November 2013 Volunteer of the Month- Our 40 for 40 Partners!

This month, we couldn't choose just one person to recognize so for our November 2013 Volunteer of the Month post- so we would like to congratulate and thank all of our 40 for 40 partners! 

1. Baruch Hillel
2. B'nai B'rith Young Leadership Network
3. B'nai Jeshurun
4. Bronx Science High School Key Club
5. buildOn- Bronx
6. Columbia Hillel
7. Congregation Habonim
8. Congregation Magen David
9. Congregation Ramath Orah
10. Congregation Rodeph Sholom
11. HASC Center
12. Hebrew Union College
13. Investors Bank
14. JBFCS Friends
15. JBFCS Kaplan House
16. JCCA Bukharian Teen Lounge
17. Jewish Home Lifecare
18. Kehilath Jeshurun
19. Masa Alumni
20. Met Council MVP
21. Moishe House (ParkSlope)
22. NYC Office of Emergency Management
23. ORT America
24. Otsar Family Services
25. Park East Day School
26. Ramaz Lower School
27. Ramaz Middle School
28. Ramaz Upper School
29. Rodeph Shalom School
30. Rutgers Women's Business Leadership Initiative Alumni
31. SAR High School
32. SSDS Manhattan
33. Temple Shaaray Tefila
34. The Center for Kosher Culinary Arts
35. The Directors Forum
36. The Heschel School
37. The New Shul
38. Touro- Lander College for Women
39. UJA Federation of NY
40. Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management
41. Uri L'Tzedek
42. Wandering Jews of Astoria 

Thank you to our partners for making our 40th anniversary celebratory initiative "40 for 40" possible! Together, we engaged over 350 volunteers in 15 events throughout the month of Cheshvan (Oct 6-Nov 3) in over 800 volunteer hours!

Happy (Belated) Veteran's Day!

Each year on November 11th, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, we have the opportunity to reflect on the service of Americans who risk it all for their country. Veterans of the United States Armed Services not only protect US interests at home and abroad. They also perform missions of good will and disaster relief efforts in needy communities all over the world.

In honor of Veteran's Day (albeit a little bit late), Met Council would like to thank the men and women who have served in the Armed Services of the United States of America. Their commitment is an inspiration to all who aim to better their communities.

Volunteer Today, Health Benefits Tomorrow

A new study shows that volunteering within your community can be beneficial for your health!

The study, entitled "Doing Good is Good for You", was sponsored by United Health Group and conducted among those who have volunteered at some point within the past twelve months, shows that becoming involved in your community can have tangible health benefits.

Our of more than 3,000 survey respondents, 76% said volunteering made them feel healthier, and 78% said that volunteering lessens feelings of stress. My personal favorite statistic is that 96% of people who gave back to their communities at some point in the past year felt an enriched sense of purpose in life, and just as many truly felt they were making a difference.

The study goes even further, pointing out that employers who instill a sense of volunteerism in their employees tend to see their efforts returned in the workplace, as volunteering can improve upon time management skills, communication, and interpersonal relationships. Many volunteers use professional skills in their volunteer positions, and about three quarters of respondents said that volunteering improved their competitiveness in the workplace in some way.

Met Council offers many opportunities to reap some of these benefits, so what are you waiting for? Or, share your volunteer success story in the comments!

Helpful Hands - Support Disaster Clients

A year after Sandy, our clients are still rebuilding their lives. For many, grants from FEMA or Build It Back don’t cover all of their continuing needs. Sign up to be contacted about opportunities to assist individuals with tasks like assembling furniture, organizing, packing/moving, helping to find new housing, or accompanying elderly or disabled individuals to important appointments.

Tasks may vary widely, so we need volunteers with all different skills & backgrounds. Ages 18 & up. Contact Alex at ashwarz@metcouncil.org or 212-453-9526 for more info.

Thanksgiving Dinner 11/24 and 11/26

If you are interested in making a positive impact on the life of a senior citizen, then this is the volunteer opportunity for you! At Met Council’s Senior Thanksgiving Dinner volunteers will serve a hearty, kosher Thanksgiving meal to about 40 low-income seniors at three of our housing sites in the Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Thanksgiving dinner in Manhattan will be on November 24th and the dinner in Brooklyn will be on November 26th. Some volunteer duties include cooking, setting up, waiting on the clients, serving dinner, and – most importantly – socializing and promoting community building.

This event ensures that our low income clients receive a hot, delicious Thanksgiving dinner that they may otherwise not be able to afford. It provides them with a social network of volunteers, as well as fosters a sense of holiday spirit within and throughout the housing sites.

 

Time Commitment: 2 hours or more on Sunday, November 24, 2013

Participation Fee: $10

100% of this fee goes directly to providing the Thanksgiving meal for our seniors.

Schedule:

            10:00am-12:00pm: 6 volunteers needed to cook and help prepare food (ages 18 and up)

            12:00- 2:00pm: 6 volunteers needed to cook and help prepare food (ages 18 and up)

            2:00- 3:30pm: 3 volunteers needed to finish food prep and package food (ages 18 and up)

            4:00- 6:00pm- 8 volunteers needed to serve dinner at 171 Lexington Avenue (all ages welcome)       

Locations:

Cooking and Food Prep: 351 East 61^st Street

Serving Dinner: 171 Lexington Avenue

If you're interested in getting involved and learning more about these volunteer events please email Anna McKinnon at amckinnon@metcouncil.org or call (212)-453-9574.