Posted on December 28, 2020

Written by: Rebecca Tokofsky

A Moment Unlike Any Other

This fall, the Karsh Center team was excited to once again be a nonprofit service partner of Serve the Moment, a Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and Repair the World program mobilizing young adults nationwide and teaming them up with nonprofit organizations working to drive social justice and alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 across the country. From September – December, Serve the Moment Corps Member Rebecca Tokofsky joined the Karsh Center team, supporting our staff, volunteers and community during a critical time of the year for our programs and community. Read on to learn more about Rebecca’s experience as a Serve the Moment Corps Member.

I recently graduated from UCLA in June 2020 with a double major in geography and dance. My studies and personal interests have translated to a desire to pursue a career in public affairs in which I might address larger issues of access and equity in urban environments. Joining the Serve the Moment Los Angeles Cohort in September, I found the fellowship program, created to mobilize young Jewish adults across the country in meaningful service to address the Covid-19 moment, to be an incredible opportunity to support the greater needs of my Los Angeles community. My placement at the Karsh Center allowed me to participate in extremely timely and urgent issues of Fall 2020, including voter registration and 2020 Census outreach, as well as of broader issues pertaining to the Covid-19 moment.

Throughout my ten weeks as a Serve the Moment Corps member at the Karsh Center I was able to serve in a variety of roles to assist in the distribution of essential services and resources to the Karsh client community. With the guidance and support of the Karsh Center team, I regularly assisted in the distribution of food and other essential supplies through the Sunday food pantry program as well as the Karsh Center’s two week long Big Give event. My hybrid virtual and in-person service provided me with the meaningful opportunity to support the essential needs of Karsh clients and the greater Los Angeles community in a time of isolation and uncertainty. I found working at the Sunday food pantry to be a particularly significant part of my service, as supporting food security, which is always such an essential and urgent service, has become even more critical in the time of Covid19.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the Karsh Center staff and broader community, as well as the other Serve the Moment Los Angeles Corps members, to engage with and support essential social services in Los Angeles.