Work Creation participants volunteer at the Hirsh Cafe meal site at Jona Goldrich Multipurpose Center.

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Work Creation is a community-based program that offers vocational training, hands-on work experience, and social skills-building opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities. Similarly, JFSLA’s Special Needs Life Skills Program supports adults with special needs and disabilities by helping them build confidence, learn job skills, and prepare for future employment. Together, these programs place participants as volunteers at JFSLA’s senior meal sites across Los Angeles, offering them a meaningful hands-on work experience while strengthening JFSLA’s ability to serve older adults. At these sites, participants perform essential tasks like serving food, pouring water, sanitizing tables, setting up before meals, and assisting with cleanup. 

“Without their assistance, it would be challenging to meet the daily need of serving lunch to thousands of seniors across Los Angeles,” said Stratton Harrison, JFSLA’s Meal Supervisor for the Senior Nutrition Program. “They’ve become familiar faces, and the seniors really appreciate them. Their presence helps make the space feel more friendly and welcoming for everyone.”

Currently, 30 Work Creation participants volunteer at five of JFSLA’s senior meal sites. Each location typically welcomes a small team made up of a job coach and two to three participants. These coaches offer support, structure, and consistency for volunteers, helping them feel safe and confident in their roles.

“In the past, Work Creation worked with sites that expected our participants to perform like typical employees, without understanding their limitations or taking time to train them,” said David Behzadi, Head of Business Development at Work Creation. “What I appreciate about JFSLA is the patience and understanding of the population we serve—many of whom are also part of your community. When two organizations work together with that kind of harmony, it creates real impact. That’s why we value this partnership and hope to continue growing it.”

JFSLA’s Special Needs Life Skills volunteers not only support the senior dining sites but also assist at the SOVA Community Food and Resource Program, helping individuals and families at the food pantries.

“JFSLA offers a comfortable and safe place for participants to start and begin developing real-world job experience,” said Gerry Dicker, JFSLA’s Special Needs Life Skills Program Coordinator. “Through volunteering, they learn how to work with peers, interact with new people, and serve clients. Many of our volunteers love the fact that they are giving back to the community. It makes them feel good about themselves.”

At its core, these partnerships build purpose, inclusion, and community for people of all ages and abilities. Volunteers feel valued, build relationships, and gain a sense of purpose while also preparing for future jobs. 

“We’re losing patience, compassion, and understanding as a society,” said David Behzadi. “My hope with partnerships like this is that they bring back humane, one-on-one interaction. It’s not just about engaging with someone with a developmental disability—it’s about connecting with people who are different from us, whether that’s race, religion, or background. It’s about realizing we’re all human. I’ve met participants who are ten times more capable or intelligent than me; they just process things differently. That doesn’t make them any less human.”

For more information about Work Creation, please visit https://workcreationprogram.com/. For more information about JFSLA’s Special Needs Life Skills Program, please visit jfsla.org/specialneedslifeskills.