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!
Volunteers needed for the Boulder Jewish Festival
Join JFS Boulder at the 25th annual Boulder Jewish Festival on Sunday, June 12. Volunteers are needed at the JFS booth to help set up, work the booth, and tear down at the end of the event.
Celebrating Passover throughout our Boulder community
This year, senior community residents in the Boulder County area welcomed a traditional observance of Passover with both JFS Boulder volunteer para chaplains and local Rabbi’s leading services and returning to in-person experiences.
Marshall Fire response
The JFS Boulder team has responded to unprecedented community need from the Marshall Fire. Since December 30, 2021, we have responded to 344 applications, representing 944 individuals. Read how this extraordinary team is making a powerful impact throughout the community.
Project EM: Embracing, Empowering, Employing Our Community
Whether you’re out of a job or need to make a career change, we know that looking for work can be overwhelming. But you don’t have to go it alone thanks to Project EM and JFS. Learn more about jump-starting your employment journey today.
I Matter: Making sure youth have the support they need
In the summer of 2021, Colorado passed a bill establishing a temporary behavioral health services program in response to our youth’s worsening mental health crisis. And, JFS is proud to be one of the participants in the I Matter program, which is the first in the nation. Learn more about this one-of-a-kind program and how it might help you.
The 150th Anniversary Executive Lunch is in the books
The JFS 150th Anniversary Executive Luncheon with Amy Schumer proved that laughter is the best medicine—especially when you also make a life-changing difference for thousands of families who come to JFS to rebuild their lives.
Shout-out to our volunteers!
At JFS, we often talk about how we could not do what we do without the work of our volunteers. It’s not a secret that JFS has some of the most dedicated and compassionate volunteers any organization could hope to have. Our volunteers’ efforts can be seen and felt throughout the organization and community. While we appreciate our volunteers every day, during National Volunteer Appreciation Week, this remarkable group of people deserves to be recognized for their impact and celebrated for their commitment to JFS.
Women of JFS: past and present
March is National Women’s History Month. In honor of the impact women have had on JFS’s 150-year history, we’d like to highlight our founder and a few of the current women who continue to help shape the organization to have the greatest impact for the greater good.
How JFS is helping wildfire relief efforts
Since the Marshall Fire roared through the Boulder area at the end of 2021, Jewish Family Service (JFS) has been actively responding to the community’s needs in the aftermath of this tragedy. Thanks to JEWISHcolorado’s Boulder Fire Relief Fund, CFBC’s Boulder County Wildfire Fund, and donations to JFS’s wildfire fund, we have responded to 328 applications and more than 900 individuals. In addition, we have provided referrals, case management, 125 computers, $12,000 in gift cards, and $288,6000 in direct financial assistance.
Families like the Engel’s . . .
Partner Spotlight: Dependable Cleaners
The Toltz family has supported JFS for decades, and Steven Toltz, president of Dependable Cleaners, continues their legacy of giving. “Besides a generational understanding, I have several friends and family who have volunteered at JFS or sat on its Board,” said Toltz.
Caring for Holocaust Survivors
JFS is dedicated to providing financial assistance and resources to Holocaust survivors so that they can live with the peace, comfort, and dignity they need and deserve.
JFS Awarded $500,000 for Vocational Training Program
Congresswoman Diana DeGette’s request was approved by Congress for nearly $13.3 million to fund 10 important projects in the Denver area designed to make more housing, employment, and health care services available to those in need. The requests were also supported and championed by Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper.
Fighting Food Insecurity While Inflation Rises
March is National Nutrition Month, and it was created to call attention to making informed food choices and developing healthy eating habits. It’s also an excellent time to talk about JFS’s Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Food Pantry.
When Is Helping as Easy as Shopping?
Did you know that every time you buy milk or fill your gas tank at King Soopers or purchase that Instant Pot or weighted blanket on Amazon, you can help those who need it most through JFS? If you’re looking for a simple, convenient way to support JFS by doing what you usually do at no additional cost to you, we’ve got two programs to share with you!