Commitment to Community

The Jewish Family Service commitment to community is a 118-year thread of continuity in offering stability, providing security and creating solutions for those with needs locally.

From the singular purpose of serving Jewish immigrants in 1892, to today’s JFS that is a model of wrap around services for the community so affectionately called “Family,” Jewish Family Service serves thousands of individuals each year in the tradition of helping others help themselves.

Last year’s demand for services was unprecedented, up over 16% from 2007. In meeting the need, JFSLast year, in meeting the unprecedented need, JFS:

• Taught 824 members of diverse family groups how to be better parents, children and partners
• Distributed nearly 240,000 pounds of food (120 tons) to the hungry here at home
• Supported 99 families (49 new to the program) in healing from abuse and domestic violence
• Contributed to the well-being of 52 individuals and families struggling with the disease of addiction
• Helped 64 individuals with developmental disabilities or persistent mental illness to live independently
• Guided 335 individuals, couples and families toward improved mental health
• Provided critical financial support and emergency services to adults and children on 1,056 different occasions
• Served 3,700 unduplicated individuals in the Food Bank
• Delivered 480 holiday baskets throughout the year (with plenty of smiles) to seniors, adults with disabilities and low income family members

For a program by program summary of the JFS commitment to community in 2009, click here. (PDF, 53 KB)