News & Impact

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 Cleanerific, “and they even helped me and my children get assistance from the counselors at Parents Place,” JFCS’ family resource center.

Because Maria and her co-workers are highly trained and reliable, they are performing at the highest levels, ensuring that Cleanerific succeeds in a competitive marketplace. Their commitment to quality is being notice by customers such as property management company owner Karen Katz, who uses Cleanerific to help her maintain the many buildings in San Francisco that she oversees. “I have very high standards,” says Karen, “so if Cleanerific weren’t doing the best job, I’d let them know it. I am happy to support an organization that not only provides excellent service, but is also helping to create good-paying jobs for motivated workers in our community.”

“We are honored that business leaders like Karen Katz not only value the caliber of work we do, but also appreciate our mission,” says Michael Berke, Cleanerific’s founder and director. “When you hire Cleanerific, you get three benefits in one: excellent cleaning service for your home or office, green products, and the opportunity to join us in creating opportunities for people in need in our community.”

JFCS’ People with Disabilities Program who is living with multiple sclerosis and other serious medical conditions, grew up in a Jewish home. She lives on a fixed disability income which makes it very hard to mark holidays and she does not have famly nearby.

Rebecca greatly looks forward to the JFCS volunteers who visit her at Rosh Hashanah to deliver traditional foods. “It’s wonderful to have that connection,” she says. “It makes me feel cared for.” Now, as we prepare for the High Holidays, you can help strengthen JFCS clients’ connections to the community by assembling and delivering holiday packages.

JFCS’ People with Disabilities Program provides disabled adults throughout the Bay Area with comprehensive services that make it possible to live independently. From the middle of August through early September, JFCS friends and volunteers will gather at offices in our five regions to put together and deliver bags filled with challah, honey, and other items that will allow Rebecca and hundreds of other JFCS clients to enjoy a sweeter New Year.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for families to introduce the concepts of mitzvot and tzedakah to their children,” says Rachel Kesselman, JFCS Volunteer Services Director, “and many of our families have visited the same clients over the years and established lifelong friendships with them.”

Please note that unless otherwise indicated, JFCS offices are not open on weekends for holiday deliveries.

Learn about other volunteer opportunities here>

Learn more about Cleanerific, at www.cleanerific.org,  or call 415-820-7230.