Supporting Those Who Support Others Resilience is a trainable skill, and our new Abby’s Impact: Resilience Training program gives participants the evidencebased tools to manage stress, recover faster, and stay grounded in work that matters. Instructor-led and designed specifically for teams, participants leave with more than insight; they gain real, actionable skills they can apply and won’t forget. The Resilience program is not therapy; it is designed to be therapeutic while learning about the five pillars of trainable resilience: • Mindfulness • Self-compassion • Mindset • Gratitude • Communication The Resilience program curriculum was developed by Paula Stephens, JFS Abby’s Impact Resiliency Instructor and Program Coordinator. With several format options, including single-pillar sessions, a six-week series, half-day experience, and full-day retreats, training will reconnect people to why they do their hard work and help employees feel valued. Learn more about supporting your staff at jewishfamilyservice.org/resiliency.
In this issue
FALL 2026
Partnerships Create Stronger Support for Refugees | 2
JFS Food Pantries: The Face of Hunger | 3
JFS Board Updates | 5
Fall Holiday Celebrations for Disability Justice | 6
Family Matters is a quarterly publication of Jewish Family Service of Colorado, 3201 S. Tamarac Drive, Denver, CO 80231 | 303.597.5000
Dear Friends, Annual meetings provide an opportunity to reflect on our achievements, recognize challenges, and plan for the future. At the close of our fiscal year on June 30, we did just that. Thanks to our dedicated staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters, JFS remains a trusted anchor in the community, continuing our vital work with unwavering commitment, always focusing on our mission, allowing the needs of those most vulnerable to guide our work, and the strengthening our community. Throughout the year, we’ve shared how we have faced funding restrictions and policy changes that have affected every department. In the December issue of Family Matters, we’ll communicate our Annual Report data highlighting our remarkable work over the past 12 months. In the meantime, there is much to look forward to, and I wanted to share a few initiatives that I’m excited about that will enhance both our immediate impact and longterm stability while staying deeply rooted in our mission.
• Program optimization. We are evaluating our programs to identify where we have the greatest impact, where needs are increasing, and how to allocate our resources most effectively. • Financial sustainability and capacity building. By strengthening fundraising, diversifying revenue sources including expanding earned revenue opportunities, growing legacy and endowment support, increasing reserves, and improving systems, we will ensure JFS can serve the community for generations to come. • Infrastructure and technology. Improved systems enable staff to serve clients more efficiently, measure impact more accurately, and communicate outcomes more effectively to donors and partners. In the coming fiscal year, your support will be more important than ever. Your partnership will do more than fund a program; it will change the trajectory of many individuals and families. We cannot be the safety net our community needs without you, and I am grateful to share this journey with you to make a meaningful difference in thousands of lives. With warm regards,
Linda P. Foster President and CEO
Be a Part of Faces of JFS You’re invited to participate in an unforgettable evening benefiting JFS’s community programs on November 17 at Denver’s iconic Mission Ballroom. This year’s Faces of JFS event will be a one-of-a-kind celebration! We’ll share our impact, honor our Yana Vishnitsky Leadership Award recipient, the Appel Family Foundation, and host a moderated conversation between Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham. Mr. Meacham is a skilled orator with a deep knowledge of politics, religion, and current affairs, who has the unique ability to bring history to life and offer context to current events and the issues impacting our daily lives. With several new and exciting sponsor and ticket opportunities, not only will you support JFS in improving the lives of individuals and families in need throughout Colorado, but you’ll also curate your own experience when you choose the level that reflects your most impactful contribution to JFS and the community. Whether you’d like floor seating or an intimate, elevated table for two, or to join us for just the moderated conversation portion of the evening, we have an option for you. Visit jewishfamilyservice.org/faces to choose your participation level and join us for an inspiring evening!
JFS Boulder Facilitates a New Grief Support Group Working through grief is a journey. A new JFS support group starts in September to help participants navigate the process. The eight-week, in-person group will combine education and support with weekly topics like understanding grief, remembering your loved one, and looking to the future. Learn more at jewishfamilyservice.org/services/counseling-groups.
Partnerships Create Stronger Support for Refugees Like JFS, Wash Park United Church of Christ at the Mosaic Community Campus (WPUCC) in Park Hill welcomes every person, no matter their background. When the church’s Beloved Community committee learned about the increasing hardships their immigrant and refugee neighbors faced due to changes in policy, including the loss of Temporary Protected Status, work permits, and driver’s licenses, they also heard that JFS is a key partner in the community that provides critical, direct services to individuals and families navigating food insecurity, housing instability, mental health challenges, and barriers to economic mobility and a new partnership began. In late spring, Allyson Sawtell, Co-chair of WPUCC’s Solidarity in Social Action Team, worked with JFS to propose potential funding through their Work in the World Fund. This fund is designed to distribute grants to nonprofit organizations, prioritizing projects and initiatives that advance justice, mercy, and community well-being and align with their congregation’s values. We’re excited to share that a proposal was submitted and approved for JFS to distribute nearly $85,000 to prevent homelessness for 10 to 20 refugee households in crisis. This support includes: • Rental assistance to stabilize households facing eviction. • Transportation assistance through monthly bus passes to ensure access to employment, services, and stability. • Case management services to deploy funds effectively and ensure long-term housing stability.
families, finding employment, saving for the future, and taking meaningful steps toward long-term self-sufficiency— without the immediate fear of losing housing or being forced into an impossible financial situation.”
“This gift is rare and especially meaningful because it provides far more than financial assistance; it offers safety, stability, and time,” said JFS Director of Refugee Resettlement, Troy Cox. “For newcomers, that time can mean the ability to focus on providing food for their
Partnerships like WPUCC strengthen lives and communities by providing essential human services with compassion, dignity, and respect. By meeting people where they are and addressing both immediate and long-term needs, we help create the foundation for sustainable, thriving lives. 2
JFS Food Pantries: The Face of Hunger
Another food pantry day has come and gone. Selections were made, bags were filled, and individuals and families will have food on their tables. But once our doors close, a harder question remains: What does the face of hunger look like in our communities? The uncomfortable answer is that it’s probably not who you initially think about. The truth is, we’re seeing an average of 4,100 individuals and 1,525 unique households each month at our Weinberg Food Pantry and Mobile Food & Hygiene Pantry. And the lie is that food insecurity only affects those who are economically disadvantaged. The cost of living in Colorado continues to increase, and according to the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, the state recently ranked as the third most expensive place to live in the country. With the Consumer Price Index at its highest level ever, rising costs for housing,
childcare, health care, and food, combined with job losses or stagnant wages, are leading people to turn to food pantries. They’re not alone. But who are these people? “There are misconceptions about who comes to a food pantry,” shared JFS Food Security Programs Manager Doug Vega. “We’re seeing more young families who are new to the pantry because of the spiraling cost of living, refugees (although some are afraid to come because of the political climate), older adults who are losing their benefits or having their Social Security cut, and individuals who are either in between jobs or can’t live on minimum wage despite having multiple jobs. The people we see could be your neighbors, kids in your children’s classes, or your co-workers. You just don’t know.” The one constant about our food pantry clients is that, while their stories are unique, they face very real problems.
For example: • Every week, a shuttle bus filled with older adults from one of our community partners that provides housing and support services visits our pantry. The residents receive Social Security, rental assistance, Medicare, and SNAP benefits, yet still find it hard to afford food and other essentials. Some of our clients have shared that they even supplement their income by working part-time jobs just to get by. And during these visits, there is never a shortage of heartfelt, genuine appreciation. “There was nothing to eat in my house, so thank you,” shared one client. • One client needs our pantry because she’s going through a messy divorce, and while she has a place to live, she has very little income. She shared that while married, her husband made a good income, and she worked raising their children, but now, faced with life on her own, she needs help getting food. She is embarrassed to be seen parking her nice car at the pantry, which is a holdover from her previous life, and wonders what people must think. • Recently, a pantry client shared that she and her husband live in an RV, and their daughter’s family of five moved in with them because they could no longer afford their rent. Now, the extended family of seven needs help putting meals on the table.
These stories highlight a reality that continues to affect 1 in 8 Coloradans. Our clients are looking for resources to help offset their bills and fill gaps, and the pantry, which distributes food and other essentials based on household size, meets this need. “We have more requests for toiletries because the cost of toilet paper, soap, and deodorant has increased so much,” said Vega.
“By getting items at the food pantry, clients have the freedom to spend money on something else like rent, bills, or even put money aside for emergency expenses. People are getting creative in finding solutions to the struggles they’re facing.” Our food pantries have become a community for our clients who get to know our staff, volunteers, and other patrons. “We treat everyone with dignity and make the experience as pleasant as possible, but it’s still difficult for someone to come to a food pantry,” shared Vega. “We take the time to meet our clients, and they share their lives with us. It’s not unusual for some to bring baked goods as a thank you because it means so much to them to have a resource like JFS they can trust. Most people are a paycheck, a health scare, or a financial burden away from facing food insecurity and needing assistance. Not everyone has a support system they can rely on.” Where hunger exists, so does JFS to meet the demand. But we rely on the community to help. Thanks to our partners, JFS can purchase personal care products and food in bulk with friendly, community pricing and provide more essentials to our neighbors in need. If you’re torn between donating items or making a financial gift, we can make an even bigger impact with your financial gift at jewishfamilyservice.org/donate/make-a-donation.
“ We take the time to meet our clients, and they share their lives with us. It’s not unusual for some to bring baked goods as a thank you because it means so much to them to have a resource like JFS they can trust. Most people are a paycheck, a health scare, or a financial burden away from facing food insecurity and needing assistance. Not everyone has a support system they can rely on.” — DOUG VEGA, JFS FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS MANAGER
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JFS Board Updates At JFS, we are grateful for a Board of Directors whose talent and dedication drive our mission forward. Their passion, experience, and wisdom help us improve the lives of individuals and families throughout Colorado. We are pleased to welcome the new Board members who joined our remarkable team. Amanda Alpert has volunteered with JFS for several years. She began her career in commercial real estate in Miami, focusing on office leasing before moving to retail brokerage. Amanda is actively involved in her community, serves as our Bright Holidays program champion, and looks forward to supporting the agency’s mission as a Board member. DJ Curly is a committed community advocate who helps individuals and families overcome financial and personal challenges. As a Board member, he brings compassion, lived experience, and a strong commitment to community impact. DJ works to advance initiatives that strengthen families, expand opportunities, and support those facing adversity. Wendy Nekritz is a retired physician who practiced in the Denver area for more than 25 years. She served 14 years on the Board of Trustees at Temple Emanuel, holding several leadership roles as both a trustee and an officer. Wendy actively supports JFS, has volunteered in the food pantry, and served as an ambassador for Afghan refugees.
We’re pleased to welcome Mindy Levy Peckar back to our Board. She has contributed leadership in planned giving, supported all of our programs, and volunteered at our Weinberg Food Pantry and JFS Altius Farms. Mindy brings extensive experience in commercial banking and commercial real estate appraisal and holds an active Colorado Real Estate Broker’s license. Rabbi Elizabeth (Liz) Sacks is Senior Rabbi and CEO of Temple Emanuel Denver and advises national Reform Movement organizations. She has served on the executive committee of the HUC-JIR Council of Alumni, the URJ Task Force for Congregational Ethics, and the Ethics Task Force of the American Conference of Cantors. She is past chair of the HUC-JIR Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music Alumni Association and frequently presents on worship design and ritual innovation. Together with the full Board, our new members will contribute their talents to guide JFS, steward our resources, and maximize our impact. Read full biographies of all our Board members at jewishfamilyservice.org/about/board-of-directors.
JFS High Holiday Food and Hygiene Drive DONATE NOW jewishfamilyservice.org/highholidays
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Fall Holiday Celebrations for Disability Justice We hope you will join JFS Jewish Disabilities Advocates (JDA), in partnership with the Boulder JCC, Hebrew Educational Alliance, Ohr HaOlam, Temple Emanuel, and Valley Beit Midrash for one or both of our upcoming inclusive and accessible holiday celebrations for individuals with disabilities, allies, and those seeking to learn more. We will celebrate Sukkot and Simchat Torah with warm, engaging, and participatory gatherings. The events will be open, accessible, and welcoming to all.
Sukkot Sunday, September 27 | 1-2:30 p.m. Boulder JCC 6007 Oreg Ave., Boulder 80303
Simchat Torah Sunday, October 4 | 4-5:30 p.m. Hebrew Educational Alliance 3600 S. Ivanhoe St., Denver 80237
For more information about these events and the provided accommodations, or to request additional accommodations, and to register, please scan the QR codes above.
What’s Your Legacy? When you consider your legacy, you are reflecting on your passions and values, and recognizing how your life impacts others. It’s about having the foresight and commitment to honor your past, influence the future, and leave your mark on the world. By joining our JFS Legacy Society, you will help pave the way for a stronger future throughout our community. Your investment sustains the programs and services that help our neighbors stay fed, heal through mental health support, find stable and safe housing, and so much more. Our Legacy Society members are crucial to strengthening our position as a community safety net and ensuring JFS remains strong and stable. Learn more and become part of a dedicated group of supporters who have made a special commitment to JFS at jewishfamilyservice.org/donate/leave-alegacy. A gift through your will, trust, or retirement fund helps ensure that the life-transforming work of JFS endures for generations to come. Thank you to our JFS Legacy Society members who had the vision to include JFS as a beneficiary in their estate plans. See the list of current Legacy Society members at jewishfamilyservice.org/ donate/jfs-legacy-society. 6
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