About the Morris Cafritz Center for Community Service
The Edlavitch DCJCC’s Morris Cafritz Center for Community Service (MCCCS) organizes high-impact volunteer programs that address unmet needs in the Washington, DC area. In seeking to make our city a more just, inclusive, and livable place, we provide a way for the Jewish community to connect to our most sacred mandate of repairing the world.
While our programs are meant to be low-barrier and engaging to all, we are fiercely committed to upholding the dignity of those we serve by only providing services that are truly needed.
Our volunteer opportunities are designed to be family-friendly, flexible, and accessible whether you can commit one hour a month or a few hours a week. We offer our volunteers the opportunity to build lasting relationships with agencies and clients over the span of years, or volunteer once and try a different project the next time.
We have succeeded if our participants leave with a sense of the great need that exists in our city and the motivation and desire to join with us to continue repairing the world.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities and Events
December 25th Day of Service (D25) is the Edlavitch DCJCC’s largest volunteer event of the year. Join over 1,000 volunteers at a social service agency in the metro-DC area to prepare and serve meals, sing carols, visit home-bound seniors, throw holiday parties, play bingo, and deliver holiday cheer to those in need.
This year, while the EDCJCC building is undergoing renovation, the Hyatt Regency will be D25’s home base. Several ways to give back will be available on-site at the Hyatt Regency, including our Winter Blood Drive, making instant meal kits, creating cards for emergency personnel working on Christmas Day, and many others. Registration and check-in will also take place at the Hyatt Regency this year.
Many of the projects are family-friendly – please read individual project descriptions carefully for the minimum age to volunteer at each site.
Join GLOE to paint and beautify Casa Ruby, a youth homeless shelter serving the LGBTQ and transgender community. Transgender youth have a suicide rate of 40%, and are far more likely than their peers to end up homeless without a support network. Help create a welcoming space that provides them with a home, a support network, and critically important case management.
No previous painting experience necessary!
Afterwards, volunteers are invited (but not required) to help prepare Christmas dinner for the shelter residents, as well as join in the festive meal and after-party with games.
Please note children must be 14 and over to participate, no exceptions.
We request a $20/person tax-deductible program fee to help us cover the costs of supplies, including gifts for clients, Santa suits, party decorations, arts & crafts, and games. All of the money from program fees except for a small credit card processing fee goes directly towards D25 supplies. If the program fee is in any way a barrier to volunteering please don’t hesitate to contact Sonya: sonyaw@edcjcc.org
Join the EDCJCC’s Families Serving Together for MLK Day of Service!
This MLK Day, show your children the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and celebrate Tu B’shevat (the Jewish New Year of the trees) by working together to help those facing hunger and homelessness in our community.
Come for an afternoon of making healthy snack bags, laundry kits, a Tu B’shevat-related activity, and learning during story time. Everything we make will be donated to the LaSalle Backus Education Campus, a school where over 50% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
We request a $20 per family registration fee to help offset the cost of food and supplies. This program is intended for children ages 3+ but everyone is welcome. Please note: we will be using products that contain gluten, raisins, and dairy. No nut products will be used.
The project is taking place at LaSalle Backus Education Campus, located at 501 Riggs Rd., NE, Washington, DC 20011. The school is a 10-15 minute walk from the Fort Totten Metro Station (green line). There is limited parking at the school but street parking is plentiful.
Pre-registration is required for this program, and we expect it to fill up quickly! Click on the “Tickets” button to continue to registration.
Questions? Contact Sonya Weisburd at sonyaw@edcjcc.org or Darya Watnick at daryaw@edcjcc.org
This program is presented by the EDCJCC’s Community Service, GLOE Youth & Family, and Family Engagement Departments
The Edlavitch DCJCC embraces inclusion in all its programs and activities. We welcome and encourage the participation of all people, regardless of their background, sexual orientation, abilities, or religion, including interfaith couples and families.