Volunteer Opportunities

volunteer opportunities

You too can help make a difference to someone who needs you. Check our volunteer opportunities below to find out how you can get involved. For more information about the volunteer process or to volunteer, contact Volunteer Engagement at (858) 637-3050 or volunteer@jfssd.org.

Start the application process today>>

Click on the links below to find a volunteer opportunity

Volunteer to Help Older Adults
Volunteer to Help Adults & Families
Volunteer with the Hand Up Food Pantry
Mentoring Opportunities
Volunteer with Refugee & Immigration Services
Other Opportunities
Internships 

Tax Preparation Volunteer
As a tax preparation volunteer you will provide invaluable assistance to low-income individuals and families by preparing their taxes for free and connecting them with other Jewish Family Service (JFS) resources when appropriate. You will work one-on-one with clients helping them to navigate the ins and outs of tax preparation. If chosen as a volunteer, our partner, the IRC will provide you with training that results in your certification as a volunteer income tax preparer. This training involves a self-directed online curriculum combined with two days of mandatory classroom training at the IRC office. NO PREVIOUS TAX EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! This is an excellent opportunity to gain skills in tax preparation while providing invaluable help to families and individuals in need of your expertise. JFS is teaming up with IRC to offer a third VITA program location, and we need volunteers at all three sites! Application can be found here.
Mental Health Hearing Representative
We are excited to announce a brand new volunteer opportunity at JFS! Would you like to be part of a dynamic and dedicated team of advocates who travel the county representing mental health patients and ensuring that their rights are upheld? The award-winning Patient Advocacy Department at JFS fights for human welfare and justice within the community. The Mental Health Justice Representative volunteer is a unique opportunity to fearlessly advocate for patient rights, provide representation in due process hearings for individuals in acute psychiatric facilities, and strengthen the department services through administrative support. Equipped with the necessary tools and training, volunteers will be able to represent patients in due process court hearings, as well as be administrative support for the growing department. Volunteers must complete at least 10 hours of training. At the completion of training, volunteers are needed on Mondays, 8am to 11am. For more info, view the description. Apply for this position at secure.jfssd.org/volapp
Vietnamese Linguistic Specialist
Seeking community members with a passion for language and appreciation of cultural diversity! JFS is in need of a volunteer Vietnamese Linguistic Specialist to assist in the translation of communication and outreach materials that are vital to the Linda Vista Kindergarten Readiness Network program’s success. The volunteer would have the opportunity to gain experience working in a nonprofit, assist in an area of critical need, and be part of a likeminded team dedicated to positive outcomes in family and youth development. Interested volunteers must be bilingual, able to translate materials from English to Vietnamese in a culturally appropriate manner, and comfortable using a computer (Microsoft Word). Click here for a full volunteer description. Start the application process today!
Community Presenter
Want to engage in an active discussion with an audience or share you passion about a specific topic with a new group? This is the volunteer opportunity for you! As a Community Presenter, you'll present about a topic, area of expertise, or interest with a lecture, power point, or Question & Answer session. Past topics have included Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, History of NASA, Nutrition, Social Media, Art, and more! Come share what you’re passionate about at our Social & Wellness Centers around San Diego! Start the application process today!

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Volunteer to Help Older Adults

Bikkur Holim Friendly Visitor
BIkkur Holim - Celebrating a 100th BirthdayBikkur Holim Friendly Visitor program matches friendly volunteers with Jewish isolated and ill individuals. Volunteers make a one-year commitment to visit with their match for approximately four hours a month, providing conversation, support, friendship, and a connection to the Jewish community.

Foodmobile
You can brighten the day of a homebound older adult or younger disabled adult by delivering a warm meal and a smile. Foodmobile volunteers deliver delicious, kosher meals to homebound older adults and younger disabled adults throughout San Diego County, Monday–Friday, 10:30am–1:30pm. Volunteers are often the only daily visits these individuals receive. Meal deliveries and smiles go a long way.

JFS Fix-It Service
Are you handy around the house? JFS Fix-It volunteers assist older adults by making minor home safety repairs and modifications, such as installing grab bars and smoke detectors, repairing leaky faucets, and much more. Repairs are made throughout the county and mileage reimbursement is included. Hours are flexible and ongoing. Want to learn more about home repairs? We can match you with an experienced Fix-It volunteer to show you the ropes!

Social & Wellness Centers
We have three thriving Social & Wellness Centers throughout the county that provide a warm environment with social, educational, and recreational programs for older adults. Volunteers help greet participants, socialize, staff the coffee cart, serve lunch, lead computer classes, assist in programming, and much more. Our centers are located in the Balboa Avenue, and College Avenue areas. View complete list of volunteer opportunities. One-time and group volunteer opportunities at College Avenue Center can be found here. Select your shift today! 

Volunteer - Rides & SmilesOn the Go Rides & Smiles®
Volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to provide rides for older adults to personal and medical appointments. Hours are flexible. You choose who, when, and where you drive using our convenient web-based scheduling system. Volunteers receive mileage reimbursement.

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Volunteer to Help Adults & Families

Employment & Career Services (ECS)
ECS provides job coaches, support, workshops, and counseling to individuals during their job search. Volunteers are needed to facilitate job clubs, coach job seekers, and review resumes. Additional support is needed to provide ESL teaching to break down barriers to non-English speaking job seekers. View complete list of volunteer opportunities>>

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Volunteer with the Hand Up Food Pantry

 Volunteer_Hand Up Youth Food PantryThe Hand Up  Food Pantry feeds hundreds of homeless and hungry individuals and families each month. You can help alleviate hunger by conducting a food drive in your school, business, group, or congregation! We’ll provide you with everything you need, including flyers and food bins. Volunteers are also needed in the pantry to sort through donations, stock the shelves, and assemble food bags for distribution. Two Sundays a month, volunteers are invited to participate in military food distributions. We have many other opportunities in the pantry and in the community for individual and group volunteers. View complete list of volunteer opportunities>> To register for volunteer opportunities in the pantry or at military distributions, complete the Hand Up volunteer application .

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Mentoring Opportunities

Jewish BIGPals
BIGPals playing cards in parkJewish BIGPals matches children ages 6-16 from Jewish single parent or non-traditional families with a Jewish mentor from the community. No special skills are needed to be a mentor...just the willingness to care and spend time with someone who needs you. Volunteers make a one-year commitment and meet with their Little Pal twice per month. 

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Volunteer with Refugee & Immigration Services

Refugee Resettlement Friendly MatchJewish Family Service resettles nearly 500 refugees and asylees from around the world. While escaping persecution, many arriving refugees now face new challenges adjusting to their lives here in the US: finding a job, learning English, navigating public institutions, and supporting their families, while adjusting to a new culture in a new land. To address the cultural adjustment difficulties facing newcomers, JFS offers many volunteer opportunities to accommodate the growing need. Volunteers are needed to help with administrative support, serve as Friendly Match mentors, furniture scouts, translators, tutors, and much more. View complete list of volunteer opportunities>>

Refugee families often arrive in San Diego with the clothes on their backs and a few personal belongings. New or gently used household items are always needed. For more information on donations, call (858) 637-3030.

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Other Opportunities 

Embrace-A-Family
Each year, more than 500 families seek assistance for gifts during the holiday season. With your support, we can create a joyous holiday for thousands of children and individuals. “Embracers” donate items off of family wish lists and donate them to JFS. Embracers receive a family number and a family story so they know where their donations are going. Embracers are needed anywhere from October to December to meet Embrace-a-Family donation deadlines.

Administrative Volunteers
Help JFS and gain valuable non-profit work experience at the same time! We are need of volunteers who can assist with administrative office tasks. We are looking for computer-savvy people, familiar with Microsoft Excel, who can volunteer on a weekday for 6-8 hours per week.

Specialized Volunteer Opportunities
JFS needs your expertise! In addition to our ongoing volunteer recruitment efforts, we are always looking for volunteers that have special skills or talents they would be willing to share. Do you have social work experience? Do you enjoy photography? Are you an event planner or an attorney who can lend your expertise? Do you enjoy special projects? We can always use your specialized abilities to support our volunteer programs and encourage you to contact us if you are interested in sharing them.

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Stay Connected with JFS

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contact information
(858) 637-3050
Send an email>>

CLIENT SERVICES
(858) 637-3210

ADMINISTRATION
(General Information)
(858) 637-3000 

JOAN & IRWIN JACOBS CAMPUS
Turk Family Center
8804 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA  92123

General Volunteer Application>>

Hand Up 
Food Pantry
Volunteer Application>>

For returning Hand Up
 Food Pantry volunteers, click here

All communication is strictly confidential.

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