Shana Glassman’s Commitment to Supporting Her Community

Each week, Jewish Family Service LA (JFSLA) volunteer Shana Glassman supports survivors of domestic violence through the JFS Hope crisis line. As an initial point of contact, she listens to callers, provides information, and connects them with resources or JFSLA social workers for further assistance.

A fourth-generation Angeleno and former elementary school teacher, Shana has dedicated much of her life to community service. After leaving teaching to raise her three children, she began volunteering regularly at their schools, her synagogue, and with various nonprofit organizations.

Shana’s interest in volunteering with Jewish nonprofit organizations began years earlier when she and her husband lived in Philadelphia while he attended graduate school. During that time, she volunteered with a local Jewish Family Service organization, visiting older adults in their homes and spending time talking with them.

Shana enjoyed the experience and appreciated the organization’s commitment to serving the community. When she returned to Los Angeles, she wanted to continue volunteering with an organization that shared those same values, which led her to JFSLA.

She first became involved with JFSLA’s SOVA Community Food & Resource Program. Wanting to make a deeper commitment, she connected with JFSLA’s Volunteer Director, Joyce Williams, who introduced her to JFS Hope, where she has now been volunteering for nearly five years.

“I’m passionate about making my community a better and safer place. I wanted to better understand the challenges women experiencing domestic violence face and the resources available to support them. Volunteering with JFS Hope has given me the opportunity to do just that, and it has been a very meaningful experience.” Shana said.

---

Shana spends about two hours each week answering calls from individuals seeking assistance. Before starting, she completed JFS Hope’s 40-hour domestic violence training, which prepared her to respond effectively and understand the challenges survivors face.

Through this experience, Shana has gained a deeper understanding of domestic violence, the challenges survivors face, and how JFS Hope helps. She recognizes that each situation is unique and that support often begins with listening and understanding.

“What’s memorable is when someone calls and they’re deeply upset, and you can be that voice on the other line of the phone that can hear them, hear their story, talk to them, and reassure them that there’s hope,” she shared.

Shana credits the JFS Hope staff for their dedication to supporting survivors.

“Every single person who works at the shelter is fantastic. They are smart, caring, and dedicated. The staff is truly phenomenal,” she said.

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Shana encourages others to show compassion and avoid making assumptions about what someone may be experiencing.

“Everybody has something going on in their lives that we may not know about,” she said. “It’s easy to judge a mother who may be yelling at her child without knowing what she experienced that morning. Maybe she experienced abuse at home and is scared. We just don’t know. That’s why it’s important to take a step back and remember that people may be facing struggles we know nothing about.”

“It just feels important to me to do everything that I can to make the
world a better place for my community and my family.”
—Shana Glassman

Shana’s commitment to community service extends beyond JFS Hope. She serves on the boards of Northeastern Hillel and USC Hillel, which help Jewish college students connect with their culture, faith, and community.

She is also involved with the Israel ParaSport Center, which provides sports, recreational, and rehabilitation programs for individuals with physical disabilities.

Shana also co-founded the Golda Project, a nonprofit that organizes community projects and educational events. Recently, it partnered with Holocaust Museum LA to host an event exploring the history of pogroms and the displacement of Jewish communities. The event raised funds for JFSLA’s Café Europa Passover Seder for survivors of the Holocaust.

Although Shana is involved with several organizations, she values her dedicated role at JFS Hope, where she can focus on supporting callers and assisting shelter staff. She encourages others to volunteer, both to make a difference and to learn from others’ experiences.

“You can make a difference. You’re supporting people that do this work all the time,” she said.

Shana’s commitment to volunteering is also motivated by her hopes for her children and future generations. As a mother of three young adults, she aims to help create a better future for her family and community.

Interested in making a difference? Learn more about volunteer opportunities at jfsla.org/volunteer.