Volunteer Spotlight: The District Church

Volunteering is a bit different now at Jubilee Jobs, especially when it comes to group volunteering. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jubilee Jobs would host two Saturday morning volunteer sessions a month called Day of Service. The Day of Service is a great opportunity for group volunteers from faith- and community-based organizations, alumni groups, and private companies to work one-on-one with Jubilee Jobs applicants through resume building, assisting with online applications, and performing mock interviews.

Since the pandemic began, Jubilee Jobs, like many other organizations, moved our in-person activities to the digital space—Zoom. We now have virtual Days of Service once a month. These days you will find Volunteer and Program Coordinator Vince Van making several calls a day as if he were in an IT lab making sure that applicants and volunteers were prepared for their virtual sessions.

Vince says that “Zoom has allowed us to continue to connect with applicants despite the in-person restrictions and has taken away the burden of risking applicants' and volunteers’ safety.” This past month Jubilee Jobs hosted The District Church for a Day of Service. During the group volunteer session, each volunteer had the opportunity to work one-on-one with an applicant through Zoom’s breakout room ability.

Terry Flood, co-founder of Jubilee Jobs, said during the pre-session coffee talk that “The District Church has been a true blessing to Jubilee Jobs, and we look forward to hosting you each time.” The District Church’s Mark Sawyer, who has volunteered several years with Jubilee Jobs and has assisted over a dozen people with resumes and online applications, says: "In my time leading volunteers, it's become clear to me that Jubilee Jobs and The District Church share a commitment to the thriving of Washington DC and its residents in a very tangible way. The last 18 months shed new light on the huge needs that exist in our city and the importance of Jubilee Jobs' mission, and we are proud to be a partner that leans in during a time of crisis. Through serving at Jubilee Jobs, we've seen clients find employment, spirits uplifted, and volunteers connected to their communities in meaningful ways. I trust it has been a partnership that has positively shaped the lives of everyone involved, and we can't wait to see our partnership evolve in the future!"

We at Jubilee Jobs can’t wait either and we are happy to continue this incredible relationship with one of the leading faith-based organizations in Washington, DC.

If you or your organization are interested in volunteering at Jubilee Jobs, contact Vince Van at vvan@jubileejobs.org or read about how to volunteer here.