Posted by JF&CS

A volunteer serving food to children in a school cafeteria.

Last school year, participants in CHAI Works-Waltham, our community-based day program for adults with disabilities, started volunteering at MetroWest Jewish Day School (MWJDS) in Framingham.

The exciting partnership between JF&CS and MWJDS began through word of mouth. The staff at Maimonides School, another CHAI Works volunteer site, spoke highly of the support provided by the CHAI Works participants and staff and shared their experience with their friends at MWJDS, who then invited us to help them with their volunteer needs as well.

At MWJDS, CHAI Works participants prepare lunch for early elementary age students and then serve the meal to them. Throughout this process, CHAI Works participants practice skills related to kitchen safety, food prep, hygiene, customer service, and professionalism.

The MWJDS students are always excited to see our participants and give them lots of high fives. The parent volunteers at the school have mentioned on several occasions that the support from CHAI Works volunteers has made the hot lunch process go much more smoothly and has even prompted them to consider serving hot lunch more often. We're so pleased to share our skills with these students, and we can't wait to return to MWJDS this fall!

JF&CS Day Programming and Employment Services create meaningful and fulfilling opportunities for individuals with disabilities to lead productive and integrated lives in their communities and increase their feelings of self-worth and confidence. For more information, visit us online or call 781-647-5327.