Jewish Family Service: Where There's a Need...

The Jewish Family Service provides a variety of services and programs that address needs of the community, including challenges in food insecurity, aging, and mental health.

Its Community Food Pantry distributes food and personal care items to any Jewish resident of the Lehigh Valley, as well as to neighbors living in the 18104 zip code. In 2023, JFS served over 1,000 individuals. Each summer, local farms like the Monocacy Farm Project, Temple Beth El garden, and participants in the Plant a Row program donate fresh fruit and vegetables to the pantry.

JFS’s licensed clinical social workers provide confidential individual and group counseling services. Topics addressed include depression, anxiety, stress management, and bereavement. Medicare and many private insurance plans are accepted for counseling services. In addition, support groups provide resources and guidance for grief, disabilities, and other needs. 

Throughout the year, JFS offers educational lectures and training on how to cope with societal challenges, including at the Phyllis Ringel Memorial Lecture. It provides consultation regarding best practices to help businesses and organizations promote inclusion and embrace diversity in partnership with synagogues and community agencies. Some of the offerings are LGBTQIA+ cultural competency training, digital accessibility, and accessibility site visits.

JFS offers over a dozen volunteer opportunities for all ages, each catered toward an individual’s goals and interests, with work locations in the JFS office, in the community, or at home.  Volunteer opportunities include stocking the pantry, driving, and facilitating programs. Volunteers increase the capacity of the agency to provide services, while offering fulfilling experiences. 

The JFS has been dedicated to the service and inclusion of all members of society for over 50 years.
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