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e-directions newsletter | December 2014

I'm one of those die-hard Minnesotans who always boasts that, while sure it's cold in Minnesota in the winter, at least it's sunny! But as I write this, today marks the ninth consecutive day without sunshine. So much for sunny and cold!

Lighting the menorah and the Chanukah candles this season will no doubt help to lighten our homes and our spirits. Though it's been many years since I've had young children dash to the dining room table to help light the menorah, sing the blessings and rip open the wrapping on their gifts, Chanukah still brings a bright glow to my home, as I'm sure it does to yours.

As a community, we can wrap ourselves in pride (if not in parkas) that this year we provided much light to those among us in need of warmth, a job, a mentor, a scholarship or other help. You do this every time you contribute your time, talent and treasure to JFCS. We served more than 16,000 people this year, and we're all better off for that.

It's not a stretch to live in Minnesota and know the importance of warmth and sunshine. Enjoy the glow of your Chanukah candles and the cozy embraces of those who fill your lives!

Judy Halper

Chief Executive Officer

Table of Contents

What would you GIVE

Annual Benefit Recap

Volunteers

Pathways Renewing Life Series

Career Services

NextGen

J-Pride

Life Lessons

Pj Library

Healthy Youth-Healthy Communities

CHAIM

AskBarbara - Relationships

#daniellesbuzz

www.jfcsmpls.org

952-546-0616

What would you GIVE if you could change a life?

What would you give if you could help a mother and son survive health issues, economic setbacks and loneliness?

Often when a family comes to JFCS they don't have just one hardship. This year, a mom of a son with severe special needs had her own health crisis. Debilitating pain left her unable to work. She met with a JFCS counselor who helped her apply for government assistance, but the waiting period was so long that she was at risk of losing her home. JFCS Emergency Financial Assistance kept her in her home until benefits kicked in, helping her cover her mortgage payment and keep the heat and water on. As Passover approached, JFCS also provided a Hag Sameach Passover bag to help them celebrate the holiday and found a Seder for them to attend, reconnecting them to the community.

JFCS Emergency Financial Assistance is just one of 40 programs at JFCS providing essential services to more than 16,000 people of all backgrounds and at all stages of life.

Your contribution to this year's campaign, Give2014, helps fund these crucial programs that strengthen our community one person at a time. On behalf of those who benefit from your generosity, we thank you!

Give Help. Give Hope. Give2014

JFCS sincerely appreciates you, our generous donors.

Thank you for your support of the 26th Annual Benefit. With your help we surpassed our fundraising goal, raising over $575,000. These dollars ensure JFCS can continue serving more than 16,000 people of all backgrounds each year, through our wide array of programs and services.

This year's live program auction raised almost $150,000, including two generous matching gifts totaling $80,000. This money will support the Parent-Child Home Program, which helps under-resourced families overcome the barriers of income so that children enter kindergarten ready to thrive. Click here to meet Carlos and his family, just one of our success stories.

To see pictures of this year's Annual Benefit, click here. And stay tuned - soon we'll let you know more about the upcoming 27th Annual Benefit in 2015!

Volunteers!

See the wonderful work our volunteers are doing. In the past month, more than 450 volunteers gave their energy, time and talent! Click for pictures from a few of our events -

Mental Health Support Services Chanukah Party, Hag Sameach gift wrapping and delivery, and the Sid Hartman Jewish Big Brother/Big Sister Chanukah Festival.

Join Us!

Check out our current volunteer needs below and on our Volunteer webpage. Plus, read blog posts from Deb Savitt, Community Involvement Manager!

Current Opportunities

Second Harvest Heartland

6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22
6325 Sandburg Rd, Suite 1700, Golden Valley

Help with various tasks at the food shelf. Great for families with kids ages 8 and older. Sign up with David Grossman at david@grossmandesign.com.

Bingo on Christmas Day

2:30 p.m. and/or 6:15 p.m. Ackerberg Family Sholom West Campus

Volunteers needed to share a game of Bingo with older adults living at Sholom Home. Sign-up with Carol Kvasnik at ckvasnik@sholom.com or 952-939-1627.

Pathways Renewing Life™ Support Group

Pathways, Health Crisis Resource Center will lead an educational, emotional support group to be held at JFCS. Participants will take part in an intensive nine-week series, that meets for two-and-a-half hours each week.

The proven curriculum empowers participants to live authentically, view challenging life events as an opportunity for growth, and create plans for renewed living.

Participants who may benefit the most are those with:
- Chronic or life-threatening illness
- Life transition (e.g. divorce, job loss, retirement, bereavement)
- Mild depression, sense of feeling stuck
- Addiction recovery
- Someone serving as a support person or caregiver

Thanks to a generous donor, the group will be offered at no cost.

Although the time and date of this support group are yet to be determined, we are gauging participation interest. Please contact Judy Marcus at jmarcus@jfcsmpls.org or 952-417-2113.

Is an IT career for you?

Maybe you don't see yourself working with computers, but the more you learn about this in-demand career field, the more you may realize your skills and interest perfectly qualify you to train and work in IT.

JFCS Career Services offers an array of training programs to become an IT professional including the IT Pathways program, which features an innovative apprenticeship. Other opportunities include IT Job Coaching and our newest offering, Prime Academy, an 18-week intensive learning program centered around a 12-week immersive classroom experience.

Contact JFCS to talk one-on-one with our career staff and discuss your future.

To apply for the Prime Academy training, visit their website.

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Make a career connection

At this time of year when many of us are thinking of giving gifts, JFCS Career Services is asking you to give a hand. Today, we ask for the simple, powerful gifts of time and action to help people who are struggling with unemployment.

Have you ever:

Told an unemployed friend about JFCS Career Services?
Updated your LinkedIn profile and made a connection for a friend?
Passed along a job opening at your company or at a company you have a connection with to JFCS?
Touched base with an unemployed friend?
Helped them practice for a job interview?

The first step for job seekers is completing a brief welcome form.

If you are interested in taking on a mentor role at JFCS, contact Janet Flam at jflam@jfcsmpls.org or 952-417-2112.

NextGen - become a member

We have kids who need coats. Many children in our Parent-Child Home Program, an early childhood literacy program for families that face economic barriers, need a warm coat during this cold winter season.

Your NextGen membership gift allows us to buy coats for these kids. Become a sustaining member and NextGen will donate your first month's membership payment and match that towards coats for kids who otherwise would go without this winter.

Click here to join today.

To learn more about NextGen, contact Todd Sandler at tsandler@jfcsmpls.org.

NextGen's Lead Sponsor | Deborah and Gary Kohler

Sponsor | Cindy and Perry Witkin

Humorfest - Ladies Night, presented in partnership with J-Pride

6:30 p.m. Pre-Show; 7:30 p.m. Show, Saturday, Jan. 24
Sabes JCC, 4330 Cedar Lake Rd S

Jewish lesbian comedian, Dana Eagle, has appeared on Last Comic Standing, The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central, and Comics Unleashed, where she became a contributing writer. She is a frequent opener for Bill Maher and has taken several trips overseas to perform for the troops in Iraq.

Lisa Geduldig is a New York-bred, San Francisco-based Jewish lesbian comedian. Her style of comedy is charming, intelligent, and somewhat deadpan.

The evening includes a Pre-Show Celebration with food and drinks at 6:30 p.m. in the JCC lobby. Show is recommended for 18+ (language/content.) Ticket prices: $12 Advance or $14 Same Day.

Visit the J-Pride Facebook page for a $1 off coupon code! Click to buy tickets here.

Founding Sponsor | Lisa Heilicher

Relationships and the New Year

by Emma Nadler, MA, LPCC

As we get closer and closer to the ball dropping in Times Square, many of us are reflecting on the year just passed. I think this is a good thing. After all, how can we move toward what we want if we're not sure of what that is or what we already have?

Many of us, as we reflect on the past year, think of our relationships. As you contemplate 2014, do you consider which relationships are most important to you? If you're willing to dig deep, identify the ways in which you already demonstrate through your words and actions the importance of these relationships. Do you tend to your romantic relationship by being present? Do you care for your child by being engaged?

At JFCS, part of our mission is helping people improve the important relationships in their lives. If you want assistance forging strong bonds with loved ones and friends, we're here to help you. Call 952-546-0616.

PJ Library moms night out

What a great night out of fun and learning for PJ Library Moms, who got together a couple weeks ago and heard guest speaker, Andrea Potashnick, of Feeding Families Nutrition.

If you're interested in connecting with other moms of young children, make sure you're on our PJ Library list. Contact Debbie Wolfe at dwolfe@jfcsmpls.org.

Next event

Play away the winter blues!

9-11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 18

Edinborough Park, 7700 York Ave S, Edina

Climb! Run! Play! Come meet up with PJ Library friends! All PJ Library age kids - up to age 8 - are welcome to join us. $5 per child in advance. Click here to sign up. $8 (cash only) at the door.

PJ Library Funders | Louis Herman Memorial Fund, a designated fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and a grant from Harry and Sandy Lerner."PJ Library" and "PJ Library logo" are registered trademarks of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. All rights reserved.

Give us an afternoon and we'll explain kids!

Healthy Youth-Healthy Communities 8th Annual Conference

It's free. It's illuminating and it's open to EVERYONE.

Lead Sponsors | The Toodie and Frank Trestman Special Needs and Collaborative Education Endowment Fund

CHAIM (Children of Holocaust Survivors Association in Minnesota)

Recently Ken Engle, CHAIM chairperson, presented to the JFCS Holocaust Survivors Advisory Committee. CHAIM is a Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area group of Children (Second Generation, a/k/a 2Gs) and other Descendants and Friends of Holocaust Survivors. CHAIM advocates to preserve and honor the legacy of parents and other family members affected by the Holocaust by sharing resources and programming ideas, providing emotional support for members, and reaching out to future generations.

To learn more about this group that offers programs, educational and social action projects, documentaries about the Holocaust and personal stories shared by members, visit this information page or contact Ken Engel at kene@kselaw.com or 612-987-2828.

CHAIM is affiliated with 2G groups throughout the world and with the world-wide umbrella group, Generations of the Shoah International (GSI).

AskBarbara

Dear AskBarbara

I have two children ages 18 months and 3 years. My spouse and I are both very involved with the kids, but do not get to spend much time together. By the end of the day, we're exhausted. We feel disconnected from each other and I am concerned we are drifting apart.

I think that, right now, we are very good parents, but not very good partners. With all of the demands on our time - jobs, children, housework, etc.- it seems like we spend less and less time together. We love each other and want to be proactive before this becomes a more serious relationship problem.
Missing My Partner

Dear Missing,
Your situation is very common in families with young children. Good for you for not wanting to put your relationship on hold while the kids are young and for recognizing the importance of finding ways to spend quality adult time together...

To read the rest of AskBarbara's column, click here.

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#daniellesbuzz

By Danielle Livon-Bemel, JFCS Community Youth Specialist

Danielle, the JFCS Community Youth Specialist, provides a safe, confidential forum for kids and their parents to ask questions about the challenges in their lives. You can email Danielle privately at DLivonBemel@jfcsmpls.org or visit the Healthy Youth-Healthy Communities Facebook page.

To read Danielle's November column about stress and being a teenager, click here.

HY-HC's Lead Sponsor | The Toodle and Frank Trestman Special Needs and Collaborative Education Endowment Fund

Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis
13100 Wayzata Blvd. Suite 400
Minnetonka, MN 55305

www.jfcsmpls.org | 952-546-0616

Mission Statement
Inspired by the wisdom and values of our tradition,
Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis
supports people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential.