iVolunteer and Louis Vuitton Distribute Chanukah Gift to Darchei Menachem

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — For the first time since the inception of gift giving to children’s schools during holiday time, Jewish children received gifts in honor of Chanuka this year. Because of a devoted volunteer at iVolunteer who is also an employee at Louis Vuitton, Darchei Menachem of Crown Heights benefited from a most unusual gift giving program. The children wrote a wish list of what they wanted and they wishes were happily fulfilled last week when a shipment of beautifully wrapped presents arrived at the school door.


The program’s name, iVolunteer, illustrates the goal of this unique friendly visiting program, which brings caring neighborhood volunteers into the apartments of frail Holocaust Survivors. During their visits, volunteers may read to survivors, escort them to doctors’ appointments, and assist with shopping and light household tasks. These weekly visits help to enrich the lives of survivors and volunteers alike, and guarantee that the experience of the Holocaust will not be forgotten.

iVolunteer creates a sense of community by providing both our survivors and volunteers with social events and special programs. These programs include monthly Friday night dinners for our volunteers and luncheons for our survivors. iVolunteer is not only a social network for the survivors, but for the volunteers as well.

iVolunteer volunteers come from all walks of life. Many of them are professionals who want to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors. Others are local high school and college students, who are excited by the chance to reach across the generations and establish a unique friendship with a lonely senior. All iVolunteer volunteers are screened and trained prior to beginning their home visits. In particular, the volunteers are trained to identify the Holocaust Survivor’s other social service needs, so that iVolunter can bring in an outreach caseworker to help the senior access additional benefits and services when necessary. Volunteers communicate regularly with the iVolunteer Directors, Tzvi and Elisheva Tauby, who work tirelessly to ensure that every senior, and every volunteer, is satisfied with and gaining from the relationship. Mrs. Tauby also makes an initial assessment visit to each senior’s home in order to assess the senior=s needs and concerns. “When I visit with a survivor, I feel so privileged to be able to get to know such unbelievable people and assist them in any way I can. Mrs. Tauby explains. When I speak with volunteers they also say that they got a lot more than they gave.”

Indeed, the excitement that seniors feel when visitors are present impacts on the visitor in a very profound way. iVolunteer’s enthusiastic volunteers look forward to their visits almost as much as the seniors do. Sarah, a iVolunteer volunteer, describes her feelings in detail, It is so inspiring to spend time with Holocaust Survivors. They have a wealth of wisdom and knowledge to share and have such a unique view of life’s challenges. I met a lot of wonderful people through volunteering with iVolunteer.”

If you know of a Holocaust Survivor who would like to be a part of this program, or if you would like to volunteer for iVolunteer, please contact Tzvi or Elisheva Tauby at (646) 461.7748, ivolunteerny@gmail.com. If you are interested in learning about dedication opportunities or if you would like to partner with us in our new initiative, please let us know.