to host a car wash for residents, play bingo, host a craft activity, or give a performance. Find out more here.

Week 5: Day of Service

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February 2, 2018

One of my favorite days of the year at Lakehill is our Upper School Day of Service. I started this event a few years after I started working at Lakehill, and this year we celebrated our seventh annual event on February 2.

While our eighth graders were busy learning more about high school during Freshman Visit Day, our Upper School students headed out to a variety of locations to lend a helping hand in their community. Each grade volunteered with a different organization. This year, our students and faculty logged nearly 500 hours of service before returning to campus.

For our Day of Service, I look to partner with organizations that can accommodate, and actively engage, groups of 30 or more students. I was thrilled with our service partners this year. I think the comments from the students shed light on what a special day this is for all of us.

The freshman class worked with Hope Supply Co., sorting and packing hundreds of containers of formula and thousands of diapers, as well as school supplies, for homeless children, while sophomores visited and played Bingo with senior citizens at The Brady Center. “You don’t think about how important an eraser or a pencil sharpener could be, until you realize so many children don’t have any,” said Kathryn Mahan, Freshman Class President, who enjoyed packing backpacks at Hope Supply Co. Gaige McKnight enjoyed playing Bingo and visiting with senior citizens at the Brady Center. “I met a woman who spoke limited English and, with the help of Google Translate, was able to share a conversation with her.”

Juniors sorted onions at the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), packing three pallets with more than 1,748 pounds of food, enough for 1,457 meals, for hungry North Texas families. “I am full of gratitude and thankful to have the opportunity to help people in need,” said Julia Bartholow.

Seniors joined forces with Reading Partners, to provide tutoring to students in two under-served elementary schools in DISD. “Volunteering with Reading Partners was such a rewarding experience,” said senior Toni Stark-Perez. “The children were shy, at first, but it was inspiring to see them gain confidence and start reading along.”

I am already looking forward to next year’s Day of Service, and to volunteering with these amazing organizations again soon.