Community keeps kids warm with Coats & Cocoa

For the third year in a row, Kristen Johnson will chair Jewish Family Service’s annual Coats & Cocoa drive. The goal is to keep local kids warm over the winter with hot chocolate and brand new coats. And Johnson is a pro at scoring great deals on cold weather gear. She’s shared in past y…

JFS educates disability advocates on Supported Decision-Making

During the 2021 Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) this past February, Jewish Family Service introduced the concept of Supported Decision-Making (SDM) to the community. On Sept. 30, JFS is running a program specifically geared towards educators, service agenc…

JFS older adults programs are powered by volunteers

The vision of Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley is that “No one in our community should suffer hunger, isolation, abandonment, emotional or physical distress, or lack of community support and caring.” Part of the way that JFS manifests that vision is through a variety of dynamic…

Freestyle Mission being planned geared towards older adults

Are you an active older adult longing to visit Israel? Next year, you could have your chance. Jewish Federation and Jewish Family Service are teaming up to create a mission specifically tailored to the needs and interests of older travelers. There is still time to sign up to join the trip in…

Chabad’s Devorah Halperin cooks up care throughout the pandemic

During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jewish Family Service had to shift many of our programs to make them safer. One such program was Mazel Meals, which usually provides kosher meals from scratch to dozens of older adults in our community each month. As staff was learning and adjusting…