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Volunteer at JFCS
Volunteers are an essential part of JFCS and we could not fulfill our mission without them. Volunteers stock shelves at the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry and help clients shop in a dignified manner for food. They collect household and clothing donations, help set up apartments for newly arrived refugees, and visit with refugee families to practice English conversation. They provide rides to help seniors stay active in the community and visits to homebound seniors who live alone—and so much more
How You Can Help
We are excited to have you on board, and we look forward to working with you. Let’s make a difference together! Click on the services below that you are interested in to get started.
JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
Take on a Shift: The JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry is open every weekday, and helps provide for over 700 families. Shift volunteers sign up to help us with this on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. Help us unload, organize and stock food, guide clients through their pantry shop, explain food options to clients, and weigh out their groceries before they leave.
Deliveries and Pickups: Sometimes reaching out also means reaching outside of our building! Deliver pre-made bags of food to apartment buildings, pick up food gathered by various synagogues around the High Holidays, and pick up donated bread from our partner vendors to be distributed to the Pantry’s clients.
To learn more about the impact volunteering makes at the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry, click here.
To begin your volunteer journey, use the form or click on the Apply button below and get started with Civic Champs – our trusted volunteer portal!
ApplyJFCS Career Services
Help Job Seekers: Spend a few hours each month helping our JFCS Career Services clients with their job search skills. We know that your time will have a big impact on someone’s life whether you’re conducting mock interviews, reviewing resumes, or simply offering advice and encouragement.
Facilitate a Workshop: Help participants improve their computer skills and prepare them for future employment opportunities. Volunteers will teach participants how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software programs. Participants will also learn how to create a resume and cover letter.
Conduct Mock Interviews: Help JFCS Career Services clients prepare for their job interviews by reading resumes, offer one-on-one coaching, understand basic interview etiquette, and by going through mock interviews to get them ready.
To begin your volunteer journey, use the form or click on the Apply button below and get started with Civic Champs – our trusted volunteer portal!
ApplyJFCS Immigration Legal Services
Pro-Bono Attorneys: Represent clients seeking immigration relief through Special Immigrant Juvenile requests, T-Visa filings, VAWA claims, U-Visa filings, and others. Some experience is helpful for these volunteers though it is not required.
To begin your volunteer journey, use the form or click on the Apply button below and get started with Civic Champs – our trusted volunteer portal!
ApplyJFCS Refugee & Immigrant Services
Cultural Navigation: Help teach families or individuals to shop in America, find their closest food pantry, take the bus, walk to their nearest park, get a library card, or any one of many other activities that will be new to them and will help them adjust to this new chapter of their lives.
Mentorship: Work closely with a refugee individual or family to help them meet specific goals, such as learning to identify important mail, becoming more familiar with their new neighborhood, navigating American health care systems, etc.
To begin your volunteer journey, use the form or click on the Apply button below and get started with Civic Champs – our trusted volunteer portal!
ApplyJFCS Older Adult Services
Transport Older Adults: With AgeWell Rides, transport older adults who cannot drive to medical appointments, grocery stores, volunteer and social events.
Spend Time With Older Adults: With AgeWell Visits, visit with seniors aged 65 and over, you’ll get to know many older adults who have lost dear friends or family members due to illness or death. You’ll also be able to help them stay connected with their communities through activities like playing cards or sharing stories.
To learn more about volunteering with Older Adult Services and AgeWell, click here.
To begin your volunteer journey, use the form or click on the Apply button below and get started with Civic Champs – our trusted volunteer portal!
ApplyJFCS Youth Services
Bridge Builders: Mentor and enrich the lives of youth, immigrants and refugees as a part of the after-school program! It is designed to ease the adjustment period for new arrivals by helping them with literacy building activities, practice with conversational English, mentoring, homework assistance, physical activities, and community service.
To begin your volunteer journey, click here to get started with Civic Champs – our trusted volunteer portal!
412 Futures: 412 Futures is a program for Refugee and Immigrant teens ages 14 to 22. We serve anyone in the Allegheny County area who is looking to explore career and post secondary options. Teens can expect to work with a Youth Specialist on anything from- English acquisition, homework, soft skills, and prepare for interviews and entering college. Our mission is to prepare teens for life after high school and help them build the skills necessary for success.
To volunteer with 412 futures, click here for our Civic Champs portal!
To learn more about volunteering with Youth Services, click here.
ApplyWhy Our Volunteers Love Volunteering at JFCS
Volunteering at JFCS is a great way to meet new people, help others, and make a difference in your community.
We asked our volunteers what they love about volunteering with us, and here’s what they had to say.
Of all the places that I’ve ever been in that do this type of work, they are the least judgmental and the most welcoming!
Lyn - Volunteer at the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
I feel so privileged to help such an amazing place doing such wonderful work in our neighborhood. It feels very special to be associated with JFCS.
Preanka - Volunteer at the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
I volunteer because I love Pittsburgh and I want to try and give back to a community that has helped me so much throughout my life.
Lena - Volunteer at the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
Our Volunteer Coordinators
Our volunteer coordinators at JFCS are here to help!
If you’re looking for a way to give back and connect with your community, we can help. We match volunteers with opportunities that fit their interests and skills, so you can spend your time making a difference in the lives of others.
Teresa Rodgers
Outreach Coordinator
Group Volunteering
Want to give your employees a chance to bond, while helping to make the world a better place? JFCS can help!
Our programs are designed for companies and organizations of all sizes. They’re also great for families, friends and individuals who want to get involved.
If you’re looking for a meaningful team-building volunteer opportunity for your company or organization, working with JFCS is a great fit! We can find the right volunteer opportunity for you based on your goals, interests and schedule.
For more information about Group Volunteering, contact Cristy Lagnese – clagnese@jfcspgh.org
Learn About Civic Champs
JFCS utilizes Civic Champs as its volunteer management platform to make it easy for our volunteers to turn in their application, sign up and register for volunteer opportunities, check-in for events, record hours of activities, write notes about their mentees, receive updates, navigate the mobile app, and much more.
Follow these instructions to get started with Civic Champs:
- How To Start Your Application – Click on the video tutorial – Click here to watch
- How to Download the Civic Champs App – Click here to watch
- Visit Civic Champ’s Help Desk here