April 1 - JFS Monthly Insider

MONTHLY Insider

Welcome to the updated Monthly Insider!

We value your feedback and welcome any suggestions to enhance our offering.

APRIL 8TH ANNOUNCEMENT

The staff retreat scheduled for April 8 will be RESCHEDULED for June 27 (more details to come). JFS offices will be closed on April 8th and all staff will work remote for the morning The agency will close at 12PM and all staff can enjoy the rest of the day off.

Complimentary Solar Eclipse glasses will be provided at each office on Tuesday, April 2nd for all employees to enjoy the April 8th eclipse.

LOOK OUT FOR THE LEADING EDGE SURVEY

JFS is committed to creating an incredible place to work, so we want to hear from you! Each year, Leading Edge launches a survey to help us learn about how our team is doing and compare that to other Jewish agencies across the US. The survey tells us how we can better support you and the important work you do.

Look out for a link on April 9th from surveys@leadingedge.org.

ISSUE

Thank you to staff who have already reached out to volunteer and/or purchase tickets for our upcoming Matzah Ball on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Temple Beth Zion Staff are going to play a critical role in making this a memorable event. Here's how you can help make The Matzah Ball a success:

We are looking for 10-15 volunteers to support the event.

If you're interested in volunteering, please fill out this form: Volunteer at the Matzah Ball! (Volunteers will not need to purchase a ticket to attend the event )

If you would like to attend the event as a guest, we are happy to offer staff and one guest a discounted general admission ticket ($25/ each). Please use code JFSSTAFF25 at checkout. (PLEASE NOTE: this is a new staff code, if you purchased a ticket with the original staff code, please reach out to Lauren Maguire, lmaguire@jfswny.org)

APRIL 1ST 2024

INTRODUCING JFS EMBRACES

Here at Jewish Family Services, we pride ourselves on exemplifying the four core Jewish values of cultural responsiveness, trust, person centered care and partnership.

As a new initiative in the Insider, we'd like our staff to highlight each other's embodiment of these values by nominating one another to be recognized for such values in upcoming editions of the Insider. This week’s nominee is our Facilities Manager, Todd Warfield - who was nominated by Carol Quarantillo

If you'd like to nominate a colleague to be highlighted for their dedication to one or more of our core values, please click here.

JFS’ SYDNEY SCHMIDT LIVE ON TV!

JFS’ very own Development Associate, Sydney Schmidt, joined her fellow WINC (Women Inspired through Networking and Collaboration) board members on Daytime Buffalo last Tuesday to discuss their organization and how the support of her fellow WINC members has helped us here at JFS better serve the community. Click below to watch the full segment!

Watch Sydney on TV!

May is National Pet Month and in anticipation, we want to see all of your pets! Submit as many photos as you'd like of you and your furry friends to be featured in the May Monthly Insider If you're having technical difficulties uploading through the form, please email your submission(s) to Madison Ruffo.

Show us your pets!

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JEWISH COMMUNITY SERVICES

AN UPDATE ON CURRENT SUPPORT GROUPS OFFERED THROUGH JEWISH COMMUNITY SERVICES

By; Rabbi Yonina Foster, Jewish Community Services

Rabbi Yonina Foster, who provides psychosocial educational groups for the Jewish community, gives us some insight into active groups in Jewish Community Services. Groups are primarily held in the synagogues or Jewish Community spaces.

Over the past several months, Rabbi Yonina has been reviving a Caregiver group that was started last year for members of Temple Beth Tzedek on North Forest Road The group’s meetings have been in person and by Zoom, befitting the community’s needs and requests.

There are also groups offered for de-stressing and “Age-ing to Sage-ing,” at the Jewish Federation Apartments. Jewish Community Services is also launching a new Bereavement group for those who have experienced death of loved ones.

JFS is also offering Processing groups for people to come talk about the Israel/Gaza War following the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel. Jewish Community Services will participate in a “Let’s Talk About Israel” program in April as well.

“We hope to have students at UB through Hillel join us in a few weeks for a Jewish Mindfulness program and are open to the community members requesting groups specifically for their needs,” said Rabbi Yonina. “We hope, for instance, to initiate a group for families of those with disabilities sometime in the next few months, as well as a mindfulness walking club.”

For each situation, Rabbi Yonina incorporates Hebrew chant and song and text to open discussions and assist in the flow of the conversation as we share our stories, listen, and reflect where we are at. Those who attend each time leave with tools for mental and behavioral health wellness.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH

By: Emily Wirth, Community Engagement

April is National Volunteer Month. It is a month to reflect, acknowledge and celebrate all the impact our volunteers here at JFS and across the world have achieved. To me, volunteering is such an important part of the world we live in.

People often volunteer without even realizing it. When you help a neighbor bring in groceries, drive a family friend to a doctor’s appointment, help a friend move, or even help a stranger with car trouble - you are volunteering.

Throughout the past year, over 250 volunteers graciously offered more than 11,000 hours of their time to help JFS fulfill our mission. Volunteers have completed tasks ranging from filing and organizing to mobilizing a team to set up an empty home to welcome a new family. JFS would not be the same without our hardworking and dedicated volunteers

So, I ask you, if you see a volunteer this month, please tell them the impact they make and how much they are appreciated.

JEWISH COMMUNITY SERVICES HELPS WITH PURIM MEAL DELIVERY

By: Sara Mintz, JCS

On Friday, March 22, 2024, JFS Staff Sara Mintz and Rabbi Yonina Foster along with JCC Staff Erica Baas, came together with seven volunteers, one of which was JFS Board Member Judge Lisa Rodwin to pack Purim Meals for Holocaust Survivors. They met at the Center for Jewish Life, which made the meals for the Survivors, and together they all packed the meals together. There were 20 meals that needed to be delivered and everyone was able to help deliver a meal to each Survivor

This is something that JFS, JCC, HERO, and Center for Jewish Life do every major Jewish Holiday for the Survivors, and it is something that they always look forward to!

UPCOMING EAP TRAINING

Thursday April 4th 12:00pm-12:30pm

Join Parachute Credit Counseling as they discuss the many changes to Federal Student Loans. Now that loans are back in repayment, this workshop will update you on the new payment plan SAVE, updates to forgiveness timelines, and the most up to date information to help you plan your repayment strategy.

Click here to learn more and register for: Federal Student Loans: What is New?

Visit the C+FS EAP website and call EAP at 716-6814300 for information about the benefits of our programs.

DalainaHowell,Finance,1YR

SydneyLyons,PSS,1YR

DavidJankowiak,CommunityEngagement,1YR

DarwinNewkirk,BuffaloCareerServices,19YRS

MeghanRodgers,BuffaloResettlement,2YRS

PeterScott,Programs,9YRS

MeganWolfe,PSS,2YRS

SIGN UP FOR JFS COMMITTEES

To sign up for committees, contact the following people:

Employee Engagement: Meghan Stith (mstith@jfswny.org) or Kara Kane (kkane@jfswny org)

Health & Wellness: Meghan Stith (mstith@jfswny.org)

JEDI, Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Sierra Johnston (sjohnston@jfswny.org) or Danielle Bernas (dbernas@jfswny.org)

Safety: Todd Warfield (twarfield@jfswny.org)

Meghan Stith

Madison Ruffo

Kara Kane

Nikki Ronan

4/6 - Grace McNamara

Behavioral Health Clinic

HEY ALL YOU CYBERSECURITY JUNKIES

We have three winners in the PHI Protect contest! As of April 1, these three team members have the highest ESS (Employee Secure Scores) on PHI Protect:

Megan Wolfe

Megan Rogers

Jowella Brown

Thank you for taking cybersecurity seriously. Our protected information is safe with you. Contact Patty Hoyt to collect your gift card. Keep reading The Insider for more contests!

Insider Contributors:

Lauren Maguire

Molly Carr

Sara Mintz

Rabbi Yonina Foster

Carol Quarantillo

Emily Wirth

Jenn McNamara

Have an idea for the Insider? Want to submit an article? Want to promote an event?

Submit your ideas here!