News & Impact

The Press Democrat By Meg McConahey FAUX FLAMES MAY BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THE FIRE-TRAUMATIZED THIS YEAR It’s the season of soft light, when candles are flickering and hearth fires roaring. But in the aftermath of October’s firestorms, which destroyed thousands of homes in Sonoma County and shrouded the air with heavy smoke for days, many people may find themselves looking warily at those flames that used to symbolize cozy comfort and peace. “Fire has been one of those things that keeps us warm and has always had positive memories,” said Diana Klein, director of the Sonoma County Regional… Read More

“I want to die with dignity.” Nora is a client of Jewish Family and Children’s Services whose story and strength I find inspiring. She has not only survived the Holocaust, she’s outlived her husband and son. Now, at 93, she’s been diagnosed with cancer. When Nora reached out to JFCS, she tearfully said she hadn’t spoken to anyone in two weeks and that getting around on her own was painful. With no living relatives and only a small fixed income to pay her bills, Nora needs our help. “I was 17 years old when the Nazis took us from our… Read More

For Immediate Release: October 9, 2017 SAN FRANCISCO – Jewish Family and Children’s Services, one of the largest and oldest charitable institutions in the Bay Area has a received a grant of $250,000 from Tipping Point Community to support its emergency aid to victims of the North Bay fires. The generous grant will be a welcome addition to JFCS’ Disaster Assistance Fund and will be used to help low-income families and individuals get back on their feet after the fires. “The North Bay fires hurt thousands, but especially those who were already struggling paycheck to paycheck,” said Dr. Anita Friedman,… Read More

For most of us a good quality of life means enough healthy food to eat, a safe place to live, a nurturing community of friends and family, and people who care about our physical and mental well-being. But many in the Bay Area do not have even their basic necessities covered. That is why JFCS works as a lifeline for people facing personal crises and challenges, making sure that everyone can live with dignity and respect, even when times get tough. Last year 2,500 Bay Area residents received emergency assistance from JFCS to help them maintain their independence and make… Read More

Plucked from the ashes of Auschwitz and published in 2014 by the JFCS Holocaust Center, Rywka’s Diary: The Writings of a Jewish Girl from the Lodz Ghetto has been an international sensation, sold alongside The Diary of Anne Frank. The tattered school diary written in Polish by 14-year-old Rywka Lipszyc has captivated readers around the world and has been translated into 15 languages. It is now being published in its native Polish tongue. This month Rywka’s powerful words became available throughout Poland. The new and beautifully designed edition was published in partnership with Austeria Publishing House in collaboration with the… Read More

If you have been impacted by the North Bay wildfires, now is the time to begin the difficult process of getting your life in order. Here are 10 tips to help you get started: Get a post office box and have the post office begin forwarding all of your mail to it. Start saving ALL of your receipts. Loss of use insurance will cover incidentals such as phone chargers, a hairbrush, clothes, etc. Contact your homeowner’s/rental insurance to trigger “loss of use.” This typically will allow you to be in a similar property for a certain number of years and,… Read More