Meet Sherri Jonas, Director of Volunteers!
How long have you been working at JFCS? It will be seven years in August.
Tell us about your role. I recruit, place, and train volunteers for all JFCS agency opportunities. The Volunteer department is also responsible for matching clients’ needs to volunteer services such as Friendly Visitors, Personal Shoppers, Handyman, Tech Support, Transportation, and more. We also manage a full calendar of volunteer events each year to engage our current volunteers and others in the community as Bite- Size or one-time volunteers. These events include food drives, holiday meal and treat deliveries, gift drives, flagging, and other community events.
What brings you joy in your role at JFCS? My passion has always been for non-profit work. I have volunteered in many capacities since middle school, including volunteering for a synagogue. My joy comes from serving both clients and volunteers as the person behind the scenes. One of my favorite initiatives here is the Friendly Visitor program. We have created so many meaningful relationships that change lives and I am so pleased to be able to help with the shidduch (match). I also get joy from being able to use my background to help staff and the agency with the implementation of new technology, software, data analysis, and spreadsheets. I love to play with numbers and data.
What might the community be surprised to learn about you? Some may be surprised to know that I am a CPA with an MBA in Finance. I spent seven years in public accounting covering non-profit organizations and financial institutions. I left public accounting for private industry, and I was involved in structured finance including credit card asset backed securitizations and home equity loan product securitization. I also draw, paint, play Mahjongg, and write in my free time – which is in short supply as JFCS keeps me happily very busy.
