FamilyMatters Fall 2022 Edition

FamilyMatters

Phase 1 of the Mobile Food Pantry rolls out

The JFS Mobile Food Pantry provides food assistance in areas of need for those facing food insecurity. Our new state-of-the-art mobile pantry is expected to be completed later this year. Until then, our temporary truck travels to neighborhoods and housing complexes with high percentages of food insecurity and community and recreation centers.

Removing transportation barriers ensures families expe riencing food insecurity will have continued access to healthy, fresh, and culturally relevant foods and

information about the programs and services JFS pro vides. Currently, we’re averaging 40 families per site, and one client shared she used to visit the Weinberg Food Pantry but stopped because she no longer drives, so having the pantry come to her has been wonderful. Visit jewishfamilyservice.org/mobile-pantry to find a pantry site.

We are recruiting Mobile Food Pantry volunteers. If you’re interested, please email our Volunteer Services team at volunteer@jewishfamilyservice.org.

Dear

Friends,

The end of one year and the start of another always inspire me to reflect on what I value most in my personal and professional lives and where I have contributed to making an impact. Of course, I am not referring to the end of the calendar year. At JFS, our fiscal year ended on June 30, and that, combined with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, has me celebrating what we’ve accomplished and thinking about what we’ve endured over the past 12 months. Of course, celebrating JFS’s 150th anniversary throughout the year has naturally put me in more of a contemplative mood, as well.

It’s difficult to grasp everything that occurred over the past year—globally with the sudden arrival and resettlement of Afghan refugees and the horrific and senseless war that continues in Ukraine; nationally with the rise of gun violence and antisemitism; and locally, with the devastating Marshall Fire in Boulder County. And yet, we persevered with the unrelenting commitment of our staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, and donors. We have overcome countless challenges to provide the resources and support our clients and community need, and I am so proud and appreciative of what we’ve accomplished together.

My heart remains heavy with the recent passing of our beloved Yana Vishnitsky z”l, former JFS President and CEO, and her husband, Jim z”l. JFS simply would not be the incredible organization it is today without Yana’s strength, vision, compassion, and leadership. I was fortunate to spend time with Yana beginning when I started at JFS. I was always eager to hear her historical perspective and insights and receive her guidance at times.

It was easy to feel embraced by Yana’s presence, and not a day will go by without her being missed or her memory bringing a smile to my face.

As I mentioned, Rosh Hashanah is also upon us, the first of the Jewish High Holidays. In this issue, you’ll see two opportunities to support those who need us most. You can help stock the shelves at our Weinberg Food Pantry by donating to our High Holiday and Donations for Dignity Drive, joining us in meeting the increasing needs throughout our community. Moreover, while, unfortunately, the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles each day, we have six new clients in this population who we support so they can live with the peace, comfort, and dignity they need and deserve. When you contribute to the JFS’ Serving Our Holocaust Survivors’ Assistance program, you help provide the programmatic and financial support many survivors in Colorado require to maintain a good quality of life, and that gift is immeasurable. I hope you consider donating to these campaigns.

No matter what sparks a bit of introspection for you, I hope you feel proud of what you’ve accomplished and empowered in partnership with JFS by sharing our mission, core values, and commitment to making a difference in our community.

With warm regards, Linda P. Foster President and CEO

Watch Our Garden Grow

When the Arts and Community Exploration (ACE) program moved to Calvary Baptist Church, one of the benefits was that we could expand the programs and services we offer to our participants, including having an outdoor garden space, which is already sprouting.

Calvary’s Paster Morgan donated two raised garden beds, and they were assembled by our garden volunteer leads and are accessible for all. Staff and clients maintain the garden, which includes herbs such as basil, chives, cilantro, oregano, and sage, along with fruits and vegetables like peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini. So far, humans have enjoyed a few strawberries, while local squirrels appreciate the tomatoes.

In addition to creating gardens at Calvary, our ACE participants planted buckets to house flowers and worked to beautify the Calvary atrium area with landscaping in collaboration with Calvary members. “The area includes tables and umbrellas and feels like a café,” shared Judy Pankoff, ACE program manager. “We all enjoy admiring the fruits of our labor. It was hard, sweaty work to get everything bought and planted. It’s nice to sit back and enjoy!”

Be sure to watch how our garden grows in future communications!

ACE focuses on the whole person, community involvement, and integration, with activities tailored to each participant’s needs and unique personality. ACE is centered around healthy lifestyles and mindfulness through art, exercise, and nutrition. Participants explore the community at cultural and art centers, parks, libraries, downtown adventures, and museums and can volunteer and give back to the community. Learn more at jewishfamilyservice.org/services/ace

“ WE ALL ENJOY ADMIRING THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR. IT WAS HARD, SWEATY WORK TO GET EVERYTHING BOUGHT AND PLANTED. IT’S NICE TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY!”

Caring for Holocaust Survivors

It’s daunting to think about the unimaginable horror millions faced throughout the Holocaust. Lives were irrevocably changed; families torn apart.

JFS remains dedicated to providing financial assistance and resources to Holocaust survivors. For many, the struggle to afford basic needs such as food, rent, caregiver assistance, and mental health support is challenging. In our last fiscal year, 80 survivors and 14 children of survivors received essential services through JFS to stay healthy and remain in their residence of choice and participated in social programs to help maintain community connection and engagement.

JFS must raise $60,000 in matching funds for the Claims Conference to demonstrate that our community is invested in the welfare and well-being of our survivors.

Now, you can help us care for the many Holocaust survivors in our community when you donate at jewishfamilyservice.org/donate/holocaust

Board Updates

We are excited for three new Board members to join our team and share their skills and talents with the agency.

Elise A. Barish is an experienced community leader with over fifteen years of nonprofit board and committee work. She currently serves on the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) board, the Philanthropic Services Committee at Rose Community Foundation, and the regional board of the ADL. Elise is an alum of the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) Society Fellowship and currently serves on the JDC Welcome Committee. She has volunteered at the JFS food pantry and participated on the JFS task force to redesign its disabilities services.

Ginna Rinkov has over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, process implementation, and leading cohesive teams. Most recently, Ginna served as the COO at JewishColumbus, the largest funder

of Jewish organizations and programs in the Columbus area. In this role, Ginna focused on building a culture of collaboration through operational restructuring, tactical recruitment of key positions, and developing frameworks for staff to grow strategically and holistically.

Carl Rossow knows nonprofits and corporations and how to connect, persuade and activate their audiences. Carl has founded four companies in the strategic polling and market research space and is currently the co-founder and COO of Benenson Strategy Group (BSG). Carl was a founding board member of the former National Foundation for Fertility Research, a member of the development board for The Joseph School in Haiti, and a former executive board member of JEWISHcolorado. He continues to be very active with organizations throughout the Denver area by providing pro bono counsel and services.

You can read the full biographies of all our Board members at jewishfamilyservice.org/about/board-of-directors.

Fighting Food Insecurity

Like other food pantries across the country, the JFS Weinberg Food Pantry is seeing an unprecedented demand for food and other necessities. On average, 24 new clients come through the pantry each day, and we’ve seen an influx of clients from Venezuela and Colombia who are temporarily coming through Colorado after fleeing their countries due to political unrest.

We continue to appreciate our donors and pantry volunteers, who have donated their time, financial resources, and, in many cases, both. Our pantry cannot run and help those who need us most during challenging times without these dedicated people.

If you would like to donate nonperishable food items or hygiene products, please visit jewishfamilyservice.org/ donate/donate-food for more information. Interested in volunteering? Email our Volunteer Services team at volunteer@jewishfamilyservice.org.

Another Successful Lunchbox Express Is in the Books

When schools let out for summer, families who rely heavily on school-based free and reduced-price lunch programs can turn to JFS’s Lunchbox Express program to receive nutritionally balanced lunches.

This summer, 14,497 kids received meals, and we distributed 215 backpacks through the program.

For the past two years, the Lunchbox Express program adapted to accommodate COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, but this summer, the team was excited to welcome children back to our traditional service model.

“For me, the best part about the program is engaging with the kids and our volunteers,” shared Food Insecurity Programs Manager Doug Vega. “We have about 50 to 75 core volunteers committed to the program, and it makes it special.”

Dance the Night Away at Our Not-To-Be-Missed Gala!

You’re invited to join us at our Gala Celebrating JFS: 150 Years in the Making on Saturday, November 5, at the Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel. Emmy award-winning actor, author, producer, and director, Henry Winkler will be the emcee and keynote speaker for the evening!

Enjoy cocktails, dinner, a short program, and dancing to Colorado’s high-energy band, Raising Cain, as we commemorate 150 years of JFS and wrap up our anniversary celebrations!

Get ready to have fun and honor the good work that JFS does every day as one of Colorado’s largest and most impactful human services agencies. Buy tickets and learn more about becoming a sponsor at jewishfamilyservice.org/gala

Thank you for attending the Legacy Society event in June. It was nice to connect and honor past, present, and future members.

Join the JFS Legacy Society

When you make a legacy gift to JFS, you’re leaving your mark on our community. It’s a personal gift that will transform the work of JFS for generations to come. By making a planned gift, you invest in an organization that aligns with your passions and create a permanent testament to the values important to you. It’s your legacy.

Learn more and become part of a dedicated group of supporters who have made a special commitment to JFS by joining our Legacy Society at jewishfamilyservice.org/donate/leave-a-legacy. For more information on legacy giving, please contact Tedrah Robertson at 720.248.2659 or trobertson@jewishfamilyservice.org.

Thank you to the following JFS Legacy Society members who had the vision to include JFS as a beneficiary in their estate plans. This list is current as of August 29, 2022.

Lani Kae Abbott z”l Gloria Abrams z”l Sanford Alpert z”l Judy Altenberg

Joy Anderson-Jones z”l Anonymous

Elaine and Max Appel Dr. Hilary and Rabbi Eliot Baskin Michael Baum z”l Samantha and Robert Baumgarten Jennifer and Bruce Bendell Gerald M. Berenstein Sandy and Steve Berkowitz Jack Bernstone z”l Joscelyn Blumenthal Alan Boxer

Mel Brody

William Bromberg z”l Janice and Abe Burnstein z”l Bobbie and Jerry z”l Carr Barbara and Jay Chapman Alissa and James Cohen Allan Cohen

Larry Cohn

Tamra and Rabbi Bruce Dollin Jana Eisinger and Scott Bergstrom Erica and Elliott Farber

Sheryl and Ken Feiler Gloria Fine z”l Terry Fisher z”l The Honorable Joyce and Rabbi Steven Foster

Linda and Bill Foster Melanie Foster Max Frankel z”l Laurie and Brad Friedman Nicolette Gagliano Lynn and Bill Geller Rob Gettinger

Annie Sarah Gilbert z”l Richard Gilbert z”l

Lillian and Benjamin Ginsburg z”l Melvin Goldberg z”l Lewis J. Goldsmith z”l Richard C. Goldstein z”l Sheryl and Jon Goodman Ann and Sidney Grazi z”l Cindy Gross Melanie and Rabbi Salomon Gruenwald Louise F. Guggenheim z”l Zelda and Jerry Gutman z”l Betty Ann Halperin z”l Leanna and Jamie Harris Isaac Heller z”l

Dr. Linda Heller

Peggy Hermann

Lisa Herschli

Betsy Mordecai Heyman Gareth Heyman Jacquie and Irwin z”l Hoffman Alan Hurst

Leland Huttner z”l Eleanore z”l and E. James Judd Barbara Kabakoff Gale and Ron Kahn Ruth and Sterling Kahn z”l Melinda Kassen

Margit Katz z”l John Kayser z”l

John Keith Nathan Khodadad

Lottie and Rafael Klebe z”l Roberta and Mel Klein Joan and Albert Klinger Elizabeth S. Krash z”l Elizabeth and Steven Kris Shelley and Robert Krovitz Alan Laff z”l Marilyn and Harold z”l Lande Mary Latanik z”l Blanca and Howard Lerman Rona and Guscile Levin z”l Myra B. and J. Leonard Levy z”l Edith Lewitt z”l Sylvia and Leonard z”l Litvak Robyn and Robert z”l Loup

The Malman-Opatowski Family Rima Manas

Irene Mayer z”l Barbara Altenberg McDonald Bonnie Merenstein

Estelle R. Meskin

Sally Steele Metzger z”l Robert F. Metzler and Rosemary M. Metzler z”l

Edith Schwartz Meyer z”l Walter Mielziner z”l Lois and Jay Miller Ruth Milzer z”l

Jay Morse

Susie and Perry Moss

The Novins-Montague Family Gail Nussbaum Joseph Steven Oliner z”l Mindy Levy Peckar and Steve Peckar Gail Pennington

Essie and Jordon z”l Perlmutter

The Pollock Family Dean Prina, M.D. Gerald Quiat z”l

A and R Raabe

Irene Rantz z”l

Henry Rasof z”l Alexander Rezmovits z”l

Dawn Richard

Tedrah and Duncan Robertson

Jane E. and Stanton z”l Rosenbaum

Lore and John Roth z”l Minnie Rothchild z”l Corinne Rottman z”l Robert Rottman

Ruth and Merle z”l Sachnoff

Evelyn and Richard Saliman z”l Gregory A. Sanchez z”l Joanne and Dr. Richard Sanders

Alec Sarché

Daniel Sarché

Jamie and Jon Sarché Louise and Chet Schwartz Jean B. Seeman z”l Marian and Dan Seff Pearl Shames z”l Evelyn Shamon

Amy Shapiro in honor of Esther Shapiro Helen Shapiro z”l

Melanie and Lee Siegel Debbie and Donald Silversmith Regina and Barry Silvestain Teena and Bud Slatkin Adele Sollender z”l Alida Anisman Stein z”l Elsie Stein z”l

Lillian Stein z”l

Samuel H. Sterling z”l Susie Strait z”l Cathy Summer and Steve Ellis Lisa and Lynn Taussig Francine and Jorge Topelson Barbara and Thomas Trager Marvin Tyor z”l Irma and Walter Vasen z”l Ann and Dan Veenstra Yana Vishnitsky z”l and Jim Wolfe z”l Alan Irwin Wandel z”l

Lori and Lary Weintraub Sandor Weisz z”l Rhonda and Bruce Wildman Mary Ann Wilner Elle and Phil Winn z”l

The Winters Creasey Family Lenore Wolpa z”l Joyce and Kal Zeff z”l Debbie Zimmerman and Charles Van Gundy Shira and Marty Zimmerman

Jewish Family Service of Colorado

Joyce and Kal Zeff Building

3201 South Tamarac Drive Denver CO 80231-4360

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Social services for Jewish victims of the Holocaust have been supported by a grant from The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

The artwork below was created by a client in the Jewish Family Service Arts and Community Explorations (ACE) program. ACE is an interactive day program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Shana Tova

Wishing you a joyful and sweet new year! From everyone at Jewish Family Service of Colorado