COMMUNITY HELPLINE – JFS is here to help our community in navigating resources during this unprecedented time. Please call us at (585) 461.0114 or email us at helpline@jfsrochester.org from 9am – 5pm daily and weekends as needed. Please note that this is not an emergency hotline.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency or fear for your safety, call 911.
EVERY MONDAY 1-2 pm
Virtual Bereavement Support Group
The loss of a loved one is felt differently by different people. Some who are grieving want extra support when times get more difficult, especially before holidays. Call (585) 461-0114 to register.
December 16
Parent and Family Wellness Virtual Conference
Baby Safe Sleep Coalition - A Program of Jewish Family Service will host a Parent and Family Wellness Virtual Conference on Thursday, December 16, 2020 for parents and caregivers with children/grandchildren ages 0-4yrs old. This conference is designed to educate and empower parents and guardians to take a proactive stance towards their health and the health of their child – mind, body, and spirit.
Join BSSC for two sessions (10–11:15AM and 1–2:15PM) to learn more about topics ranging from self-care, nutrition, housing, DHS benefits, family literacy, unsafe sleep practices and more! The deadline to register for the conference is December 10th. Registration link: https://conta.cc/35Ebp1y
December 10
Chanukah in-a-box
Dinners will be provided at no cost to those who are in need of a meal and/or unable to access food without assistance. Sign-up here.
Chanukah in-a-box may also be purchased for $20/box. If you would like to sponsor a meal for someone, this option is also available. All orders must be received by Monday, November 30th at 5:00 PM.
November 19 from 12 - 1 pm - Free Webinar
Resilience: The Ordinary Magic
Speaker: Talli Goldman-Dolge,
CEO of Jewish Family Service of San Antonio
Register Today!
When researchers tried to predict who is most susceptible to mental health challenges, they discovered some people who seemed to be invincible to the risk factors. What super power did those people have that made them different from others? The ordinary magic of resilience.
All of us have resilience within ourselves to help overcome the adversities of life. We just have to learn how to harness it. Jewish Family Service’s latest educational talk explores five simple practices of resilience and provides practical tasks attendees can do to make resilience part of their everyday life. As a bonus, attendees will have access to a free bullet journal to practice gratitude, the resilience superpower that takes only five minutes a day.
November 19 - 22
A Weekend of Peace and Community For Everyone
JFS is proud to be participating in A Weekend of Peace and Community for Everyone. In this time when we cannot be together, physically, join with nineteen local Jewish institutions, agencies, and affiliates and celebrate Shabbat collectively.
Starting Thursday, November 19th through Sunday, November 22nd, a variety of programs and engagement opportunities will be offered meeting the needs of our diverse population. Please visit the Jewish Federation of Rochester website for more informaton about upcoming events and registration.
21-Day Racial Equity Challenge
By now you may have heard that thousands of individuals and hundreds of local organizations have joined together to take a community-wide 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. The Challenge is a powerful opportunity to collectively develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and community. Jewish Family Service is dedicated to learning and taking action to create an equitable community for all and has chosen to participate in the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. The 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge is a starting point. Join Jewish Family Service and sign up today! SIGN-UP HERE
Pandemic Youth Voice Project
Listening to the voices of our children has never been more paramount than it is right now. Please take a moment to hear what children from all over the country had to say about the pandemic and more importantly about what they wish the adults around them understood during this time. Click the link for the video.
October 28th - 7pm - Free Webinar
Parents: How to Support your Children this New COVID-19 School Year
This webinar will discuss how to adapt to changes this new COVID-19 school year; how to address possible mental and behavioral health effects; and how to best support your children to mitigate short and long term consequences. Register Today!
August 27, 2020
Rosh Hashanah In-a-Box
Jewish Family Service of Rochester, Inc. is proud to offer Rosh Hashanah In-a-Box on Friday, September 18th. Dinners will be provided at no cost to those who are in need of a meal and/or unable to access food without assistance. Sign-up here. Rosh Hashanah In-a-Box may also be purchased for $20/box. If you would like to sponsor a meal for someone, donate here. All orders must be received by Wednesday, September 9th at 5 PM.
July 20, 2020
Pandemic Youth Voice Project Survey closes today, July 20th
Children and teens of ALL ages (up to 18): We know that the best way to understand what you are experiencing at this time is to listen to YOU! Jewish Family Service of Rochester, Inc. is collecting responses for our Pandemic Youth Voice Project to provide children/teens (locally, and beyond) an opportunity to have their voices heard during this pandemic. The purpose of our short
SURVEY is to provide a space for children/teens to reflect on their current experiences; prompt meaningful conversations in families; and inform parents and our community what children/teens think adults should know during this time. Our survey will close tonight!
Feature article from
WXXINews.org Kids talk about what the pandemic is like for them, how parents can help.
July 12-17
A Week of Community
Join us along with the JCC, Jewish Federation, Jewish Senior Life, Hillel Community Day School, Women's Philanthropy, Board of Rabbis of Rochester and the JCC Ames Amzalak Rochester Jewish Film Festival, for a weeklong of community opportunities. Click links to the right for details.
Monday, June 15
Jewish Family Service and Hillel Community Day School are proud to launch The Lunch Box!
Sign-up for free lunches for your children by this Thursday. First lunch pick-up starts June 15. Once you have signed-up, you will receive an email with next week sign-up form. Children ages 3 to 18 years-old are eligible. Orders accepted until Thursday at 3 pm each week.
Lunches may be picked-up at Hillel Community Day School,191 Fairfield Drive, Rochester NY 14620. Monday-Friday from 10 to 11 am Certified Kosher from the Buffalo Vaad. Milk NOT Cholov Yisroel. Nut-free facility.
Sign-up here.
SUMMER FUN BAGS
Please help Jewish Family Service, Brighton Food Cupboard and Pencils and Paper in providing healthy snacks and fun activities to over 400 children supported by our agencies. Please drop-off individually packaged requested items at the following locations between 9 am to noon.
MONDAY, JUNE 15
B’RITH KODESH 2131 Elmwood
Small Bottles of Water, Applesauce, Popcorn
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
TEMPLE SINAI 363 Penfield Road
Juice Boxes, Animal Crackers, Fruit Roll-Ups/Dehydrated Fruit
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
BETH EL 139 Winton Road South
Granola Bars, Small Bottles of Water, Animal Crackers, Popcorn
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
B’RITH KODESH 2131 Elmwood Avenue
Pretzels, Animal Crackers, Applesauce
May 10, 2020
Pandemic Parenting
with bestselling author Rachel Simmons
Free interactive workshop - Preregister Here
When the pandemic is over, your children will most remember how they felt. In this interactive workshop, learn practical tools to respond to stress—theirs and yours—with emotional intelligence, composure and compassion.
May 10, 2020
Nurses Serving Others sponsoring food drive to benefit the Brighton Food Cupboard
Nurses Serving Others is sponsiring a food drive in celebration of National Nurses Week. Drop off is at the Brighton Town Hall on Sunday, May 10th between 11 am & 1 pm. Nonparishable food requested: canned fruites & vegetables, soup, rice, pasta, sauce, snacks.
May 5, 2020
Food Drive for Brighton Food Cupboard
The JCC is hosting a food drive to benefit the Brighton Food Cupboard on Tuesday May 5 from 2-4 pm in the JCC parking lot. Please bring non-perisable food donate. Thank you JCC!
March 31, 2020
Join our Virtual Support Group
Bereavement support group for those who have lost a loved one
1:00 pm on Mondays
Join via Zoom using this link
March 18, 2020
Volunteering - If you are interested in volunteering, please email us at
volunteer@jfsrochester.org. We are looking for volunteers willing to
deliver food, grocery shop, medication pick-up for those immunocompromised or elderly in our community. We are also looking for volunteers to who are willing to make calls to elderly individuals who could simply use a
friendly caller.
Groceries-to-Go In an effort to connect volunteers who can bring groceries and supplies to those in high-risk demographics, Jewish Family Service has implemented a Groceries-to-Go program. Groceries-to-Go aims to connect volunteer shoppers with individuals who can afford their groceries but are currently unable to get to the store themselves. Our initial focus is on the those who do not have family or other supports to assist them and are elderly, immunocompromised, or a person with disabilities. Call (585) 461.0116 to participate.
Counseling - Are you in need of counseling? While JFS staff is working remotely due to COVID-19, we are conducting business as usual in the counseling department via
Telehealth Counseling. We are here to support you and your children for crisis intervention or short/long term counseling. All you need is a WiFi enabled device. Please call the JFS Helpline at: (585) 461.0114
March 16, 2020
Programs Suspended - Pencils & Paper , Brighton Your Wardrobe, Programing at the NORC and Affordable Housing is closed or canceled until further notice.
- Volunteers - Please do not report for any scheduled shifts at this time. Your saftey and health is our chief concern. Thank you.
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