During the last blizzard, Delores Paredes trudged through the snow to look after an elderly couple she helps as a personal care homemaker for Jewish Family Service of MetroWest. On her day off, the Framingham resident bathed Ramon Camilo, a 101-year-old new citizen from the Dominican Republic, prepared meals for his wife and him and ensured they had enough food to get through the storm.

That mix of "professionalism and personal involvement,'' doesn't surprise Damaris Medina-Hernandez, home care manager for JFSM, who supervises Paredes and 21 others. Read the entire article here.

 

Award winning actress Linda Evans, will keynote the 3rd Annual "Reflections of Hope" Luncheon in an effort to break the stigma of mental illness and benefit the mental health services of Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services.  Evans, best known for her role as Krystal Carrington in the hit television series Dynasty, has herself suffered from depression, which she shares in her best-selling book, Recipes for Life: My Memories.  The community is invited to hear Evans at 11:00 a.m. on February 26, 2015 at Boca West Country Club.



Glenn Glazer, WPTV Channel 5 meteorologist will once again emcee the compelling program that helps raise the profile of this critical issue affecting one in four adults, while raising much needed funds to support mental health services. Learn more here.

 

The Board of Directors of Agence Ometz announced that Howard Berger, Co-Executive Director, will retire effective April 30, 2015.


 
Since 2001, Howard has held leadership roles in Agencies providing critical services to the Jewish Community in Montreal.  As Executive Director for Jewish Employment Montreal (JEM - formerly Jewish Vocational Services) Howard built a strong and respected organization dedicated to helping native Jewish Montrealers and new arrivals hone their job seeking skills and to reaching out to the business community to secure employment opportunities for those so eager to work.  
 
Gail Small will remain in place as Executive Director. Continue reading here.

 

During the month of February, Jewish Child & Family Services of Chicago celebrated Jewish Disability Month (JDAM) and North American Inclusion Month (NAIM) by joining forces with agency affiliates to offer community-wide programs that raised awareness and responded to the needs, strengths, opportunities and challenges of people with disabilities and their families across the lifespan.

 "Jewish Disability Awareness Month is the perfect time to showcase the depth of our year-round programs, events and services that continually build inclusive communities for children and adults with disabilities and their families," said Elizabeth Wyman, JCFS Senior Director, Services for People with Disabilities.

Photo Courtesy: Harter, Larson & Dodd, Estate Planning and Elder Law

JCFS offers a variety of services and resources  including respite, community workshops, inclusive camps and recreation, assessment and testing, residential support for adults, education and support groups, and speech, occupational and developmental therapies.

 Events throughout the month included:  "Policy, Advocacy, and You! Success in Community Living for People with Disabilities" highlights successful community living that is happening in the midst of dramatic changes in national and state polices impacting people with disabilities and seniors. This program is beneficial for people with disabilities, older adults, their family members and the professionals who work with them. Featured speakers include self-advocates as well as policy experts from Access Living and Health and Medicine Policy Group. Read more here.

 
by Leslie Sugiura, Director of Special Events

If you've shopped at the Central Co-op on Capitol Hill in recent months, you might have been asked by your cashier if you'd like to round your grocery bill up to the nearest dollar for local food banks. This simple question has helped raise more than $6,000 in the past 19 months, resulting in a 400% increase of the Co-op's donation to Jewish Family Service of Seattle.

"The on-going support from the Central Co-op is amazing," says Carol Mullin, Director of Emergency Services. "They understand the needs in our community and express that support clearly through this initiative."



"We thank our partners across the street for their active participation in our community," says Mullin. "They've been longtime supporters of what we do here."

JFS is one of two beneficiaries of this fundraising effort; the other being Centerstone Food Bank. Both food banks are located within minutes of the store.

"We're committed to principles defined by our members," says Community Outreach Administrator Webster Walker. "It's not only about the bottom line; it's about being a good member of the community. Everyone should have access to good, quality food." Continue reading the blog here.