Your most vulnerable neighbors need you. Your gift today is the only way we can continue to provide the critical food, financial assistance, counseling, and security our community needs now.
Your 2023 gift will provide us all with the comfort of knowing our community is taken care of — and prepared in a time of crisis. Please give today to our Federation — the heartbeat of Jewish L.A.
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SUPPORT.
(855) JFED-HLP
Call our Federation’s Community Call Line Monday-Thursday
from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
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FEDERATION CRISIS RESOURCES
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
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Community Resource Guide
We know that in these especially difficult times you may need everything from legal services to financial assistance to activities for children and more. Use our handy Community Resource Guide to get all the help you need.
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Ezra Network Wrap-around Services
The Federation’s Ezra Network provides wraparound social services to those in need in our Jewish community, including government benefits applications, short-term counseling, legal services, job search readiness training, and screening for financial assistance via Federation’s Max Factor Family Foundation Financial Assistance Network. By calling Federation’s Community Call Line at (323) 761-8305, any Jewish community member in need will be connected to the Ezra Network to begin to navigate these FREE services. Learn more here.
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JVS SoCal is Here to Help
JVS SoCal helps people prepare for and find employment opportunities through a variety of services including employment readiness, no cost job skills training, mentoring, career counseling, Veterans’ services, and job fairs. Thanks to The Jewish Federation, JVS SoCal has special programs designed for the Jewish community including comprehensive career counseling, individualized work with a job search coach through the Ezra Network, and an academic scholarship program for students. For more information, contact JVS SoCal at (323) 761-8888 or see the website.
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Food for Those in Need
Jewish Family Service (JFS) SOVA Community Food & Resource Program is now providing prepackaged bags of food to help minimize the risk to both clients and volunteers. The JFS senior nutrition program is now providing all food via delivery. To receive these services, please call JFS Central Access at (877) 275-4537.
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Teen Talk
Do you know a teen who could use peer support to vent, share, or just talk? Tell them about Teen Talk! Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles created the Teen Talk mobile app to provide social and emotional support to teens. Now more than ever, we see Teen Talk as a critical lifeline for teens in Los Angeles and around the world. Read more about the Teen Talk app.
GET INVOLVED
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Volunteer Opportunities
For those who want to give of their time, we are sharing virtual volunteer opportunities and adjusted in-person volunteer activities available for those who are not high-risk and accounting for proper social distancing.
St. Joseph Center
Program & Site — Food Pantry, Hampton: volunteers assist with Pantry operations — stocking, shelving, packing grocery bags, Supporting pantry service (inside the pantry — replenishing shelves, storing bulk supplies, packing bags) and Pantry Prep Tasks — outside pantry hours — cleaning the space, stocking and restocking shelves, organizing storage spaces. ***Volunteers must be able to lift and carry some weight. Volunteers needed weekday mornings and afternoons.
Program & Site — IMHT/Homeless FSP 5 & 6: volunteers assist with filing, daily, M-F 9:00am-1:00pm.
Program & Site — Access Center/ HSC: volunteers assist with mail pick up and transport, and then sorting, and donation sorting, daily M-F 8:00am-12:00pm.
Program & Site — Food Pantry Grocery Delivery: volunteers assist with picking up groceries from the Food Pantry and deliver to clients doorsteps, Tu-Th 9:30am-12:00pm.All volunteers must follow all safety protocols as SJC staff (mask wearing, social distancing, temperature check daily self-assessment, etc.) and provide evidence of vaccination.
Interested parties should contact Aurilla Stevson at astevson@stjosephctr.org.
The Karsh Center
The Karsh Center is currently hosting amazing volunteers to help us prepare and distribute hundreds of grocery bags for the community each week, pick up donations and food supplies, sort produce, help sign in clients at our Sunday food pantry, and assist with projects like data entry, translation, client outreach, supporting special events and more. Are you interested in volunteering with the Karsh Center? We ask all interested volunteers to start by submitting our volunteer application and attending a general volunteer orientation, which we host online twice a month. Get started here!
Deliver Meals with Project Angel Food
Help Project Angel Food deliver free, medically tailored meals to individuals who are fighting critical illness and are alone. For more information and to sign up, email Holly Fishbein.
West Valley Food Pantry
Volunteers are needed to receive, sort, and distribute food and to register clients in West Valley Food Pantry’s computer system and assist in the office. Volunteers are asked to wear their own masks, but gloves will be provided. There are both morning and afternoon shifts Monday-Thursday between 8:00 AM and 2:15 PM, Fridays are one shift only from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Interested volunteers should contact Senior Manager Lily.
Provide Online Tutoring to Students with Step Up
Step Up Tutoring‘s mission is to provide free online tutoring to students from low-income communities. During the pilot program, we are recruiting volunteers to tutor and mentor 500 5th-6th grade LAUSD students this fall semester. Step Up Tutoring’s primary goal is to improve engagement and academic performance. The secondary goal is to promote understanding, empathy, and trust between people from diverse backgrounds. All tutors are welcome to apply.
Office of LA Mayor Eric Garcetti
Check out many different meaningful opportunities to get involved throughout Los Angeles.
Volunteer with Jewish Family Service
We are looking for Russian-speaking volunteers (not required but very helpful) to help with opportunities for our clients residing in West Hollywood such as a SOVA’s (our food pantry) satellite program providing groceries to West Hollywood residents on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month from 8:30-11:30am and other similar possible upcoming SOVA opportunities involving grocery delivery and a pop-up shop.
Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles SOVA Community Food and Resource Program
Jewish Family Service is seeking volunteers at our Van Nuys location. Ideally, we ask volunteers to commit to the same day for the month (or longer), if possible. Volunteers will welcome and check in clients, pack grocery bags, restock pantry shelves, and distribute food to clients. Shifts are as follows:
Mondays-Thursdays, 8:30 AM-1:30 PM
Fridays, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Sundays, 8:30 AM-1:30 PM.
Help is most needed during the week.To fill out a volunteer application or for more information, email Joyce M. Williams.
The SOVA West location on Pico (at Robertson) is now open Monday-Thursday with volunteer shifts from 9:00am-1:30pm. Volunteers will welcome and check in clients, pack grocery bags, restock pantry shelves, and distribute food to clients.
CONNECT West Hollywood program works with West Hollywood residents (through a partnership through the City), the overwhelming majority who are seniors, to help them live independently. Volunteers spend a couple hours with their match twice a month, usually on the weekends, with possible activities such grocery shopping, errands and just helping to improve a resident’s quality of life and provide companionship.
Pico Union Project
This multifaith cultural arts center currently provides 2,000 families with fresh produce and household items every week. Interested volunteers can complete this intake form or email here.
The Pico Union Project also needs donations of food, hygiene items and toys. You can drop off items at any one of the following locations into well-marked bins.
SANTA MONICA — Bins can be found in the parking lot behind 1902 Wilshire Blvd. East side of lot on the island.
BEVERLY GLEN (halfway to Sherman Oaks) — The Glen Centre, Beverly Glen Blvd. and Beverly Glen Circle. The three bins are accessible from the parking lot.
BEVERLY HILLS — Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd. Bins are near Beverly Glen entrance.
DOWNTOWN — Donations accepted on Tuesdays, 10:00 AM-2:30 PM at the Pico Union Project, 1153 Valencia St., Los Angeles 90015. You can also mail/ship to Pico Union at this address.OR you can always order items online using the Pico Union Project’s Wish List.
Simply add the requested items to your cart and they will be automatically shipped to the Pico Union Project.
Beit T’Shuvah's BTS Thrift Store
BTS Thrift Store is now accepting donations of clothing, furniture, art, home goods, and more. BTS Thrift Store is located at 10409 Washington Blvd. To arrange a drop off or pick up, call (310) 204-4669.
NCJW's Council Shop Donation Centers
The Council Shop Donation Centers have reopened for donation drop-offs from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 7 days a week. Locations: Fairfax District, Canoga Park, Mar Vista and two locations in West Los Angeles. More information here.
Valley Beth Shalom (VBS) Food Bank
The VBS Food Bank is in urgent need of donations. Check out their Amazon Wishlist and more information here.
L.A. Works
All L.A. Works non-essential volunteer opportunities have been suspended; however, many essential services still need to continue and need your help. If you are healthy and have the time and resources to be able to do so, volunteering both in person and virtually to address critical needs in the community is extremely important. The hungry still need food. The isolated still need companionship. Nonprofits are facing drastic cuts in resources at a time when demands are rising significantly. Explore volunteer opportunities here.
ImagineLA
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unhoused and recently housed families are experiencing added stress and uncertainty as they navigate the demands of work, education, children, services, and more. Every day, families are asking for resources related to family fun and basic needs. Learn more and sign up to volunteer here.
The Red Cross
The Red Cross is in severe need of blood and volunteer assistance. Get more information or express interest in blood donation and explore other volunteer opportunities.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s Volunteers
Join the CaliforniansForAll service initiative and find ways you can help in your area.
Operation Gratitude
Join their #VirtualVolunteerism campaign to support deployed troops, National Guardsmen, first responders, and emergency medical personnel on the front lines. Opportunities include letter writing and emailing words of encouragement, and hand making items for care packages and “survival” bracelets.
Union Rescue Mission
Assist with a variety of needs at the Mission including painting (allowing for physical distancing) and daily meal service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Warehouse and thrift store donation sorting. Medical personnel volunteers are needed as well. Interested volunteers should contact Lisette Moreno.
