Direct to You. A Newsletter for JFS Direct Service Volunteers. Dear JFS Volunteers

Transcription

1 Direct to You Spring 2015 Direct to You A Newsletter for JFS Direct Service Volunteers Jewish Family Services, Inc. Contents Dear JFS Volunteers 1 What s New at JFS? 2 National Volunteer Week 2 Important News! 3 Things to Do, Places to Go 5 Who is a JFS Volunteer? 6 Activity Report 8 Coming Soon... 8 Editor: Susie Gruenberg Jewish Family Services, Inc N. Jackson Street Milwaukee, WI ph: fax: Designed by Christopher Maury Dear JFS Volunteers Spring is in the air (finally!) and the breezes are rippling with news of all of the important work that you are doing. Care Managers are saying it, clients are feeling the impact of it, community members are hearing about it, Board members know about it and Facebook is showing it! Like Spring, a volunteer s possibilities are bright, healthy and warming. Thank you! In this issue, you will meet a volunteer who is full of possibilities, learn about why volunteering is healthy for you and see how the nation acknowledges the ripples you create as volunteers. You ll also see what is new at JFS. As you may have noticed, we have turned the Direct to You volunteer newsletter into a semi-annual correspondence that will be delivered at the end of our first and third quarters (March and September). Please let me know if this still suits your JFS volunteer information needs. May your volunteering ripple with healthy possibilities this spring and summer too! Enjoy! Susie Jewish Family Services Robert & Mimi Habush Family Center Welcome to Possibility... Welcome! JFS would like to give a big hello and thank you to our new JFS volunteers: Kathryn Gunderson, Mark Mendelsohn, and Gerry Schwartz. We wish you an enjoyable volunteer experience and welcome you to a wonderful volunteer team.

2 Direct to You Spring 2015 Page 2 What s New at JFS? JFS Direct Service Volunteers help at unmasked! Emily Olson and Tyler Ware Daniel joined in the fun at the JFS masquerade ball to support mental health awareness. The event took place on February 21st at The Garage at Harley-Davidson Museum. Thanks Emily & Tyler! Upcoming Mental Health Conference JFS, along with The Charles E. Kubly Foundation and Medical College of Wisconsin Violence Prevention Initiative, presents a conference on Compassion Fatigue featuring keynote speaker, Mary Jo Barrett, MSW, on Thursday, April 16, 8:00am-Noon, at the Italian Community Center. Admission is $10 and CEUs are available for an additional fee. For more information, visit our website at To register, contact Becky Gregory at More JFS Housing Mobile Food Pantry Volunteer Opportunities The first Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin Mobile Food Pantry of 2015 took place on March 19th at the JFS Housing campus. Thanks to the help of over 25 volunteers, residents of Deerwood Crossing, Bradley Crossing and participants of the Brown Deer senior nutrition site were able to add some food security this spring. National Volunteer Week National Volunteer Week, celebrated April this year, demonstrates to the nation that by working individually or working together, volunteers have the fortitude to meet our nation s challenges and accomplish so many goals. Each volunteer action is like a stone thrown in a lake; its effect has a direct impact. At the same time, like the ripples the stone creates in the water, volunteer efforts reach out far and wide to help people reach their potential, to make communities healthier, to strengthen organizations and to enrich the world in which we live. For JFS, this national celebration also rings true. As direct service volunteers, you make a significant difference in clients lives and our agency s ability to serve the Greater Milwaukee community. By enhancing our services, adding your personal touch and inspiring hope, your volunteer service advances our mission to strengthen peoples lives. Thank you and remember to celebrate during the week of April with a toast to yourself, your JFS direct service teammates and your colleagues around the country! Also, please know that we will be holding our own celebration of JFS volunteers this summer. Watch for news of the Volunteer Appreciation Party this spring! Would you like to volunteer at one of the upcoming Mobile Food Pantries in Brown Deer this year? There will be pantries on June 18, September 3 and December 10. Contact Susie to sign up.

3 Direct to You Spring 2015 Page 3 Important News! Doing Good is Good For You In 2010, UnitedHealthcare and VolunteerMatch released a pioneering study of 4,500 American adults entitled Do Good. Live Well. The study identified the health benefits of volunteering, reinforcing what people have been suspecting for some time that volunteers feel healthier. Based on an online and telephone national survey of 3,351 adults between February 9 and March 18, 2013, the Doing Good is Good for You follow-up study completed by UnitedHealth Group and Optum Institute helps us understand how and why volunteering is linked to better health. More and more, people are realizing that good health is not just a set of numbers that track height, weight, heart rate and cholesterol. It involves a more integrated approach to wellbeing that includes our physical wellbeing, as well as our emotional health, our sense of purpose, our connections to our community and our overall quality of life. While there are many paths to good health, the study found that people who volunteer feel better physically, mentally and emotionally better. The volunteers who were surveyed stated that they are convinced their health is better because of the things they do when they volunteer. The people surveyed represented a sample of adults from across the country who volunteered in the last 12 months: young or old and in good health or in poor health. The findings indicated that it s possible for everyone to reap the benefits of volunteering. The study looked at four aspects of good health. This is what the 2013 study found: Physical, Mental & Emotional Health 76% said volunteering made them feel better. Volunteers were more likely than non-volunteers to consider themselves in excellent or very good health 94% reported volunteering improved their mood. Volunteers showed better personal scores than non-volunteers on nine wellestablished measures of emotional well-being. People who volunteer report that they feel better in numerous ways. Stress Less 78% believed volunteering lowered their stress levels. Volunteers were more likely than U.S. adults overall to report that they felt calm and peaceful most of the time. Volunteering helps manage and lower stress levels. continued on page 4.

4 Direct to You Spring 2015 Page 4 Important News! (continued from previous page.) Sense of Purpose & Quality of Life 96% said that volunteering enriched their sense of purpose in life. 95% reported that they were helping to make their community a better place and that volunteering helped them learn valuable things about the world and about themselves. Volunteers feel a deeper connection to their communities and to other people. Engaged with their Health 80% said that they felt they have control over their health. Volunteers, compared with non-volunteers, considered themselves more knowledgeable about their health and chronic conditions. Volunteers are more informed health care consumers and are more involved in taking care of their health. **It s about time that someone confirmed what I already knew!! It s really a win-win situation: Doing Good is Good for You & JFS TOO!** Mission Statement The mission of Jewish Family Services is to provide supportive services that will strengthen families, children and individuals throughout the life cycle within the context of their unique needs and traditions.

5 Direct to You Spring 2015 Page 5 Things to Do, Places to Go Can you read this? Try this out yourself and then share it with family, friends and clients too! It may come easily, take a little longer or feel impossible. Perhaps once someone gets you started, you can get the hang of it and finish it on your own. Even if this does not work for you, it is a good starting point for discussion with your client or group and you could even make up a few words like this together. Give it a try and see what happens. 7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17, B3 PROUD! 0NLY C3R741N P30PL3 C4N R3AD 7H15. PL3453 SARH3 1F U C4N R34D 7H15. If you can read this you are among the 55 people out of 100 people who can read it. I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno t mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? If you and your client or group try this, please call or me with your results, quotes or stories of the activity. Thanks, Ssuie! (Susie) (For a translation of the above, please see page 8.)

6 Direct to You Spring 2015 Page 6 Who is a JFS Volunteer? Meet Judie Leventhal! Judie Leventhal has lived in Milwaukee for about three years. She first started volunteering with JFS Housing last spring, leading a weekly Monopoly game with Deerwood Crossing residents. Soon after, she became a Friendly Visitor for a JFS Family Care client. The weekly Monopoly game is still going strong, and in less than a year, she helped see a client through medical issues, a surgery, a move, and being comfortable walking outdoors. Judie believes anything is possible. She grew up in a very Reform Jewish household in Maplewood, NJ. Her mom was the president of the local Hadassah (American Jewish Women s Organization) group and her dad was the president of the local B Nai Brith (a Jewish service organization) group at the same time. For years, Judie spent her spare time in Hadassah study groups and helped with B Nai Brith activities. Her parents founded a Reform Jewish synagogue and celebrated the birth of Israel every year in a big way. Judie spent summers in Maine playing with cousins at her grandparents place and later as a camp counselor, which she adored. She grew up with jazz, swing and the Big Band sounds and is still a big jazz enthusiast as well as an avid New England sports fan (Boston Celtics & Boston Red Sox) from her many years living in Boston needless to say, the Packers now round out her favorite teams. Her grandfather s birthday was on Thanksgiving Day, and every year he would give his grandchildren gifts for his birthday. They were always educational in nature; promoting learning and knowledge. Her parents and grandparents were more interested in education than anything else, and to this day, Judie strives to learn something new each and every day. When Judie s three children (one boy and two girls) were young, her Rabbi asked her to become a Youth Advisor for NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) where she became involved with youth group advisors, rabbis, youth groups and parents from the whole area. She had teens in her home all the time - singing, playing guitars, composing songs and talking. It was one of the favorite times in her adult life. In addition to this work, Judie owned a women s boutique in New Jersey and also managed other boutiques during her 40 year career with women s clothing. During these years, she also added time to her work week as a Home Health Aide, working with hospice services. Judie is now a grandmother (seven grandchildren). Like her grandfather, Judie gives gifts to people. She shares her anything is possible philosophy with her JFS client and her JFSHI Monopoly group every time she is with them it is always her gift. 1. Why do you volunteer with JFS? I always wanted to volunteer, but I didn t have continued on page 7.

7 Direct to You Spring 2015 Page 7 Who is a JFS Volunteer? (continued from previous page.) the extra time. One of the things I love about being in Milwaukee is the Jewish-ness of it. There are so many ways to be Jewish here. It has been a warm & welcoming community. I started a whole new life here at the age of 74 and a half. I didn t know anyone except my daughter and her family. I started with Mah Jong games, I went to temple, I took classes and I started to volunteer with JFS. I couldn t think of a better place to volunteer. 2. What is your favorite part of your volunteer role? My favorite part is playing Monopoly with the residents every week and all of the laughing, kidding around, funny faces and the jokes, which have now become standard ( You want your money for passing go? You might need a younger JFS volunteer, because this old lady is not going to be able to remember to give it you. ) Some Deerwood Crossing residents come in to just watch and enjoy the laughter. Everyone is so kind to one another and some even stay to help cleanup. 3. What is the JFS moment you are most proud of? There are two: When I was asked to be this issue s spotlight volunteer, and when I realized that Sylvan Leabman, JFS President/CEO knew who I was. One day I was late for the Monopoly game, and when I arrived, Sylvan said hi and had already set out the game for me. 4. What was your very first volunteer role? I helped many Jewish organizations in which my parents were involved by assisting with bond drives, setting up tables at meetings and handing out flyers. When I was a parent, I became very involved with the PTA by taking Vice President roles with three different schools. 5. What other volunteer service do you participate in? I make Telephone Reassurance phone calls for Interfaith Older Adult Programs. 6. Who have been your major influences in volunteering? I watch the people I play Monopoly with who are laughing and having a good time. One of the players is an 88-year-old woman and she often says things like, I have such a good time when I come here. I have to be active. It s so much better than watching TV. 7. Where were you when you decided to change the world? I was fifteen years old, and I was very determined to change the world. I was very involved in the NAACP. I didn t want any bigotry in our country, and I wanted everything to be fair. 8. What place would you like to visit and why? I would like to visit Israel again to see how it has grown and changed. I loved it, loved it the first time I went. I was very comfortable there, and I would like to go back one more time. 9. What is your favorite local restaurant? Lisa s Pizzeria Restaurant. 10. What is your favorite word? Possible ( Anything is possible )

8 Direct to You Page 8 Remember Your Quarterly Report! The hours you serve are important to JFS clients and to JFS. Please make sure your volunteer time is counted as one of the many ways that JFS serves the community. Please return your volunteer hours to me in one of the following ways: If you received this by regular mail, mail the enclosed form If you received this by , access the form on the volunteer page (Volunteer Resources) of our website ( Call me with your volunteer hours for this quarter at me with your volunteer hours for this quarter at sgruenberg@jfsmilw.org. Please reply by April 25, Have a bright and cheery spring!! Coming Soon... Volunteer Appreciation Party! Watch your mailboxes for news about this summer s Volunteer Appreciation Party. Always fun, always social, always meaningful, always delicious, always JFS! Please plan to join us this year. Save the Date for the Luncheon of Champions! Mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 2, as JFS honors three community champions: Bartolotta Restaurant Group/Care-a-lotta, LISC Milwaukee and Aurora Health Care. More information to come! Translation from Things to Do, Places to Go article, p. 4 (First Message) This message serves to prove how our minds can do amazing things! Impressive things! In the beginning it was hard but now, on this line your mind is reading it automatically without even thinking about it, be proud! Only certain people can read this. Please share if you can read this. (Second Message) I couldn t believe that I could actually understand what I was reading. The phenomenal power of the human mind, according to a research at Cambridge University, it doesn t matter in what order the letters in a word are, the only important thing is that the first and last letter be in the right place. The rest can be in a total mess and you can still read it without a problem. This is because the human mind does not read every letter by itself, but the word as a whole. Amazing, huh? JFS is a partner agency of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation & a beneficiary of the United Way.