When Janet O. Penn moved to the Lehigh Valley from New Jersey, she was looking for a way to give back to her new community. In August 2025, she found that opportunity at Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley.
For Janet, volunteering at the JFS Community Food Pantry is especially meaningful because she understands firsthand how difficult it can be to ask for help.
There was a time in Janet’s own life when she needed the support of a food pantry. She remembers the feelings of shame that came with asking for assistance and how difficult the experience could be. Today, that experience shapes the way she approaches every client who walks through the pantry doors.
Janet wants others to know there is no shame in needing help and that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
As a food pantry volunteer, Janet helps clients during their shopping appointments, an experience she considers one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering. She has also volunteered with Mazel Meals, helping deliver meals to members of the community.
For Janet, the relationship between pantry volunteers and clients is particularly important. She believes volunteers have an opportunity to make what can be a stressful and vulnerable experience feel more comfortable and welcoming.
“We must remember that asking for help is extremely difficult,” Janet said. “A warm smile goes a very long way.”
With every shift, Janet tries to bring that warmth into what could otherwise be a distressing part of someone’s day. Her own experiences allow her to connect with clients from a place of understanding and remind them that asking for help is okay.
But it is not only the clients who keep Janet coming back. The relationships she has formed with fellow volunteers have become an important part of her life in the Lehigh Valley. In fact, she has met some of her closest friends through volunteering at JFS.
When asked what makes JFS such a special place to volunteer, Janet’s answer was simple: “It just feels right.”
She looks forward to coming in for each volunteer shift and is often sad when it is time to leave.
What began as a desire to give back after moving to a new community has become much more. Through volunteering, Janet has found friendship, purpose and an opportunity to use her own experiences to make someone else’s difficult day a little easier.
Sometimes, all it takes is a welcoming face, a little understanding and a warm smile to remind someone that they are not alone.
Are you interested in volunteering at JFS? Please reach out to Jennifer Oxfeld at volunteer@jfslv.org.