"I really enjoy participating in Federation events because they allow me to meet all sorts of different types of people and make an impact in my community."
When did you get involved with Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ?
Although I have always been somewhat involved in Federation through my parents, I first got involved myself with Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ my freshman year of high school.
How are you involved?
The first Federation program I was part of was the Iris Teen Tzedakah program through JTEEN. Since then, I have been a part of the Iris Teen Mitzvot program (my sophomore year of high school,) and the Justice League program (my junior year of high school.) In addition, I was a member of the J-serve planning committee for Community Mitzvah Day this past spring and have volunteered and participated in many JTEEN events over the last few years.
When you last (volunteered, made a donation, attended an event, etc.), how did that make you feel?
I really enjoy participating in Federation events because they allow me to meet all sorts of different types of people and make an impact in my community. The most recent Federation event that I participated in was a cooking event with seniors at Lester Senior Housing. This event was a lot of fun for me because I was able to have great conversations with the seniors and learn from their experiences and stories- you could say that this event helped me just as much as it helped them!
What motivates you to stay involved?
Staying involved in Jewish Federation allows me to have a greater sense of community and purpose in my life and allows me to feel as though I am helping to make a difference in our community. Through many of the events that Federation offers, you get to see the direct impact you are making by volunteering, which I also find very important.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about getting involved with or donating to Federation?
I wish more people knew how much fun it can be to volunteer at Jewish Federation! Most of the time, when I tell people I am going to a volunteer event, they see it as a chore. However, I actually look forward to a lot of the events I do with Federation and have formed great relationships with many people because of them.
What do you wish other people knew about Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ and the work we do together?
I would tell them to find a part of Federation that deals with an issue or cause that they are particularly passionate about and focus on helping that “sector” as much as they want/can. We are very lucky to have such a diverse Jewish Federation in our community that allows many different types of people to get involved with many different types of causes. I would start small (going to one or two events a month and seeing how you like it) and then slowly get more involved as your interest and commitment to the Federation grows. In my experience, most of the events (whether volunteer events or otherwise) that the Jewish Federation runs are interesting and very fulfilling!