PHOTO: Volunteers assemble mishloach manot packages at the Jewish Volunteer Corps' packing event Sunday, Mar. 9 at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland's offices in Tigard. (Rockne Roll/The Jewish Review)

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
Greater Portland’s 2023 Jewish Community Study showed what many already knew – that volunteer service is a priority for Jews throughout the area. Now, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland is building a new community resource to connect volunteers with service opportunities. 
The Jewish Volunteer Corps held its inaugural event last week with a Mishloach Manot packing party Sunday, Mar. 9 at Federation’s offices in Tigard, preparing more than 100 packets of snacks and warm Purim greetings for community members, one of the traditional mitzvot (commandments) of the holiday.
“They [went] to [Jewish Family & Child Service] mental health clients. They [went] with our Jewish community chaplain, Rabbi Sarah Rensin, to community members that she works with. [They went] to retirement facilities where Jewish community members may not have many other Jewish neighbors,” Federation Volunteer Coordinator and JVC organizer Merit Pinker explained. “The whole point of the Mishloach Manot pack was to give Purim cheer and spread joy to people that otherwise might not be around a lot of Jewish community right now.”
It was also fun for those who did the packing, as volunteering so often is. 
“It was such a great group of really joyful and enthusiastic volunteers,” Pinker continued. “We had a blast while we were packing, and I think people really felt the impact of it as well.”
Pinker explained that the Community Study found that while 47 percent of Portland’s Jewish adults are engaged in volunteer service, only 19 percent of those same Jewish adults volunteer with Jewish organizations. 
“There could be a number of reasons for that, but the Jewish Volunteer Corps was born to provide more opportunities for volunteerism in Jewish Portland,” she said. “We’re volunteering with both Jewish organizations and non-Jewish organizations because we want to support Jewish organizations in our community through volunteerism, and we also want to have our Jewish community go out and make an impact in the Greater Portland area beyond the Jewish community.”
Who is this effort for? Everyone – regardless of experience, financial situation, synagogue affiliation, Jewish knowledge, etcetera.
“It’s a way for people to follow their passions,” Pinker said. “If somebody wants to volunteer and they don’t have a lot of time, this is a terrific opportunity for them because we are planning activities for them. If somebody has a lot of time and really wants to work with specific organizations and wants help figuring out how to get connected with those organizations and how to connect other Jews with those organizations, we can also be a great resource for that as well.”
JVC’s kickoff continues into April with Good Deeds Month. An expansion of the annual Good Deeds Day on Apr. 6, the full month encompasses National Volunteer Week (Apr. 16-20) and Earth Day (Apr. 22) as well as Passover, Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron and the first hours of Yom HaAtzmaut. Events already scheduled include a Wednesday, Apr. 9 food box building event with Sunshine Division, clothes sorting with Dress for Success Oregon Tuesday, Apr. 15 and a challah bake at Chabad of Northeast Portland Thursday, Apr. 24, with more to come.
“”We thought, ‘Why not expand Good Deeds Day to be Good Deeds Month and include all of that?’” Pinker said. “It’s a great launch for our new Jewish Volunteer Corps; to really get the word out about what we’re doing.”
Those interested in getting involved can start with the Federation’s Volunteer Interest Form at jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/volunteering/volunteerinterestform, check out more Good Deeds Month programs at jewishportland.org/gooddeedsmonth or email Pinker at merit@jewishportland.org.