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When mid-December comes around each year, I begin to crave daylight. Like everyone else, I notice how dark it is in the morning when it’s time to wake up and how quickly the daylight fades by mid-afternoon. The increasingly darkening days are necessary in order for us to appreciate the soon-to-come elongation of daylight and increasing sunshine. What an apt description and metaphor for the work Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis provides day in and day out!
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A heartfelt thank you to all who came to "Laugh on Their Behalf" at the JFCS 29th Annual Benefit
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Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, donors, guests, co-chairs Lauren Weiser and Fran Bayer, emcees Stephanie Hansen and Stephanie March and comedian Ryan Hamilton for making this year's Benefit another huge success!
The Benefit's Fund-a-Need raised money for JFCS' food security and basic needs programs, which provide nutritious food, clothing, safe and affordable housing, reliable transportation and financial stability. (
Click here for more information on these programs)
With your support, JFCS will continue to serve thousands in our community each year with excellence and boundless compassion. Because of you, JFCS is here for all.
Always!
Dessert Reception Underwriters - Cindi and Harold Goldfine
Reception Sponsor - Top Ten Liquors/Jon and Jill Halper
NextGen PreParty Sponsor - Randi and Barry Wolfish
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Renovation of JFCS' “Next Century” home is progressing and we look forward to our move
in early 2018!
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JFCS – along with Minnesota-based Pope Architects and the building’s founding sponsor, the Stillman Family Foundation – is renovating an existing office and warehouse building in Golden Valley to create a welcoming home for 120 employees, and thousands of clients in its 30-plus programs and services. The newly-renovated building will provide JFCS with a permanent home for the first time in its 108-year-history.
Joining us in the space is non-profit partner, PRISM, which serves more than 6,000 people each year through its food shelf, housing programs, children’s programs, and thrift shop.
Mark your calendars now for our ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, May 8!
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Another successful year for Hag Sameach!
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JFCS' Hag Sameach (Happy Holidays) Program, now in its 25th year, ensured joyous holiday celebrations for families and individuals in need by providing them with gifts and ritual items. The program served almost 300 families this year, including 75 clients from JFCS' Caring Connections program. In total more than 650 people received gifts during this holiday season.
Helping us in this effort were almost 200 Hag Sameach volunteers, as well as 7th-grade volunteers from Bet Shalom Congregation and Temple Israel and students from Temple Israel's JEWL program, who decorated mitzvah bags for gift recipients.
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Thank you to our PJ Cares families and NextGen folks for shopping for Hag Sameach gifts!
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At two separate shopping events, these groups purchased games, household items, cold-weather gear, and much more to be given through the Hag Sameach program.
Thank you to all our volunteers – we couldn't do it without you!
Hag Sameach Sponsor: Clara Ruth Kaner Children’s Fund, a designated fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation
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Multi-faith initiative launched to support people touched by mental illness
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By Emily Saltzman • JFCS Community Services Director
There have been conversations across the Twin Cities for many years on how faith communities can foster support and guidance for individuals and families touched by mental illness. Some faith communities have developed standalone mental health services, while others have developed caregiving services, offered educational programs on mental illness or drafted prayers of healing.
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Join us for the annual JDAIM event!
The artists of Interact: Transforming lives by expanding ideas
of what is possible
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As part of Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), local arts organization Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts will host an interactive exhibition that will shine the light on abilities and expand ideas of what is possible. The exhibition will be held
2-4 p.m. Sunday,
Jan. 28, at Beth El Synagogue.
Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month is a unified effort among Jewish organizations worldwide to use common programs to raise awareness and foster inclusion of people with disabilities, their families and those who love them.
Inclusion Founding Sponsor – Lynne and Andrew Redleaf Foundation
Inclusion Sponsor – Toodie & Frank Trestman Special Needs and Collaborative Education Endowment Fund, a designated fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation
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Give2017: Put JFCS on your end-of-year gift list
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By Dana Rubin • Development Director
During this time of year, all around us is the hustle and bustle of activity. Traffic seems heavier, stores are crowded, to-do lists are pages long and so many things revolve around giving gifts. It takes a lot of effort to pick out just the right gift for your family, friends and loved ones – but have you ever thought about a gift to yourself?
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Another huge thank you to our NextGen participants!
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Last month, JFCS NextGen volunteers donated funds allocated by the NextGen Giving Circle to PRISM to help it provide Thanksgiving turkeys for the families served through its food shelf. With this donation, PRISM was able to purchase 40 Fare For All Holiday boxes – about 1,000 lbs. of food!
NextGen Sponsor – Cindy and Perry Witkin
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Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis | www.jfcsmpls.org
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