Montefiore recognises volunteers

VOLUNTEERS were recognised for their hard work at the Montefiore Home last week as part of National Volunteer Week.

More than 120 of the Montefiore’s 530 volunteers went to a laughing yoga workshop with Jackie Curran, who said that laughing has many health benefits.

Studies have revealed that laughing is an effective tool in reducing stress, increasing work productivity and promoting general wellbeing.

Montefiore volunteers also had the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Sydney Jewish Museum, because one in three of Montefiore’s residents are Holocaust survivors.

During the last financial year more than 30,000 hours were contributed by Montefiore volunteers.

Montefiore volunteers manager Hazel Stein said she is extremely passionate about being able to see people from the community volunteer.

“We have about 58 different activities and we look at what each person’s skill set is, and what they enjoy doing, and then we slot them into various activities so they have the most incredible gratification from their experience,” Stein said.

She cited such an example from several years ago.

“A couple of years ago, a lady came and she wanted to start a knitting group.

“We didn’t have one, so she brought her passion and we saw it as an opportunity; and now have a knitting group every Thursday.”

National Volunteer Week is the largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia, and it provides an opportunity for the community and organisations to thank volunteers.

Thirty-eight per cent of Australia’s population, which equates to more than 6.4 million people, volunteer in Australia and it is estimated that they provide more than $15 billion of unpaid labour.

The Jewish community, as much as any other, relies on volunteers to help organisations such as the JCA, Maccabi, JNF, UIA – and many others – thrive.

JOSHUA LEVI

Montefiore volunteers Estelle Stern (left) and Betty Symonds were excited to celebrate National Volunteer Week last week.