Be sure to check out the new Therapy Program webpage. Learn about our offerings, our clinicians, insurances accepted and how JFS can help you reach your goals.
News
September is National Hunger Action Month – Help Stock the Pantry
September is National Hunger Action Month and Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven, Inc. is participating by collecting non-perishable food to help stock its pantry shelves. Hunger Action Month is your opportunity to be a part of this national movement by donating non-perishable items to help feed the many local families in need of food assistance.Some of the items most requested include:
Cereal
Boxed pasta
Hamburger Helper;
Rice mixes (Rice-a-Roni, microwave rice pouches);
Grains (couscous, quinoa);
Canned vegetables all varieties (beets, mushrooms, potatoes – sliced, whole or diced, corn, French style green beans, peas, lima beans);
Canned Tomatoes (whole peeled; crushed, puree, tomato paste, diced)
Tea and Coffee (especially Decaf);
Soups of all types; and baking mixes.
Newly purchased Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at the JFS Food Pantry (1440 Whalley Avenue) on Wednesdays or Thursdays between 8:30 – 12:00 PM. For an alternate drop off day and time, please contact Sandy Hagan at (203) 397-0796.
Join Us for an Inclusivity Celebration – August 16
Join us the the JFS Inclusivity Celebration on Friday, August 16, 2024 celebrating Rachel Scolnic Dobin’s new position as Inclusivity Director at the JCC. The event will be from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (brief program at 12:15 p.m.) in the Vine Auditorium, 360 Amity Road in Woodbridge. The event will bring together members of our Holocaust Survivors Program the JFS Shalom Group; the Cafe J team from The Schleifer Center at Chapel Haven; past & present Board members, JFS staff and our JFS donors who generously support our mission.
Visit Our Mental Health Page on Psychology Today
JFS has a new Mental Health Program listing/page on the Psychology Today website. Follow this link to learn more about our mental health program and what types of therapy and treatment options are available.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/therapy-at-jfs-new-haven-new-haven-ct/1306504
Help Stock the Soup Shelf in January During National Soup Month
January is National Soup Month and it’s time for our Annual 2024 “Soup”er Bowl of Caring.” During January and the first two weeks of February leading up to the televised championship football game, the JFS Food Pantry & Food Assistance Program will be collecting all things “Soup.”
You can join our team to help in our battle to fight hunger in our local community. Here’s what you can hand off to us during this special non-perishable soup collection:
Meat based soup (beef, chicken all varieties)
Kid’s soup (chicken & stars, chicken & rice
Cream soup (cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, potato, clam chowder, cream of broccoli, split pea)
Dry soup mixes
Broths (chicken, beef, turkey, vegetable) cans or cartons
Low sodium or healthy soups
Single serve microwaveable soup
Kosher soup mixes
Organic soups
Donations can be dropped off at the JFS Food Pantry, 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven beginning January 3rd on Wednesday and Thursdays between 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. If you will be dropping off a large quantity of items, or need a different day and time, please contact us so we can schedule your donation drop off. If you have any questions, please contact the Pantry at (203) 397-0796 or Sandy Hagan at shagan@jfsnh.org.
Upcoming Safe Space to Grieve Support Groups
Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven is offering opportunities to participate in
community programs, an offering made possible by a generous Community IMPACT grant
from our Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven. SAFE SPACES TO GRIEVE is a community, peer-support approach to coping with and remembering loved ones who have died. The groups will be led by Certified Grief Educator Barb Segura, LPC.
For more information, or to register for any of the groups listed below, contact Barb Segura, LPC, or Dinesh Perera, LMFT, at griefgroups@jfsnh.org. You will receive zoom link and password.
COMMUNITY SPACE TO GRIEVE AND HEAL
SUNDAY October 22nd, 12 PM on ZOOM – THIS GROUP WILL MEET ONE TIME
MOURNING AND MITZVAH: ONGOING GROUP
This group meets twice a month and uses the guided journal Mourning and Mitzvah by
Rabbi Anne Brener, MAJCS MS, LCSW. This book will be provided free for the first 20 group participants who return to the second group meeting. The group will start November 7th from 3 PM – 4:30 PM and is scheduled the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.
OPEN TOPIC GRIEF EXPLORATION GROUPS: WILL BE OFFERED FOUR TIMES
Group attendees with facilitator’s support, will be able to identify the most emergent topic
related to loss, grief, and healing. Topics range from a focus on personal and/or community
responses and impact from loss and grief.
Meeting Time: TUESDAYS 7 PM – 8:30 PM on ZOOM
November 14th, December 12th, January 9th, February 13th
Barb Segura, LPC creates a sacred space for healing and transformation. Grief is often unacknowledged in our fast paced, youth-oriented culture. The grief journey is an individual journey, as unique as fingerprints. If tended to, grief can guide our healing and enrich our lives. She provides grief education, consultation, coaching and facilitates support groups. Some support groups are offered specifically for the Jewish mourner.
National Hunger Action Month & High Holiday Food Donation Guidelines
September signifies back to school, cooler weather, the return of Pumpkin Spice food & coffee, Jewish High holidays and National Hunger Action Month. Hunger Action Month highlights food insecurity and how individuals, businesses and organizations can and do help those in their community and beyond.
Feeding America estimates approximately 1 in 6 people turned to charitable food assistance for additional support in 2022. In its last Feeding America Map the Meal Gap survey, 16.3% of households in New Haven; 6.7% of households in Woodbridge; and 5.2% of households in Orange were food insecure.
Since the start of 2023, the JFS Food Pantry has served 1530 duplicated households and helped an additional 202 new households seeking emergency food assistance from the above town and others in Greater New Haven county.
In recognition of Hunger Action Month the JFS Food Pantry & Food Assistance Program will be collecting non-perishable foods to help stock the JFS Pantry shelves. Here are the most requested foods and our food donation guidelines (especially if you will be donating to your local synagogue High Holiday food collection/drive):
Cereal (all types for adult and children)
Soups and broths (cans and boxed)
Canned meals/meats such as Canned Chicken, Stew, Chili, Chef Boyardee or store brand canned pasta
Boxed Pasta (angel hair, fettuccini, elbows, shells, bowties, rigatoni, orzo, ditalini, penne, ziti, bagged egg noodles, rotini, tri-color rotini, linguine, spaghetti, whole grain)
Gluten Free pasta such as chick pea or lentil pasta
Condiments such as BBQ sauce; salad dressing; mayo; mustard; ketchup
Canned vegetables such as corn or creamed corn; sliced carrots; French style green beans; potatoes (diced, sliced or whole); beets; sauerkraut
Canned Fruits or fruit cups (especially those in water or light syrup/no sugar added) such as applesauce, mandarin oranges, pineapple (all types), pears, peaches, fruit cups.
Tea bags/Instant, decaf or regular coffee Things to Keep in Mind: Avoid oversized containers and packaging, as they are awkward and difficult to carry and transport home by our pantry guests and many of our visitors are one and two member households. Check and verify that all items are not past their use by/best buy or expiration date. Please avoid glass containers, as they can break in transport or during processing. Please remember, due to health and safety concerns we cannot accept any open/partial containers or boxes, repackaged items; or homemade items – this includes items without a label. If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Hagan at shagan@jfsnh.org or 203-397-0796.
Save the Date: A Night of Recognition, April 7, 2024
Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven has scheduled their Annual Spring Event Fundraiser for Sunday, April 7, 2024 at the Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge. Check back here and our Facebook page for additional announcements about this event as the date nears.
Now Offering…JAMP on the Shoreline! (Jewish Aging Mastery Program)
We’re thrilled by the community’s enthusiasm for this program and are delighted that so many of you signed up for the first round of JAMP (Jewish Aging Mastery Program)! The program’s first cohort at the JCC has reached capacity, but don’t worry…
Registration is LIVE for another 12 week JAMP on the Shoreline!
PLEASE DO NOT re-register for JAMP. If you have already registered, you will be receiving an email with a seat offer for the 2nd cohort. There is no need to register again.
The Jewish Aging Mastery Program, brought to you by the National Council on Aging and Jewish Family Service, invites you to join us for an exceptional lineup of sessions that delve deep into the intricacies of aging. These sessions aim to provide you with valuable knowledge, practical insights, and strategies to enhance your well-being as you embrace the aging process!
Each session will be led by knowledgeable experts in the field of aging and health, who will share their expertise, experiences, and evidence-based practices to further support and educate you. We are confident that these dynamic and lively sessions will empower you with the tools and information necessary to lead a fulfilling and vibrant life.
The Jewish Aging Mastery Program is a 12 week program. Normally, such a program would be extremely costly. However, thanks to a generous Community Impact Grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, this program is FREE to you. SIGN UP NOW!
Join us for twelve Mondays, January 8th – March 25th, 1:30-3:00 PM at Chabad of the Shoreline, NHMR, Guilford CT. Please ensure Zoom compatibility due to potential winter weather. Snacks will be provided.
Spread the word — If this program isn’t for you, it’s for someone you know!
Look for #JAMPGNH on our social media for more information about speakers, updates, and more.
Click the link below to SIGN UP NOW!
Click Here to Sign Up for JAMP and Choose Chabad of the Shoreline!
Contact Elanit Linder with Any Questions
Check Out JFS for More Adult Aging Education Opportunities
Welcome to JAMP -Jewish Aging Mastery Program
There’s a critical problem facing those aged 55+. Our life expectancy is increasing, yet for many of us, our health, finances, relationships, and quality of life are expected to decrease.
Thankfully, there is a solution to this problem: It’s an upcoming evidence-based 12-part series by the National Council on Aging, called the Aging Mastery Program. Jewish Family Service is presenting this through a Jewish lens and we are thrilled to invite you to it.
In the Jewish Aging Mastery Program, you’ll gain:
- The Basics of Aging Mastery and How to Navigate Longer Quality Lives.
- How to eat, exercise, and sleep to give you a better quality of life as you age.
- Increase your Financial Fitness so you’re better prepared for the sudden medical bills and unexpected expenses that are a part of aging.
- How to heal difficult or broken relationships with family and loved ones.
- And much, much more!!!
Spaces are very limited, so SIGN UP NOW!
The Jewish Aging Mastery Program is a 10-12 week program. Normally, such a program would cost thousands of dollars. However, thanks to a generous Community Impact Grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, this program is being offered FREE to you.
Learn the core competencies of aging well and empower yourself and your friends to be the champions, advocates and masters of your own aging. These are the 10 Best Ways to a Healthier, more Satisfying Life as You Age without the Fears (and magical thinking) of Growing Old!
Tuesdays, August 22nd through November 7th, 2023 at 11:15am in the Terrace Room at the JCC Of Greater New Haven. (15-minutes after the Silver Sneakers Exercise program at the JCC ends)
If this program isn’t for you, it’s for someone you know!