The month of Elul arrives quietly, inviting us to pause and reflect. The shofar’s call begins this month – not with the urgency of the High Holy Days, but as a gentle invitation to ask ourselves important questions: How will I show up differently in the year ahead? Where will I direct my generosity? How will I answer the needs of those around me?
As the final month of the Jewish calendar, Elul is a time of spiritual reflection – a moment to look back honestly and consider who we hope to become. This month teaches us that change is possible, that we can always choose a different path, and that our choices matter.
For our volunteers, the answer to Elul’s call is clear: they show up, again and again, with compassion and purpose. More than 250 active volunteers are the lifeblood of our agency and the heart of our community. Their generosity, dedication, and love bring our mission to life every single day.
Volunteering is a choice – one made intentionally, over and over. Whether someone has served for years or just joined us, whether they volunteer weekly or take part in a single opportunity, every act of service matters and reflects a deliberate decision to care.
The real impact comes to life in moments: an older adult receiving a ride to a medical appointment, a family’s relief picking up groceries from our Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantry, laughter shared during a Café Connection sing-along, and the confidence gained by a young adult finding success through our Supported Employment Program. Behind every delivery, every phone call, every ride is a person seeking comfort, community, and care.
Many of our volunteers speak of receiving as much as they give. Barbara Borger, a volunteer since 2017, shared:
“What began as delivering food has become so much more than a weekly drop-off. I’ll never forget hearing a child call out, ‘Mom, we got food.’ That moment reminded me that these deliveries bring not only nourishment, but also relief, hope, and human connection.”
Stephanie Zinn, a volunteer since 2019, reflected:
“It was never a question of if, but when I would be able to devote time to volunteering. Making a true difference in someone’s life is beyond fulfilling, but the real reward lies in the lives we all touch and the positive impact we create together.”
Their reflections capture something essential: service at its best isn’t transactional. It’s relational. It’s about showing up, listening, and recognizing that the person across from you deserves dignity and connection.
This is the essence of Elul – a month that calls us to be intentional about our choices and to recognize that ordinary acts of kindness are how we repair our world.
To our volunteers, donors, Board members, Advisory Council members, and community partners: thank you. You embody Elul’s invitation by choosing, again and again, to answer the call.
And if you haven’t yet volunteered with JFCS, please consider this your invitation. As we prepare for a new year, what better way to respond to Elul’s gentle call than by answering the needs of another person? Your choice – made once, or made again and again – has the power to transform a life.
May this season of reflection bring you moments of purpose and gratitude. May you choose intentionally, and may the year ahead be filled with the enduring joy that comes from caring for one another.
