Congrats to our March agency of the Month: Bernie's Book Bank! The projects and programs of TOV are made possible by our outstanding partner agencies.

Bernie's Book Bank facilitates the collection, processing, and redistribution of new and gently used children's books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk infants, toddlers, and school-age children throughout Chicagoland.

We asked Elizabeth Blasko, Marketing Specialist, a couple questions about the agency and their involvement with TOV. 

1. What is your agency mission?

Bernie’s Book Bank sources, processes and distributes quality new and gently used children’s books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout Chicagoland.

2. How do volunteers help impact your agency?

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Bernie’s Book Bank. Without our dedicated volunteers Bernie’s Book Bank would not be able to serve 360,000 at-risk Chicagoland children with 3.6 MILLION books this year. Our volunteers sort, sticker and pack books during 18 weekly volunteer sessions at our processing center in Lake Bluff.   

3. Why do you like working with TOV in particular?

We love TOV because they always bring energy, excitement and passion for serving the community when they come to volunteer at Bernie’s Book Bank. Bernie’s Book Bank has partnered with TOV for several years and we are grateful for their consistent support of our mission. We look forward to the next time TOV volunteers at Bernie’s Book Bank!  

We want to thank Elizabeth and Bernie's Book Bank for their valuable partnership with TOV. To learn more about JUF's important work in the community, sign up to volunteer, or make a donation, please visit our website. 

The projects and programs of TOV are made possible by our outstanding partner agencies. We are recognizing them periodically in our agency spotlight. This month, we are highlighting The ARK. The ARK provides free social and medical services to help distressed members of the Chicagoland Jewish community return to self-sufficiency.

We asked Sophia Zisook, Director of Volunteers and Outreach, a couple questions about the agency and their involvement with volunteers.

1. What is your agency mission?

To create a safety net for Chicagoland Jews in need by providing vital human services within a framework of Jewish values and laws. To also build bridges between volunteers and those in need in our community. 

2. How do volunteers help impact your agency?

The volunteers are crucial to everything we do. From helping us deliver meals on Thanksgiving to providing Chanukah gifts, the volunteers help us execute our largest programs of the year.

3. Why do you like working with TOV in particular?

The volunteers always come hungry for work and are reliable and kind. I know when TOV provides us with volunteers that we will be working with motivated and capable individuals.

Each year TOV partners with The ARK for Thanksgiving deliveries. There is still availability to assemble and deliver approximately two food packages to needy Jews living in Chicago or in the suburbs. Volunteers must have their own cars. Register here! 

We want to thank The ARK for all the incredible work they do and look forward to collaborating with them in the future!

Congrats to our May Agency Spotlight of the Month, Cradles to Crayons! The projects and programs of TOV are made possible by our outstanding partner agencies.

Cradles to Crayons provides children ages 0-12 some of the most important basics of life for free. By partnering with social service organizations, communities that have surplus resources are connected with communities that need access to those resources.

We asked Kayla Furjanic, Volunteer Coordinator, a couple questions about the agency and their involvement with TOV.

1. What is your agency mission?

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need.

2. What kind of population does your agency serve?

We distribute our items to children living in homeless and low income situations in Chicago.

3. How do volunteers help impact your agency?

We need volunteers for every aspect of what we do, we are built by the community. We have volunteers who host collection drives, roll up their sleeves and volunteer in our Giving Factory, and people who spread the word in their community. We would not be able to serve the amount of children we do without help from volunteers in our door and around the Chicagoland area.

4. How long have you been working with volunteers from TOV?

We have been working with TOV since we began here in Chicago and opened up our Giving Factory, about 9 months ago.

5. Why do you like working with TOV in particular?

TOV volunteers are always very excited and motivated to give back to other folks in Chicago. It is wonderful to host groups that not only work hard in our Giving Factory, but are inclined to spread the word about our mission and model to their networks.

We want to thank Kayla and Cradles to Crayons for their valuable partnership with TOV.

The projects and programs of TOV are made possible by our outstanding partner agencies. We are recognizing them periodically in our agency spotlight. This month, we are highlighting SHALVA. SHALVA supports Jewish women experiencing and healing from domestic abuse, through counseling, supportive services, and community education. 

We asked Deborah Zionts, Outreach and Education Coordinator, a couple questions about the agency and their involvement with volunteers.

1. What is your agency mission? 

SHALVA supports Jewish women experiencing and healing from domestic abuse through free, confidential and unlimited counseling, supportive services, and community education. 

2. What kind of population does your agency serve?

We do not have a "typical" client, as domestic abuse happens equally throughout the Jewish community, regardless of religious belief or practice. Domestic violence occurs in all sectors of our population, no matter what one's age, education, race, gender or income are. Our clients come to us from the Chicagoland area, many of the suburbs, and neighboring states. We also speak on the phone to loved ones calling out of concern for someone they think may be suffering from domestic abuse, some from as far away as Israel. 

3. How do volunteers impact your agency?

Knowing that someone has taken time away from their busy life to volunteer at SHALVA is inspiring to both our clients and our staff. We have many volunteers who generously donate their time and talents to SHALVA, which allows us to offer even more support and expertise to our clients.

4. why do you like working with volunteers?

SHALVA gets many phonecalls from volunteers because they are passionate about wanting to help women who are victims of domestic violence. Our volunteers are selfless, bright, talented, and come from interesting and diverse backgrounds that have led them to want to work with our agency. It has been a pleasure to work with our volunteers who understand the devastating effects of domestic abuse on the victim and their family, and have chosen to give their time and energy to SHALVA and our clients.

We want to thank SHALVA for all the incredible work they do and look forward to collaborating with them in the future!

The projects and programs of TOV are made possible by our outstanding partner agencies. We are recognizing them periodically in our agency spotlight. This month, we are highlighting Friedman Place. Friedman Place is a non-profit Supportive Living Community for blind and visually impaired adults in Chicago. A full range of services and activities is provided so that residents’ days are healthy, dignified, and stimulating.

We asked Beth Elman, director of Activities and Volunteers, a couple questions about the agency and their involvement with TOV.

1. What is Friedman Place’s Mission? 

Friedman Place provides housing and supportive services to adults who are blind or visually impaired, so that their lives can be healthy, dignified and stimulating. Friedman Place strives to be a primary force among professional organizations serving adults with visual disabilities. They provide a wide range of social psychosocial and medical services to our 85 diverse residents whose ages range from 22 to over 90. Ninety-percent of residents have a chronic health condition unrelated to blindness such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or kidney failure. Almost all the residents meet the Federal definition of Very Low Income and two-thirds the Poverty Level. 
Specially trained staff work with the visual impaired and blind residents, providing social work and nursing services; housekeeping; meals; and a variety of programs and activities fitting resident needs and interests. 

2. How do Volunteers help impact your agency?

The volunteers at Friedman Place provide a range of activities, many more than are required by the State regulations and nearly all residents take part in some activities over the course of a year. The activity department provide nearly 4,200 hours of activities this past year. The most popular activities were weaving, outside activities (e.g., concerts, theater, etc.), music, shopping, Uno, Bingo, bowling, reminiscing, along with religious services, creative writing, advocacy group, movies, musical history and more. These activities would not be possible without the help and assistants of our volunteers. 

3. How long have you been working with volunteers from TOV?

We have worked with TOV for the past two to three years. We appreciate having the TOV volunteers so much. Many of our residents do not have the chance to be with family or friends during the holidays and the wonderful TOV volunteers have come to help in our dining room during these times. It brings such joy and comfort to our residents. Some TOV volunteers come to assist the staff on Sundays during lunch and dinner which provides companionship for our residents and eases the kitchen staff’s work load. Additionally, we have also had a corporate group volunteer with us. During this volunteering opportunity the staff and residents provided an educational component for the volunteers by residents sharing their lives stories as well as learning about blindness and playing bingo with the residents. 
Having the TOV volunteers is a wonderful partnership! 

We want to thank Beth and Friedman place for their valuable partnership with TOV.