A Rewarding Summer...

A weekly e-newsletter from JFS of Middlesex County

JFS is a non-profit social services agency serving all members of the community from all backgrounds. Your generous support enables us to provide crucial programs for those in need.

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A Summer to Remember

As the summer comes to a close, we send a big THANK YOU to our two summer interns, Anne-Marie and Maria, for their dedication and work in support of JFS programs. While working in social services has its rewards, it is also challenging and requires professional and personal integrity, commitment and compassion, characteristics exhibited by each of these emerging leaders.

Both interns are entering their senior year at Rutgers University-New Brunswick this fall -- and while the past two and a half months have been a busy time of attending community events, connecting with clients and interfacing with JFS staff, there was a lot of personal growth...

Anne-Mari Afriyie

Major: History

JFS Marketing & Communications Intern

"My biggest takeaway from my experiences here is the fact that my actions, even those that seem insignificant, actually do make a big impact. Being able to go out and see the fruits of my labor, which included countless hours of designing posts and flyers, has been an immense reward. Food distribution days in New Brunswick and interviews with JFS clients, among other events, allowed me to interact with the people that I am ultimately working hard for. ... [I] realized that my actions do have the power to improve people’s lives."

Anne-Marie's Aspirations:

"I aspire to use my skills to teach others about our past. I learned a lot from Holocaust Survivors and their children, but this history, and the history of other marginalized peoples, needs to be taught more in depth in schools."

Maria Zhang

Major: English

JFS Women's Center Intern

"My work as an intern has allowed me to interact with many of JFS’s clients as well as their needs. While all of the staff try their hardest to provide solutions and help their clients, I realized that many nonprofits such as JFS do not have the necessary resources or time to meet all their clients’ needs. My biggest takeaway from this internship is the importance of promoting these local nonprofits and advocating for them in public spheres so that they can gain the support they need to better provide for the community around them."

Maria's Aspirations:

"One of my aspirations for the future as a citizen is to continue finding public service work & volunteering opportunities to remain engaged with my community."

All of us at JFS wish Anne-Marie and Maria a successful senior year and the best of luck on their future endeavors.

If you or someone you know would like to connect with JFS to volunteer, intern or collaborate on a service project, call 732-777-1940 or email office@jfsmiddlesex.org.

Amboy Foundation Supports

JFS Senior Nutrition Programs

This month, JFS Senior Nutrition was awarded a grant from The Amboy Foundation to help feed our most vulnerable seniors in Middlesex County.

As part of Amboy Foundation's commitment to "promote community development activities and the social welfare of the local communities," this grant helps JFS ensure seniors have access to nutritional meals and resources needed to age in place. JFS sends a huge THANK YOU to Jennifer, Greg and the entire team at the Foundation.

If you know a senior who would benefit from JFS Kosher Meals on Wheels or Lunch with Friends (congregate meal program) or if you would like to support seniors in need in Middlesex County, donate online or email office@jfsmiddlesex.org for more information.

Image: Amboy Bank's Jennifer Fletcher (left) stopped by this month to present the grant award to JFS Executive Director, Roni Salkin (center) and Business Development, Judy Cavaliere (right).