The volunteer-run garden was started with the help of Myron Levenson about 10 years ago and grows produce exclusively for the Jewish Family Service Community Food Pantry. Each Tuesday, six or seven volunteers gather to plant, weed, harvest and care for the garden. Longtime volunteer Judy Sheftel also visits every other day to check and
Tikkun Olam in the Garden Read More »
When Janet O. Penn moved to the Lehigh Valley from New Jersey, she was looking for a way to give back to her new community. In August 2025, she found that opportunity at Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley. For Janet, volunteering at the JFS Community Food Pantry is especially meaningful because she understands
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For more than seven years, Ana Deledda has been giving her time, heart, and helping hands to Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley as a volunteer for both the Community Food Pantry and Mazel Meals. Ana first discovered JFS through her friend Silvia Mandler, who was already volunteering and spoke highly of her
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For the past nine years, Doris Denherder has been a dedicated volunteer at the Jewish Family Service Community Food Pantry, making a meaningful difference in the lives of countless families. Originally from New Jersey, Doris spent her career as an operating room and endoscopy nurse. Caring for others was always at the heart of her
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Barry Halper first became involved with JFS when Wendy Born, then Board President, invited him to join the board in 2015. What began as a simple invitation quickly grew into years of meaningful community connection, and impact. Barry became one of the very first volunteers for JFS’ Mazel Meals program when it launched in 2018.
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Since 2019, the Older Adult Services department at Jewish Family Service has been quietly transforming the way older adults in the Jewish community are able to access support, connection, and care. The department was created when JFS recognized that case management alone was not enough. Connecting older adults to services and resources to address emotional,
More Than Services; Creating Community for Older Adults Read More »
The Volunteer Center of Lehigh Valley’s annual Volunteer Challenge is known for bridging the gap between corporate teams and nonprofits to complete long-lasting and high impact projects. For the third consecutive year, Lehigh Valley’s Alvin H. Butz, Inc. has selected Jewish Family Service as its project partner, continuing a multiphase transformation of the JFS building.
JFS to Receive a Food Pantry Refresh Thanks to Alvin H. Butz, Inc. Read More »
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, a time to recognize JFS volunteers of all ages and life stages who unselfishly give their time, energy, and heart to support the mission of JFS. “Volunteers enable JFS to provide services that address food insecurity, promote the social and emotional well-being of clients,and foster connections to the Jewish community.
The Many Ways Volunteers Make a Difference at JFS Read More »
Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley is proud to celebrate the launch of the second year of its annual corporate sponsorshipprogram, an initiative that is making a meaningful difference in the lives of JFS clients. The purpose of the corporate sponsorship program is to strengthen JFS’s ability to serve the community year-round by building
Celebrating Year Two of Corporate Sponsorships at JFS Read More »
At Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley, the mission is clear: to create inclusive spaces where everyone feels empowered,valued, and connected. For adults with disabilities and their families, JFS offers a specialized cache of support groups designed tonavigate life. What Makes These Groups Unique Each group is intentionally structured to meet participants where they
Empowering Adults with Disabilities and Their Families Read More »