JFS Clients Helped by Temple Emanuel's Mitzvah Day

Recently, Temple Emanuel hosted Mitzvah Day, the congregation's annual social action event. This day provides a concerted congregational effort to help those in need, when families go out into the Denver community to do all types of volunteer work. Members give their time, their energy, and their talent as they participate in a variety of mitzvot. Some of the projects included yard clean up and planting, painting rooms, entertaining at hospitals and nursing homes, animal care, preparing office mailings, and meal preparation. Three of the projects helped JFS clients: yard work for one elderly couple, cleaning for a person with a chronic illness, and games at the JFS Group Home.

The morning of Mitzvah Day, one group headed out early to cut trees at an elderly couple's home in Park Hill. The woman is homebound and likes to sit out in her backyard and relax. However, the overgrown trees made her feel anxious, but she knew that physically she couldn't take care of it. Once the volunteers cut the trees, she could relax and be at peace. She was very touched that people came to make her yard pleasant and neat. Two of the volunteers, Jim and Ruth Sharon, said of the experience, "We felt delighted to serve and be useful to people in need! It was a good feeling to see the gratitude in her eyes."

Another family was struggling to keep up with household chores due to the father's illness. While it took the group of Temple Emanuel volunteers only a few hours to spruce up the house, it would have taken this family much longer. It just goes to show that a few hours of work can make a big difference in someone's life! Nancy Benyamin, director of volunteer services at JFS, was first hesitant to offer up a housecleaning project for Mitzvah Day,"I didn't think anyone would want to clean someone else's house (when people have enough of their own cleaning to do), but I was pleasantly surprised what others will do to help another family experiencing a hardship. It taught me not to assume what volunteers will and will not do to help out a neighbor in need."

Simultaneously, another group of volunteers drove south from Temple to the JFS Group Home. The eight adult residents with developmental disabilities spent the morning laughing and playing board games with the volunteers. The residents love having guests to their home and appreciate spending time with new friends.

Thank you to Temple Emanuel and its members for spending the morning helping several of our clients during Mitzvah Day. JFS looks forward to participating in Temple's Mitzvah Year, an ongoing opportunity to help people in the community.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with JFS, please contact Nancy Benyamin at (303) 597.5000 x369.