Count Me In: Social Justice Initiative at the PJCC

Count Me In

Join like-minded people to do good in the world, make friends, and build community.
Count Me In engages participants to help repair the world (tikkun olam) and make a positive impact in our local community, regionally, and in the world.

We offer our volunteers the opportunity to build lasting relationships with each other, other agencies, and the community around them. We offer opportunities for people of all ages—children and adults. We believe that all people can help those in need and be a part of something larger than themselves.

Each person makes a difference. Together we are responsible for making our community a place where we uphold dignity for all and seek to improve the world through our actions. Join us!

“How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution toward introducing justice straightaway… And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!”—Anne Frank

Five Ways You Can Make a Difference in Our Community Now

1. Donate Blood with Vitalant
We are facing an urgent shortage of blood; donors are needed. Make a life-saving appointment at Vitalant’s website. (Note: Although Vitalant is taking safety precautions, Vitalant does not test for COVID-19, so please do not give if you are sick.)

2. Volunteer with Samaritan House
Samaritan House in San Mateo needs help with food preparation and transportation. For more information, visit the Samaritan House website.

3. Serve with Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest needs help with sorting and distribution. Visit their website for ways you can help.

4. Support Jewish Family and Children’s Services
JFCS needs to stock their food pantries for clients and community members who are looking for groceries. Here’s how you can donate:

The San Mateo office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm and groceries can be dropped at the front desk. Their address is 2001 Winward Way #200, San Mateo, 94404.
JFCS is happy to send a volunteer to pick up groceries from your home.
Safeway gift cards can be purchased on Amazon and e-mailed to Miriamm@JFCS.org.
If you would like to be Food Runners or deliver groceries from their office to clients, sign up to volunteer on our online application: https://www.jfcs.org/volunteer-application.

For more information on Jewish Family & Children’s Services, go to https://www.jfcs.org

5. Help Secure Meals & Masks for COVID-19 Medical Workers (Bay Area)
This Facebook Group connects frontline medical workers with communities that want to encourage and support them with meals and masks during the COVID-19 Crisis. Learn more.

County of San Mateo: COVID-19 Pandemic Volunteer Opportunities
To volunteer for coordinated volunteer activities such as senior check-in calls and food distribution or delivery, please fill out the San Mateo County COVID-19 Pandemic volunteer signup form. These volunteer assignments will be organized by the City of Redwood City, County of San Mateo, or partner nonprofit agencies.

Volunteer to Help Animals at this Unique Time

Rescue the Underdog
Are you dog lover? Maybe now is the time to foster a dog. Rescue the Underdog is a small San Francisco based, volunteer-run organization that saves dogs from being euthanized in high kill shelters. Please know the purpose to foster a dog is to care for and help a dog learn many things they might not know yet. Learn more and complete the online Adoption Application.

Nine Lives Foundation
If you are able to provide temporary accommodation (a few weeks or months) for a cats or kittens, now is a great time! In particular, the shelter has a number of adult cats and “teenagers” that would benefit from more social interaction. Fostering also reduces the workload on shelter staff and volunteers during a time when we may face staffing shortages due to coronavirus. If you are interested in fostering, please see the information in the Fostering section on the Nine Lives website, and fill out the application form. For short-term fostering, please email fosterninelives@gmail.com. They have a list of high-priority cats that they would like to get into long-term foster homes immediately, whom you can meet by appointment on Thursdays and Fridays noon-5:30 pm at their Adoption Center. Please call 650-368-1365 to schedule an appointment. Learn more about Nine Lives Foundation.

Make Friendly Calls to Older Adults

Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly—San Francisco Bay Area is currently in need of volunteers to help them in making friendly phone calls to over 400 of their older adults. Learn more.

Virtual Volunteer Opportunities

Have a little time on your hands? Check out Catch a Fire, an online portal for virtual volunteer opportunities! Whether you have an afternoon or several, you can help a not-for-profit organization with tasks like writing thank you letters or editing photos. Learn more.

If you’re looking to take your online volunteering worldwide, this is the place to start. UN Volunteers connects you with organizations working for peace and development in need of skills like research, writing, art, and design. There are already over 12,000 volunteers from 187 countries lending their talents to organizations around the globe. Learn more.

Take Part in Census 2020

Everyone counts! You can learn more about Census 2020 & get counted today at https://cmo.smcgov.org/census-2020-san-mateo-county

At-Home Activity for Families

Have your child make a picture or write a note to your healthcare professional thanking them. Email them the sentiment.

Ways to Show Up for Your Community in These Tough Times

As shared by Former First Lady Michelle Obama

Contact your local school district and sign up to volunteer with their food distribution program. Know a teacher or two? Reach out and ask how you can help.
Call the parents you know who are figuring out this new normal – offer to give their kids a lesson or read or story.
Offer to pick up groceries for your most at-risk and older neighbors by leaving a note on their door. Search online and get involved with neighborhood groups that may already be assisting (like Nextdoor).
Call your local hospital or fire station and ask if you can order takeout for staff from a local restaurant or donate to a restaurant that are already offering free meals to first responders and families in need.
If you’re able, buy gift certificates from your favorite local businesses and save them for later, or give them as gifts right now to your grocery store cashier, mail carrier, or anyone else providing vital services in your community.
If you’re able, send payments to your hairstylist, barber, housecleaner, and nail technician as if you were keeping your appointments.
Order takeout or delivery on the night you used to eat out and tip big to your delivery person.

Challah for Hunger: Parents’ Night Out!

Thursday, May 21 · 7:00-9:00 pm · ECE Kitchen · $10
Join us and learn about Challah for Hunger as we bake for a difference while having a fun night out! Challah for Hunger (CfH) is a national organization dedicated to taking social action against food insecurity. All proceeds from our challah program will support Challah for Hunger Campus project and the CSM food pantry. Each person will receive challah to take home.