8 ways to give back that don’t involve money
It can feel daunting when you want to help your community, but you’re not sure how, and maybe financial resources are tight. The opportunities to support JFS go beyond making a financial donation (although that’s always a possibility!). Take a look and share your gifts and talents now and throughout the year.
JFS Altius Farms: Fungi news
So much is happening at JFS Altius Farms, and we’re thrilled to share more about our culinary mushroom cultivation as farm production expands. We’ve been busy from farm box installation to training staff to inoculating our first crop, and we’re excited to pass along the latest update!
New volunteer opportunity: Share your knowledge
We need enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers to serve as guest presenters for our employment training classes and workshops. Volunteers will share their expertise with our clients, helping them gain the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate the ever-changing job market. What a fun way to support JFS and our community members!
Preparing for the future with JFS AutoCAD® Design classes
Are you interested in diving into the world of 2D and 3D design? If so, our AutoCAD Design® program will take you to the next level and also includes career readiness classes and access to a career coach for job search and resume assistance. Our AutoCAD®/Autodesk Trainer, Omar Al Ezzi, shares his experience with one of our AutoCAD® Design training students.
Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) Events throughout the community
JFS Jewish Disabilities Advocates and our JDA Partner Organizations will focus on Accessibility and Accommodations in Jewish Spaces during Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) and throughout 2025. Our goal is to raise awareness, acceptance, and understanding, and create communities that are accessible and provide needed accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
JFS Statement about U.S. Refugee Program
Jewish Family Service (JFS), along with our resettlement partners at HIAS, are saddened and disappointed by the decision by the U.S. State Department to issue a stop-work order cutting off vital support to families who have already resettled in the United States and the recent executive order suspending any new arrivals of refugees. These developments will have a significant impact on JFS’ Yana Vishnitsky Refugee Resettlement program, and refugees from around the world who are building a new life in Colorado and reliant on our services for their well-being. JFS resettled 137 individuals between October 15, 2024, and January 15, 2025, a significant increase compared to the typical 60 individuals we would generally resettle during this period.
January Volunteer of the Month
We are excited to introduce our January Volunteer of the Month, Joe L., who volunteers as a para-chaplain and friendly visitor volunteer in the Boulder community. In these roles, Joe helps strengthen the connection between Jewish residents living in non-Jewish senior residential facilities and the Jewish community by arranging and leading religious services for Shabbat, High Holy Days, Hannukah, and Passover. Additionally, his friendly visitor volunteer role helps older adults by providing companionship to individuals facing loneliness and isolation.
Cold Weather Shelter Resource
The City and County of Denver has extended its severe weather activation until January 21, 2025, allowing unhoused families access to hotel vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis through the Connection Center.
Rebuilding after the Marshall Fire
The Boulder County Crisis Counseling program (BCCC), a partnership between JFS and Community Foundation Boulder County, offered mental health support after the devastating Marshall Fire. The program, which ended December 31, 2024, provided more than 1,000 individuals affected by the fire with mental health services.
Support refugees on their journey to a new life
We're looking for compassionate volunteers to assist refugees as they settle into their new lives in our community. Learn more about these opportunities and apply.
Groundbreaking news at JFS Altius Farms
We are excited to share more about our JFS Altius Farms culinary mushroom cultivation as the farm expansion to add Farm Box containers is underway.
JDAIM community learning evening
February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), and the hope is to spark awareness and bring change into our everyday lives for those with disabilities in our Jewish community. JDAIM is a time for the Jewish community nationwide to learn, connect, and create programming that expands understanding and inclusion for those with disabilities and their families.
Celebrating light and hope
We continued our partnership with 11 older adult facilities to provide Hanukkah celebrations to residents and their families. Bringing happiness, light, and hope to these communities is such an impactful way to show we care for our Jewish friends. We truly appreciate our supporters’ efforts in making these celebrations meaningful!
Inspiration abounds at Faces of JFS
The Faces of JFS event was the place to be on December 4! Guests celebrated how JFS has been helping individuals and families in need for more than 152 years. We also recognized two incredible individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, philanthropy, and dedication to JFS and our community: Yana Vishnitsky Leadership Award recipient, Dr. Richard Sanders, and Joyce and Kal Zeff Humanitarian Award recipient, Dr. Nancy Reichman.
We appreciate you!
Whether you gave to our end of year campaign, supported Colorado Gives Day, participated in our Adopt a Family Bright Holidays gift program, or were a Secret Shopper and provided gifts to local individuals and families, we thank you. Your generosity brought joy and light to our community. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for your support and willingness to help those who need us most.
10 tips for coping with grief
For those dealing with grief, whether it’s recent or not, the holidays can stir up many emotions. Maybe a loss seems heavier, or sadness or loneliness feels overwhelming. Paula Stephens, Abby's Impact: Realizing Resilience Program Coordinator, shares essential advice to help individuals navigate this time of year when they are dealing with grief.
December Volunteer of the Month
We are excited to introduce our December Volunteer of the Month, Alan Y., who volunteers with our adaptive bike program during the summer months, helping people with disabilities increase mobility, enjoy the benefits of improved physical and mental health, build social connections, work on bike and safety skills and have fun in their community. When not volunteering as an adaptive bike companion, Alan volunteers at JFS Altius Farms and with our Arts and Community Exploration program, helping with honey bottling.
A Gift For You, From You: Closing the Year with Self Kindness
The end of the year can be difficult, from holiday stress and mixed emotions, to dwindling daylight and cold nights. Many of us struggle to be kind to ourselves in the best of times, let alone when we’re facing extra stressors, but learning to be kind to ourselves is one of the best tools for building our resilience and overall wellbeing.
Program spotlight: JFS Boulder
This month, we’re excited to spotlight our JFS Boulder program. We sat down with Melissa Mascareñas, Director of JFS Boulder, to learn about this remarkable team and their work throughout JFS and our communities.
We are thankful for you!
Together, we made a difference in the communities we serve this Thanksgiving! Thanks to our partners, volunteers, donors, and staff, we shared the warmth of the holiday with our neighbors who might otherwise not enjoy a traditional meal, including homebound older adults.