Lori Slutsky, volunteer extraordinaire

The Jewish Pavilion will be honoring Lori Slutsky at their annual luncheon on Dec. 1 at the Hilton Altamonte Sprigs at 11 a.m. The $35 luncheon includes a holiday shopping bazaar. To register visit https://jpav.ticketspice.com/jp-connections-lunch-2022.

The luncheon is being co-chaired by Marlene Adler and Susan Livingstone who serve on the Friends of the Jewish Pavilion Board with Slutsky, who is really looking forward to the festivities and is a little overwhelmed and very humbled. Her parents are coming from Summerfield Florida, and several of her good friends are going to join her for the celebration. 

Slutsky conducts Shabbat services once a month for the residents at The Mayflower, She also frequently fills in when needed to conduct services at other facilities. Slutsky is on the Friends Board, which allows her to work on various fundraisers held on behalf of the Jewish Pavilion. She also helps to assemble and deliver 'goody' bags for the residents in the Lake Mary/Sanford area on Jewish holidays. 

Lori Slutsky sees the joy it brings to so many of the residents and it makes her feel so good inside that she is able to bring this to them. She remembers her grandmother and how much her Judaism meant to her and this makes Slutsky smile. She feels like her Jewish Pavilion volunteer work is the 'missing piece' from her life that she didn't know was missing. Slutsky loves that we are able to bring Judaism to so many residents who may have no other way to experience Shabbat or any of the holidays. She especially loves sharing stories with her elders and truly knowing how important it is that she come to see them.

Slutsky comments: "One of the seniors, Phyllis Schaffer, at The Mayflower, is so sweet. We always have a nice chat about some of her memories, and sometimes her daughter comes to share in the service as well." Slutsky loves the warm feeling we all have when we're together. 

Slutsky grew up in a conservative home and went to shul on Shabbat. She remembers as a small child going to shul with her dad's mom and dad and all her friends wanting to sit with her because her grandfather (an usher on Shabbat) always distributed candy. She went to Hebrew school through high school, and graduated college with a degree in Judaic studies. Slutsky spent a year living in Israel after college and experienced many special things.

Slutsky never 'worked' with seniors, but she took care of her maternal grandmother for almost 15 years, until she passed at the ripe old age of 100. Slutsky spent a lot of time with her grandmother and her grandma's friends in the apartment home where she lived.

When searching for some way to do volunteer work, Slutsky recalled, "I was looking for a volunteer opportunity through my work portal, the Jewish Pavilion listed an 'open' opportunity. I applied, and within 10 minutes I received a phone call from Nancy Ludin, and here I am."