News & Impact

By the time Jonah was 30, he’d had more than a dozen surgical procedures to treat Crohn’s disease, a chronic disorder that affects the gastrointestinal tract. The surgeries prevented his debilitating condition from worsening, but they didn’t cure him of it. Because of Crohn’s, he has been unable to have a career. “I was deeply depressed by the way my life was turning out,” he says. “Fortunately, a family friend told me about JFCS’ Disabilities Program. It has been a lifesaver. I’ve not only received emotional support, but also solid, practical guidance and other services that have kept me… Read More

JFCS sends warm wishes to you and your loved ones as Passover nears.We also want to thank all participants in our Seder Sacks assembly and delivery efforts, who bring holiday cheer to the most vulnerable in our community, and our friends who have given to our our Seder Sacks campaign. You can still help with Seder Sacks. Come join us! A special thank-you to Joyce Newstat and Susan Lowenberg, who recently established the Seymour Newstat Endowment Fund, This thoughtful gift supports a beautiful annual seder for Holocaust survivors who attend JFCS’ Café by the Bay, a program that… Read More

What do Zoe Schwartz, Marsha Jacobs, Lynn Ganz, Miriam Sparrow, Ellen Mundell, Marlene Stein, and Bonnie Lasky all have in common? The dynamic septet are part of the Sonoma Leadership Council, a JFCS affiliate group that has come together to support JFCS’ outstanding services. “JFCS is like my favorite Jewish mother and father,” said Lynn, “tenaciously protecting, loving, nurturing, and strengthening their family.” The Leadership Council members are among many in the Bay Area who want to improve the lives of tens of thousands yearly through exceptional programs like Parents Place, Seniors At Home, Dream House, and… Read More

Every Hanukkah, Joyce and other residents at a local senior community look forward to seeing JFCS volunteers Mike, Kathy, and their two children, who bring holiday greetings and bags of traditional foods. “The treats are lovely,” says Joyce, “but what I most enjoy is the company. My children and grandkids live far away, so it’s nice to spend time with people I consider part of my extended family.” “Joyce is delightful,” says Mike, “and the kids have grown close to her over the years. We try to visit her and other local residents at Passover and the High Holidays, as… Read More

We need volunteers to assist with shopping. Please join us! For some, shopping isn’t just a fun outing. It’s also a life-affirming experience that brings meaning to their lives. That’s how Marin County JFCS volunteers Zhenya Fridman and Judy Barr see it. Zhenya and Judy are both members of JFCS’ Special Delivery Grocery Program–volunteers who shop weekly at a local grocery store and then deliver needed items to the homes of JFCS clients who can no longer get to the supermarket themselves. “I have elderly parents myself, so I know how difficult it can be for people to take care… Read More

Cleanerific, JFCS’ social enterprise, is not only receiving rave reviews from the many customers who use the green-friendly cleaning service to keep their homes and offices sparkling clean. Cleanerific’s employees, including Maria Linares, appreciate its mission: providing training, employment, medical benefits, and support so that they can become independent and advance in their lives. Maria is singlehandedly raising three children, including a 7-year-old with medical problems. It can be challenging, but Cleanerific helps ease the burden. It pays her a living wage, provides full benefits, and treats her with kindness and care. “They are very understanding,” Maria says of… Read More