Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services recently launched their “Shop and Share” Program. The Program matches volunteer “shoppers” with senior “clients” who are unable to shop for themselves. The volunteer “shopper” purchases items the “client” requests and delivers the items to the clients doorstep. Once the pandemic is over and it is safe to do so, the “shopper” will help unpack groceries and “share” time with their senior providing much needed socialization.

The COVID-19 health pandemic has been the impetus for a myriad of burgeoning mental and emotional health needs, as people experience unprecedented challenges during an unprecedented time. In response, Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service has brought many support groups online, to be there for community members and help them cope. One of many areas experiencing a heightened need for support are Domestic Abuse Services, and the agency is answering the call with the new, no-cost “Women in High Conflict Relationships” weekly support group, starting on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Facilitated by Alpert JFS Director of Domestic Abuse Sara Walsh, LCSW, (pictured left) participants will learn about abuse, power/control, how to identify red flags and unhealthy relationships, and the characteristics of an abuser, as well as how to set boundaries, increase self-esteem, and practice self-care.

For the large number of program participants with disabilities who lost jobs as a result of COVID-19, staff in the JEVS hireAbility and JEVS Independence Network programs provided an array of supportive services to help individuals cope and reassess their options. Learn more here.

Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County is one of 20 semifinalists for the Opportunity Challenge grant: $1 Million to Uplift Immigrant Communities. The Opportunity Challenge grant launched in March in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. As two funders committed to unlocking potential for all immigrants and refugees, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund and the Tarsadia Foundation seek solutions to support the success of immigrants and refugees in low-wage jobs—and their communities—across the U.S. JFS applied for the Opportunity Challenge to support and expand its Micro Enterprise Development (MED) program, which empowers refugees and other immigrant groups to create economic opportunities for themselves by starting or expanding a small business. The program provides training and technical assistance, micro-lending, credit building, consulting services, and marketing support. 

Jewish Family Service of St. Paul hosted “This Loss is Different: Facing the High Holy Days and the Loss of a Loved One in the Time of COVID” on Wednesday, September 2nd, via Zoom. For those who lost a loved one during this pandemic, the usual rituals have not been available to lend comfort. The event for an opportunity to come together virtually to consider the meaning of loss and its impact upon us as preparations are made to celebrate the Jewish High Holy Days. Participants had the opportunity to specifically recognize the memory of their loved one.

Jewish Vocational Service of Boston and Hillel Council of New England announced a new partnership designed to offer critical employment resources to college students and recent college graduates during these unprecedented times. Timed with the beginning of the academic year, the two organizations are coming together to launch a webinar series and a mentorship program. The co-hosted webinars will focus on job readiness, especially in the Age of Covid, covering core skills like job searching during the pandemic, virtual Interviewing, advanced strategies for online networking, etc. The mentorship program, FutureUp: Mentoring for Emerging Professionals, will pair juniors, seniors and recent college graduates with Jewish community leaders working in fields that match their personal interests.