News & Impact

What do you think of when you read the term “palliative care”? If you’re like many people, you might not be familiar with it. But if you’re coping with a serious illness or disability, it’s something you and your loved ones will want to know about. Palliative care can improve your quality of life, keep you comfortably in your home—and research says it may even help you live longer.   “Palliative care is about relieving suffering at any stage of an illness, whether you’re managing a serious chronic condition, like lung or heart disease, or dealing with a life-limiting disability,”… Read More

Apples dipped in honey, round loaves of challah, honey cake: just some of the special foods we eat on Rosh Hashanah that signify our hope for a “sweet new year.” But for many JFCS clients, the holiday isn’t often very sweet. Together—with your help—we can make sure everyone in our community feels the joy of the High Holiday season! Here’s how you can help: Assemble and Delivery Rosh Hashanah Food Packages We are currently looking for volunteers to assemble and deliver Rosh Hashanah foods for seniors, immigrant families, people with disabilities, and other families in need.” This special food delivery… Read More

At 83, Mrs. Bernstein has been doing fairly well living alone in her San Francisco apartment. As a Holocaust survivor and legally blind she is a homebound client of JFCS and receives case management and Kosher Meals on Wheels each day. Recently, she needed help installing grab bars to improve her bathroom’s safety. JFCS’ newest volunteer project, Mensches On the Go, will bring more clients access to a variety of skilled volunteers to complete short-term projects throughout the Bay Area who need a little extra help. Merle Kovtun has been a true mensch volunteering with JFCS for almost 20 years,… Read More

Bay Area teens will be ironing their shirts and putting on their dress pants in preparation for JFCS’ Summer Internship Program. This prized six-week paid internship offers a unique opportunity for students to gain work experience and professional skills that will last a lifetime. JFCS’ YouthFirst offers innovative programs for our future leaders and received a huge number of applications this spring from high school students who want to be part of the internship program. With the support of generous individuals and foundations, 100 teens were accepted as interns—nearly doubling the program’s size. The 2016 summer interns come from… Read More

One of our most cherished volunteers, Dr. Larry Hill recalls that he first became intimately acquainted with JFCS eight years ago when he picked up a brochure at Congregation Emanu-El after services one evening, called the number on the back, and asked if there was a role for him. His timing could not have been more fortuitous. JFCS’ Redwing Keyssar, the director of our Palliative Care and End of Life program, had just begun asking her contacts if they knew a doctor who could help. At the time the program was still in its planning stages and she saw the… Read More

There’s nothing like nuzzling with a friendly, four-legged creature that has plenty of unconditional love to share. Scientific and empirical evidence indicates that animals offer comfort and joy to isolated seniors battling with depression. While numerous pet therapy programs exist, JFCS’ Canine Corps program is unique because it fosters ongoing and meaningful three-way relationships between clients, volunteers, and their dogs. Barking up the Right Tree For eight years JFCS has been matching trained canine companions and their owners with clients in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma County, and the Peninsula. Like many JFCS initiatives, the program is designed to help the… Read More