JFS Rapid Re-housing program: helping to end homelessness
For more than 25 years, JFS has provided services for homelessness prevention and housing assistance for our unhoused neighbors in the seven-county Denver metro area, including Boulder County. We view housing as the foundation for improving a client’s life, along with wraparound services, and that once stable housing is achieved, individuals and families can focus on finding employment, taking care of their mental health, and working toward self-sufficiency.
February Volunteer of the Month
We are excited to introduce our February Volunteer of the Month, Pat H., who volunteers in the Weinberg Food Pantry and at the Reception Desk. In these roles, Pat helps ensure members of our community have access to nurtirious food and hygiene items and helps greet individuals, answering questions and helping them find the services they need.
What’s on the Boulder horizon
Partnerships play a significant role in the work that we do and the success of the organization. Each day, we are excited and humbled to have the opportunity to help those who rely on our programs and services, and we recognize our work can only happen because of the support we receive.
Wrapping up our Boulder County Crisis Counseling program
Since the Marshall Fire roared through the Boulder area, JFS has responded to the community’s needs, including providing mental health support thanks to a partnership between the Community Foundation Boulder County and additional funding from the Red Cross and Boulder County Health and Human Services. Our administration of the Boulder County Crisis Counseling mental health program ended at the end of December 2024, and we’re excited to share our wrap-up.
60,000 diapers and counting
Sophie is a 7th-grade student in middle school, and she loves to dance, play the bass in orchestra, and go to Camp Sabra in Lake of the Ozarks, MO. And, for the past six years, her compassion and commitment to making the world a better place has been felt throughout JFS and our community with her diaper drive.
JFS is bridging the gap in the mental health crisis
JFS’s mental health services were strengthened with the receipt of a two-year Caring for Denver Nurse Practitioner grant. Now, we can help even more people who can benefit from mental health treatment with a focus on connecting individuals who need psychiatric medication and related therapy with a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. We’re excited to introduce James Camp, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, to our community.
Jewish Chaplaincy Services: Compassionate support in difficult times with Rabbi Rick Brody
When a family member reached out during their parent's end-of-life journey, JFS Community Chaplain Rabbi Rick Brody offered essential Jewish crisis support. Through compassionate listening and pastoral care, Rabbi Brody helped ease the individual's anxiety while facilitating crucial spiritual connections.
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!