JFS Orlando...
A Family of Services
[Update] May 17, 2022
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Our programs and services are still operational, however, for the safety of our clients and staff, the inside of the JFS Orlando building is closed to the public.
•Prioritize caring for your mental health! Call (407) 644-7671 or complete our online form to request a telehealth counseling appointment with one of our therapists.
•Need food assistance? Call (407) 644-7593 or complete an online request form to make a safe, food pick-up appointment from the Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry, M-Th 9am-4pm.
•Find stability for you and your family! Our Family Stabilization Program teaches the critical skills needed to achieve long-term stability. Call (407) 644-7593 to apply for the program.
•Need some spiritual guidance? Call (407) 644-7593 ext. 233 to connect with Rabbi Arny Siegel for end of life services, burials or memorials, or just guidance over the phone.
If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, please don't hesitate to reach out. Our services are available to ALL in need.
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You Met Our Challenge... and Then Some! |
This year's Restock & Rebuild Challenge raised over $63,000, nearly DOUBLE the amount raised in our 2021 campaign!
Thank you to all who donated to the Challenge, our match sponsors The Weiner Family & The Winter Park Wealth Group, as well as our community partners who participated and helped spread the word. Your support is helping to build a stronger community together!
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Our renovation of the Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry continues! The Pantry was expanded, got some new floors, a fresh coat of paint, and more. It’s not done yet though! Stay tuned….
(Please note: Despite construction, the Pantry continues to serve food to clients in need.)
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Applications Still Available
Family Stabilization Program
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We are continuing to enroll new households from Orange County, City of Orlando, and Seminole County for our Family Stabilization Program (FSP). FSP is a long-term case management program that helps individuals and families get back on their feet.
FSP participants have special access to several services, including food assistance, financial education workshops, employability skills training, mental health counseling, and legal guidance.
FSP is offered at no cost to participants.
To apply, call (407) 644-7593 ext. 250 (City of Orlando, Seminole County) or ext. 236 (Orange County).
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The Power of Community: JFS counseling in the community
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You never know when an emergency will happen…but you can count on JFS Orlando to be there for support. Recently, staff members from the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando (JFGO) and the Roth Family Jewish Community Center (Roth JCC) were attending a conference at the Michael Ann Russell JCC in South Florida, when suddenly they had to go into lockdown due to a shooting at the pool on campus.
Thankfully all JFGO and JCC staff were unharmed, however, the shock of experiencing a real-life, active shooter situation that usually is only read about or heard on the news had a significant emotional impact. The next day they called Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando (JFS Orlando) to address the needs of those affected by this incident.
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“Coming home from this traumatic event, it was nice to know we had JFS ready, willing, and able to step in with skilled counselors to help our staff deal with this unfortunate experience,” said Keith Dvorchik, JFGO Executive Director and Roth Family JCC CEO. “JFS embodies the power of our community—always there to help in any way.” |
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JFS provided immediate support by sending therapists on-site the following workday for walk-in crisis counseling. They were also available via telehealth. The therapists helped affected staff members by normalizing reactions, exploring normal traumatic responses, and discussing how to know if what they are experiencing is something that needs further therapy.
“The events the day of the shooting were horrifying, and we feel deeply for the loss of life and those greatly impacted,” said Fara Gold, Roth Family JCC Chief Program Officer. “After an incredibly scary and trying event, we were again reminded of the significance of our wonderful Orlando Jewish community partners, like JFS.”
The therapists at JFS were able to react quickly to the needs of the Jewish community and those affected. Their experience and training give them the ability to recognize nuances in reactions that are common in occurrences like this and others when the Jewish community has been targeted.
“We are honored that JFGO and the Roth Family JCC trusted us to provide care for their staff in their time of need,” said Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes, LCSW, JFS Clinical Director. “When these distressing events occur, though we hope they won’t, we are pleased to be able to support our Jewish community partners and the community at large.”
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JFS is proud to also continue partnering with Central Florida Hillel to better meet the mental health needs of UCF students. Since last August, JFS Orlando Therapist, Shaina White Williams, MSW has been meeting with students for one-on-one support and group therapy during monthly Wellness Workshops. Learn more about our partnership with Hillel.
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JFS Orlando Supporters Come from Near & Far |
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Donna Pearlman Bolton, who lives in the Keys, has a strong family connection to our Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry. As a member of the KJCC Sisterhood, Donna was a major contributor to their cookbook "Recipes From The Rock", which includes many Jewish traditional recipes. However, no cookbook from the Keys would be complete without a Key Lime Pie recipe....
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We’ll be posting a few of Donna’s recipes from the cookbook every so often. If you can’t wait to try all these delicious recipes, you can purchase your own copy by contacting President@KeysJewishCenter.com. Tell them Donna sent you!
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Community Spotlight:
Social Bridges
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Thank You and Happy Birthday to Social Bridges!
At their 20th birthday party, Social Bridges and their families collected a “cartful” of donations to support JFS Orlando's Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry!
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Beyond the
Counseling Couch
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6 Answers and More to Everything Mental Health Care
By Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes, LCSW, JFS Clinical Director
May is Mental Health Month Awareness Month! To celebrate, we’re diving into everything you need to know about mental health!
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Join JFS to Provide Humanitarian Aid for Ukrainian Refugees
Special Performance to Help the Ukrainian People
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The Men's Club & Sisterhood of Congregation Ohev Shalom are leading a community-wide event to support Ukrainian refugees.
Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 2:00 PM
Congregation Ohev Shalom
Admission: $36/person
Presenting Mentalist, Mark Stone, and his comedy mindreading and ESP show "MENTALMANIA." It's a show you don't want to miss!
100% of all proceeds will be donated to Ukrainian relief at the JCC of Krakow, Poland, who is providing shelter, food, and essentials to thousands of refugees.
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Don't Forget About AmazonSmile! |
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Shopping on Amazon?
Wait! Before you make that next purchase, make sure to do it at smile.amazon.com and a percentage of it will be donated straight to JFS Orlando! It's the same products, same prices, and same services as Amazon.
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(If you're using the Amazon shopping app, go into the main menu and tap into 'Settings'. Tap 'AmazonSmile' and add ‘Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando’.) |
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Grant Funder's Corner: Thank you!
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Thank you to the following grant funders for supporting
JFS Orlando in April:
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Maitland Rotary Arts Festival, Inc.
Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry
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