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Message from Basha - JFS CEO
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Did you make a New Year's resolution? I did, for JFS Delaware. I resolved to share JFS success stories, to show JFS' gratitude to each of you more often, and to discuss regularly the challenges and opportunities we have as a society, a country, and a community. Please give me feedback on how JFS is meeting those commitments.
This month, JFS welcomed three new refugees, and JFS RISE is preparing for more arrivals in 2018. JFS is proud of its vital programs, and despite the challenging and ever-changing policies surrounding travel, JFS stands firm in our commitment as a Jewish organization to welcome the stranger. Thank you for helping us build a warm, welcoming and growing network of support for our new neighbors. There is much more to do, so please get involved.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the end-of-year Friends Campaign. Your donations help ensure JFS is able to strengthen individuals, families and the community. Be on the look out next month for a new section in our E-Newsletter, Impact Stories, where you will learn how your donation is making an immediate impact on one person, one family at a time.
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Updates
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2018 JFS Mensch Award Winner
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"Receiving the 2018 JFS Mensch award was a surprise, but it feels very special to be honored and recognized for my work." - Maggie Sharpe
JFS is proud to recognize the 2018
JFS Mensch Award winner, Maggie Sharpe. Maggie joined JFS Delaware in April 2013 as a Resident Services Coordinator at Wilmington's B'nai B'rith House. Maggie is responsible for organizing onsite activities and community activities for the residents, which include both seniors and adults with disabilities.
With a Behavioral Health/Human Services degree from the Community College of Philadelphia, a Bachelors in Human Services from Chestnut Hill College, and a Masters in Social Work from Widener
University, Maggie has a wealth of educational training and experience to assist residents with benefits, referrals, community resources, home care options and more.
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JFS Delaware has welcomed three new refugees to our state in February! JFS sincerely thanks the many volunteers who have spent countless hours over the past two weeks helping JFS find housing, furnish the homes, provide meals, and so much more. Because the needs of our refugee families are comprehensive, JFS will be offering Volunteer Training every month (see dates). Please consider joining the effort in helping our refugee families transition in the most kind and compassionate way possible. For more information, contact JFS RISE Program Coordinator, Lourena Gboeah.
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Youth Development Winter Workshop
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JFS Delaware launched a two-week Media Matters Winter Workshop during the school break this December. Media Matters is a Youth Development program that gives students with behavioral and/or intellectual disabilities the opportunity to learn new skills and have new experiences. Students are able to learn photography and videography, and meet various members of the community. For example, Alanna Farber and Meghan Crist from the Wilmington Public Defender's office (pictured), spoke to the students about the proper protocol for interacting with law enforcement. A highlight for the students was getting to know and forming a unique bond with their classmates in just two weeks! Many of them have exchanged phone numbers and plan to keep in touch. The Youth Development Winter Workshop is another important way JFS is serving youth in our community.
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Board Member Sam Lukoff Reflects on Christmas at Emmanuel Dining Room
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Continuing the tradition, JFS volunteers served a record 294 Christmas dinners this year
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As a new Board Member of JFS Delaware, I was excited to volunteer at Emmanuel Dining Room (EDR) on Christmas Day and be a part of this long-standing tradition! I joined Jerry Heisler, Ruth Balick and many others (pictured) to help to prepare food for the lunchtime meal. It was amazing to see how well everyone worked together and how efficiently we were able to prepare such a massive amount of food. We arrived early Christmas morning, and by noon everything was in perfect order; the food was ready, the volunteers all had assigned stations, and there was a line of hungry people that wrapped around the outside of the building. For the next hour, we served the food, cleaned up when one guest left, seated the next person, joined in the singing of Christmas carols, and barely had a moment to sit down.
It was an absolutely lovely experience, seeing the efforts of every volunteer, and knowing that JFS volunteers were providing a warm holiday meal to members of the community who would not otherwise receive one. I look forward to volunteering again next year, and having my young daughters join me in the future!
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JFS Answers Community Members' Questions
JFS is publishing a new advice column that appears in each issue of the Jewish VOICE monthly newspaper.
Submit your questions
, and
receive answers and advice from one of our licensed therapists. Names and details will be altered in published letters to protect your privacy. All letters will be answered and can be viewed on our website.
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Upcoming Events
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