Why I Give Back: Michele and Reuben
For the Giving Back issue of the Jewish Living Delaware Magazine, several of our volunteers reflected on why they give back and the impact that volunteering has had on them and the lives of those they serve. Michele and Reuben Yarmus share their thoughts below.
We heard JFS Delaware Community Relations Manager Vlad speak at the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington and listened with great interest to Vlad’s personal story. His country of origin was the same as that of one of our parents, and their journeys shared many common threads. We were immediately drawn to the idea of volunteer service in support of JFS and most notably their work with refugee populations. Our interest in refugees is attributable to lifelong study of diverse languages and cultures, including years spent traveling and living abroad, to decades of involvement with immigrant populations as career educators and to the challenges experienced by our own families as members of the Jewish diaspora.
Our contributions have been small, but it has been a privilege to be involved. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to volunteer and we are filled with respect and admiration for the caring and loving interactions that we have witnessed at every event. Volunteering at JFS Delaware has had a positive impact on us, giving us more than we have given, including treasured moments of purpose, inspiration, and joy!
If you would like to volunteer with JFS Delaware and make a difference in the lives of those we serve, click here. You can also donate to JFS Delaware here. To view the Give Back article in Jewish Living Delaware, click here.