Finding support after a tragedy
It’s difficult to imagine going out of town and returning to find your home—your entire neighborhood—decimated by a wildfire, but that’s exactly what Julie and her family experienced in late December when the Marshall Fire roared through their Louisville community. However, throughout the turmoil, Julie shared stories about the acts of kindness and grace she experienced from people and organizations, including JFS, who stepped up in so many ways.
Refugee Mental Health team offered a therapeutic wellness group for recently arrived refugee students
The JFS Refugee Mental Health program provides specialized, culturally sensitive, compassionate mental health care and support services for refugees and immigrants of all ages, faiths, ethnicities, and countries of origin. Last April, the Refugee Mental Health team started a new therapeutic wellness group for recently arrived refugee students at Denver’s South High School to give students a space to feel comfortable sharing their experiences and expressing themselves in a welcoming and safe environment.
Lunchbox Express is BACK!
JFS’s Lunchbox Express program adapted to accommodate COVID-19 health and safety guidelines for the past two years. With restrictions lifting, we’re excited to welcome children back to our traditional service model. When schools let out for summer, families who rely heavily on school-based free and reduced-price lunch programs can turn to the Lunchbox Express program to receive nutritionally balanced lunches.
2022 Lunchbox Express Schedule
FREE Lunches for Kids! Lunchbox Express, a program of Jewish Family Service, provides free lunches to children during the summer when they don’t have access to free or reduced-fee lunches in their schools. Meals are provided at 13 sites throughout the Denver metro area via vans and one static site.
Free meals are available Monday through Friday. No service on July 4.
Economic Vulnerability in the Jewish Community
The 2018-2019 Greater Denver Jewish Community Study is the most recent compilation of data around economic vulnerability in the Jewish community. Over 2,500 Jewish households in metro Denver and the Boulder region participated in the survey which provides an in-depth look at the area’s Jewish population, demographic composition, philanthropy and volunteering practices, community engagement levels, connection to Jewish life, and more.
Help shape the future of JFS
Thanks to the vision and substantial commitment of those who came before us, JFS has evolved to meet the needs of those who rely on us most for 150 years. Without their support and generosity, JFS would not be the vital resource it is today. Now, we hope it’s time for you to consider your legacy.
Make mental health a priority
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, fighting stigma, and supporting the estimated one million Coloradans with mental health conditions and their families. It is also a time to check in with yourself and ask if you or your loved ones need additional support, want to make healthier choices, and are the best version of yourself?
Finding a path to meet community needs
It’s easy to list how the Covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected us, but there have been unexpected benefits. At JFS, for example, we found new ways to connect with people throughout our community, identified ways to adjust our programs to be still able to help people, and became even more aware of the importance of meeting their needs . Whether barriers were related to Covid-19 or just illuminated by the crisis, the Aging Care and Connections team continues to find ways to serve the older adult population better.
JFS Family Concert: Rocking Colorado for 150 years
JFS is hosting its inaugural family-friendly event—JFS Family Concert: Rocking Colorado for 150 Years at Mission Ballroom, and you’re invited! This concert will honor and celebrate JFS’s 150th anniversary and feature a special solo acoustic performance by Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff. This multigenerational event is sure to be a crowd-pleaser you don’t want to miss!
