Greetings!
Conversations are shifting from “What vaccine did you get, and how did you feel afterwards” to “How was it to hug your grandchildren after more than a year, and have you gone to a restaurant yet?” Change is coming rapidly after what was a long, difficult, scary and sorrowful time for most of us. This last year or so reminds us that we are constantly in transition and we are so much more adaptive than we realize.

JFCS counselor featured in Star Tribune series on talking to
kids about racism
JFCS Counselor Natalie Quiring-Oleson was prominently featured in the Star Tribune’s Variety section on Saturday, May 15, in a series on how parents can talk to their kids about racism. The Star Tribune contacted her for a Q&A following an article she wrote on this topic last year.





Honoring dedicated volunteers and a generous business partner
at 111th Annual Meeting on June 9
Please join us for the JFCS 111th Annual Meeting
Wednesday, June 9
Noon to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom

Elections for the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis Board of Directors will be held. We will welcome those being nominated for a first 3-year term and recognize directors whose terms are ending, We will hear remarks from outgoing Board President Jeff Barin and incoming Board President Josh Hasko, and acknowledge the contributions of dedicated volunteers Jory Herman and Alan Ingber and generous business partner Affiance Financial.

Meet dedicated volunteer Jory Herman
Jory Herman has volunteered in a number of areas at JFCS since the early 2000s, including the Hag Sameach program; Annual Benefit; J-Pride; JFCS’ move to Golden Valley; the QuickFix program for small home repairs for Senior Services clients, and the Jewish Youth Mentoring Program. He spoke with us about these experiences.

Meet dedicated volunteer Alan Ingber
Alan Ingber has volunteered in a number of areas at JFCS since the late 1990s, including the JFCS Annual Benefit, Hag Sameach program, driving clients to the Mental Health Support Services Seders and Chanukah parties, and Garber Transportation Services, where he has been a volunteer driver for 5+ years. He spoke with us about these experiences.

Learn about our generous business partner Affiance Financial
Affiance Financial has supported JFCS since 2006, when it first became a sponsor of the Annual Benefit. Its gift continued to increase over the years, as the company became Silver level sponsors for nine years and is now gold level sponsors. JFCS also started using Affiance for its stock transfers about five years ago.

Andy Fishman, Principal and Financial Planner for Affiance, recently spoke about why the company has long supported JFCS.

The next step for parents: Transitioning into summer
By Leah Persky, PhD & Certified Family Life Educator • Family Life Education Manager

The moments that many of us of been waiting months for are here; summer-like weather and significantly reduced rates of COVID-19 in Minnesota, and in many places across the country. With all of this excitement and what seems like an abrupt change in mask-wearing requirements, things just feel different. Excitement is in the air, and planning and travel now seem possible. Connecting with friends and family, and engaging with the world as we have been longing to do for so long is within reach for many people. It just feels amazing and wonderful, and well, a bit uncertain and not really normal.

Mental Health Awareness Month: JFCS sees greater acceptance and increased need for mental health supports
By Ali DeCamillis, MS, ATR, LPCC • Counseling Manager and Laine Bermansohn, MA, LPCC • Mental Health and Senior Services Manager

To start a blog about Mental Health Awareness Month by saying “Mental health impacts us all” (or something equally cliché) seems like the understatement of the year. Not too long ago, there absolutely was an acute need to shine a spotlight on a subject that was too taboo to bring up in polite conversation; or too sensitive to discuss with friends for fear of exposure; or heaven forbid, to an employer due to worry about implications for the future.

This year is different.

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Stuart Samsky
Stuart Samsky got involved with JFCS because of his lifelong friend, Andy Stillman. With the help of JFCS Food Security Program Coordinator Clare Gravon, he delivered almost 1,800 cases of food to food shelves in the community this past winter and spring.


Pictured: Stuart Samsky (left), with his friend, Andy Stillman, who recruited him to volunteer for JFCS’ newest food security project.
Stay informed about volunteering at JFCS through our quarterly volunteer e-newsletter. Click here to view the most recent edition. Let Dana Shapiro know if you would like to be added to the list to receive updates on volunteer involvement at JFCS.

For more information about volunteering at JFCS click here, or contact Dana Shapiro, Community and Volunteer Engagement Coordinator & Intake Counselor, at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org or 952-417-2112.
Kadima: Building Our Future
Kadima: Building Our Future is a major community-wide philanthropic and planning campaign. Coordinated by Minneapolis Jewish Federation, Kadima rests on two pillars: Providing planning and funds for COVID-19 recovery and enhancing community security.

With its recent second award, the Kadima Distributions Committee has awarded a total of $71,000 to JFCS. We are grateful for this funding that will cover costs associated with COVID-19 in these areas: Mental Health Education Conference, Hag Sameach, HVAC upgrades, PPE, and Virtual Communications investments