Friend 2 Friend
Full Circle: From JBBBS Breakfasts to a Perfect Match
Hayley Samen My father served as president of JBBBS for a time, so I was lucky to be connected to the program from a young age. I grew up learning from members of the community and admiring the spirit of tikkun olam JBBBS inspired volunteers giving their time, energy, and hearts to help others. Growing up, I…
Read MoreWearing Two Hats: JBBBS Volunteer and Staff Member
Zachary Malenfant On my first day working at Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters, I quickly realized that this was going to be different from any company I had worked for before. Right away, I could feel the pride from my new coworkers regarding the impact we were having in the community. The world of non-profit…
Read MoreFrom Agganis to Fenway: A Friendship to Cheer For
By Jillian Martin In May of 2016, I finished my Master of Social Work and started working full time. Hours once spent on writing papers and presenting on cases were now free. My friend, Sara, had invited me to a Young Professionals event hosted by Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters at Lucky Strike Fenway, and…
Read MoreMy increasing commitment to JBBBS over the years
Elisa and I have been matched for more than 5 years. My children had graduated from high school and were on their way. Volunteering a few hours each month was both attainable and a way of adding something special to my life. I was open to learning about different programs and settled into JBBBS’ Friend 2 Friend program
Read More“What’s in a Name”: How My Favorite Name Came Full Circle
What’s in a Name?” – it’s a famous line uttered by Juliet in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ stating that a name is just a name and its meaning is utterly irrelevant when it comes to the person who holds it. But my experience has been different. There has always been something to the name “Zach” for me.
Read MoreA JBBBS Friendship – Ice cream, injuries and everything in between
I was a ball of nerves walking up to Starbucks to meet my Friend 2 Friend match. I am usually pretty good at meeting new people and making new friends, but this was different. I joined JBBBS because I wanted to make a difference so I really wanted my match to like me. Little did I know, becoming friends with Emily would be so easy.
Read MoreMy Inspiring Friend 2 Friend Match
In February 2020, I was working full-time in a High-Tech company, with two young kids, a husband who works 24×7, and a home to manage. I thought it would be hard to find the time to volunteer. Then, I found that JBBBS offers a plethora of volunteering opportunities that are very flexible and manageable – yet meaningful – even for a busy working mom! F2F and my connection with Faith made me realize that people can still rise above great challenges and be there for someone else and brighten their lives, even if just a bit.
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