A Letter from our CEO and Board Chair |
|
Dear JFS Family,
Summer is here and life is beginning to return to normal for most of us. Rescheduled events and Simchas are finally being planned and backyard barbeques are here once again. We are all healing, in one way or another. As one of our clinicians shared with us, "My clients are expressing hope now. They are feeling like the worst is over and with our help and a lot of goal setting within the next year, they will be on the path back to self-sufficiency."
Many are still struggling in one way or another and need continued support. Our work at JFS didn’t start with the pandemic. We’ve been helping the community for over 70 years now and through many short- and longer-term crises. But how we support our clients, comprehensively, with care and grace; illustrates our dedication to serving others with quality care, by trained professionals and passionate volunteers, where and when needed most.
That is the heart of this agency. That is what breathes life into our work, fortified by this community’s support of our efforts in more numerous ways than we could ever imagine.
Although we have remained an open door to all in need via telehealth, the drive-thru food distribution, and other COVID-19 measures, the time has come for our physical doors to open once again. We will be fully reopened, welcoming back our staff, clients, and volunteers, on July 19, 2021.
With this reopening, we have a lot to report and share. Please enjoy our Summer newsletter and we welcome you to find a way to connect with us and our work now and in the months to come.
Best,
|
|
Cathy Barker
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
Julie Liberman
Board Chair
|
|
|
This is not a drill... our Food Pantry is expanding and we need your help for the finishing touches! |
|
The number of clients we serve has nearly doubled due to the challenges brought about by the pandemic. Each week, we regularly serve hundreds of families in our drive-thru distribution model, seeing an average of 750 at the height of the pandemic. Many of them will continue to come to us for healthy food, fresh produce, toiletries, and diapers long after the pandemic ends. While we pivoted to the drive-thru distribution for the safety of our clients, we look forward to returning to the client-choice shopping model this year.
Construction is already underway in our new and improved space, but we need your help in fundraising* for the finishing touches! In total, the Food Pantry Expansion Project has raised $656,000. However, we still need to raise $38,000 to purchase all the supplies to furnish the new space. Can we count on you to help take us to the next level?
Thank you to those who have already made a donation!
*Gifts of 1,800+ given before July 31st will be included on our Donor Recognition Wall.
|
|
Priya Distributes $14,000 to Dallas Jewish Couples |
|
This cycle, Priya distributed over $14,000 in grants to Dallas Jewish couples struggling with fertility- the most we have ever given thanks to the generous donations we received during the Priya Mother's Day campaign!
These partial grants go toward future treatments that include the cost of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures, and adoption.
The average fees for fertility treatments, not covered by insurance, can range from $800 to more than $12,000 for one cycle. Adoption can cost as much as $40,000.
Thanks to donors like you, at least 25 couples have been able to grow their families and impact the Jewish future. One Priya baby has already been born this year!
|
|
Program Highlight: Family Violence Intervention |
|
When most people hear about Family Violence Intervention services they think only of domestic violence. However, at JFS, our Family Violence program addresses a broader spectrum of challenges that include victims of family violence, domestic violence, trauma, and crime. This may include people in abusive situations and planning to leave, people in abusive situations and not planning to leave, or those who have had a history of trauma but are just realizing how it is impacting their lives.
|
|
Yaffa Podbilewicz-Schuller, Ph.D., JFS Clinical Psychologist for Holocaust Survivors, delivering a Passover package. |
|
Rosh Hashanah Package Deliveries |
|
We are getting ready for this year’s Rosh Hashanah package delivery to wish recipients a sweet new year!
On Sunday, August 29, our volunteers will distribute 600 packages with apples, honey, challah, and Kedem grape juice to community members. These items all represent the sweetness we experience in life and the sweetness we want for the year to come for those who receive these packages.
If you or a loved one is in need of food for the holidays, please contact Maya Cohen at mcohen@jfsdallas.org.
|
|
Stress or Trauma? Coping with Challenges of the Winter Storm and the Pandemic |
|
Clinicians Yaffa Podbilewicz-Schuller, Ph.D and Alita Andrews, LPC, MPH created an interactive presentation to shed light on the differences between stress and trauma and the potential short- and long-term effects of stressful situations.
Through awareness and acceptance of the many ways our bodies can respond to stress, this presentation recording will help you learn strategies that build resiliency to overcome challenges. This presentation is for any community member who has been affected in any way by the COVID pandemic or the Winter Storm and is interested in learning more about how to maximize coping with stressful situations, recognize areas for further growth, and learn about seeking evidence-based treatment to heal from traumatic events.
|
|
The OK2Say Rally held in May gave PLAN members an opportunity to embrace each other for exactly who they are.
The event consisted of testimonials from PLAN Mental Health Peer Support Specialists and Case Managers, a balloon release in honor of those who have lost their battles with mental illness, and a delicious boxed lunch.
Members were allowed the opportunity to share stories of personal struggle and diagnosis, but also of triumph and recovery via the PLAN Clubhouse. Though the topic of the rally was somber, the event turned into a celebration of overcoming challenges and making lifelong friends along the way.
PLAN members are eager to transition back to in-person work-ordered days as the CDC eases their Covid restrictions.
Watch a snippet from one of the OK2Say testimonials below!
|
|
Since 2009, Jewish Family Service has provided teens from the Dallas Metroplex the opportunity to intern at one of the area’s many nonprofit organizations. This program was designed as a lasting tribute to Rabbi Gerald J. Klein of Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, in celebration of his passion and commitment to issues of social justice for over 50 years. The program has helped to educate teens about nonprofit agencies and their missions through hands-on learning and invaluable training and experiences.
This year, 21 students were matched with 13 nonprofit agencies to complete a 180-hour internship during the summer of 2021. We wish them luck in their new positions!
A special shoutout to our JFS Klein Intern, Stephanie, who is working in our Volunteer Engagement department and Madeline, who is working at the PLAN Clubhouse.
|
|
Look for more highlights and celebrations on our social media! If you wish to start volunteering at JFS, you can go to jfsdallas.org/volunteer. |
|
Drop off donations at JFS! |
|
The wait is over! We are now accepting your gently-used items at the JFS Office or The Resale Shop.
2120 E. Beltline Road Richardson, Texas 75081
Donations accepted 12:00pm - 6:00pm Monday through Friday
5402 Arapaho Road Dallas, TX 75248
Donations accepted 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday through Friday
*Donors can bring items to the front doors and leave them in the bins in the vestibule
Do you have bulk donations or large furniture? Call (214) 710-1362 to schedule a safe donation pick-up from your home! Please anticipate a delay due to the volume of calls.
|
|
Designate JFS as your charitable organization of choice on AmazonSmile |
|
With everyone shopping online significantly more, we want to remind Amazon users to make sure you are shopping on AmazonSmile, which will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.
Follow the 3 easy steps above to designate JFS as your preferred charitable organization! For more information click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
