JFS Staff is Thankful for...

With Thanksgiving and the holiday season upon us, we wanted to share what some of our staff members are thankful for:

"That I have woken up every morning for the past 32 years loving my job! I'm also thankful for my children, my family, and friends."
-Yana Vishnitsky, President & CEO

"For my health, family, and freedom!"
-Marlene Adam, Payroll Accountant

"I am thankful for all the daily blessings my four-year-old daughter brings me every day...from hearing her cheerful laugh, to watching her discover something for the first time, to listening to her preschool tales!"
-Alaina Green, Marketing & PR Associate

"For my friends and co-workers who have been so supportive through the difficult times I've had the past year."
-Pat Stein, Senior Solutions Care Manager

"For my friends - including my new friends at JFS, my husband, and people with a sense of humor!"
-Jari Thymian, Development Database Manager

"I am thankful for the gift of JFS and all its staff and people that have been in my life for the last 19 years!"
-Annie Reilly, Care Manager, Hearts and Hands Homemaker Program

"My back is not hurting anymore and that I exercise in the beautiful Colorado outdoors!"
-Janet Chamberlain, Office Manager

"To have a job that I love!"
-Cathy Grimm, Senior Solutions, JFS at Home, and Boulder JFS Director

"That I don't have to cook Thanksgiving dinner!"
-Allison Miller, Data Collection and Research Coordinator

"That I'm retired and am able to do the things I want to do like volunteer at JFS!"
-Mark Krivel, JFS Volunteer

"Not only that I have a job, but 10 years at a job where there is a great sense of community."
-Jennie Creasey, Senior Solutions Care Manager

"All the help from staff and volunteers for Reel Hope (which is next Thursday, December 3rd)!
-Dawn Richard, Development Director

"I am thankful for my family and friends!"
-Talia Richard-Lande, 6 year-old daughter of Dawn Richard

"That I am able to be in the graduate program at DU and for my family."
-Jessica Huffer, Senior Solutions Intern

"That my wonderful 17-year-old son, James has grown up to be such a great guy."
-Doreen Osborne, JFS at Home Schedule Coordinator

"My job!"
-Ann Veenstra, Director of Administration

"For my husband's family who will be feeding me on Thanksgiving, being able to run to work off that big meal, and for my new flatscreen TV that I plan to buy on Black Friday!"
-Kari Alpen, Graphic Designer

"My new job at JFS, the Colorado sunshine, and that am able to volunteer at the Mile High United Way Turkey Trot tomorrow morning."
-Lynn Cooper, Development Associate

Please leave comments to tell us what you're thankful for this year! We wish everyone a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!

Brighten the Holidays for Those in Need!

Each year, Jewish Family Service is astounded by the generosity of individuals and organizations who provide food and gifts for people we serve during the holiday season. Your care and thoughtfulness makes a significant impact on those who receive them. One way you can help out this holiday season is through our Bright Holidays program.

The Bright Holidays program allows donors to provide Christmas or Hanukkah gifts for individuals and families in need. This program is completely anonymous. Our care managers refer clients with specific wish lists, donors like you provide the gifts and drop them off at our office, and then our staff delivers the gifts to their clients.

To participate in this program, contact Shelly Hines at (303) 597.5000 x319.

And the Weinberg Food Pantry can always use food and monetary donations to provide complete holiday meals to low-income clients during this much celebrated season. Some items we need for holiday meals include frozen turkeys, stuffing mix, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, instant mashed potatoes, and boxed desserts.

Please make a cash donation now or drop off food donations at JFS, 3201 S. Tamarac Dr. between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

We appreciate every donor for making the holidays bright for so many of our clients!

Alive and Well!

Representing JFS at Home as sponsors of the Young@Heart Chorus, we had the opportunity to attend the "Alive and Well" performance at the Wells Fargo Theater at the Convention Center last weekend. The Young@Heart is a rowdy bunch of 70 and 80-year-olds singing music "your mother wouldn't like." In fact, they are positively attracted to the bad boys and naughty girls of the last 50 years, covering Jimi Hendrix to OutKast with a good measure of The Flaming Lips and Radiohead. As its name suggests, age is integral to this company. The Young@Heart has crafted surprising and hilarious work that is not about old people performing, but rather a performance that happens to feature older people.

We didn't know what to expect from this concert, but were pleasantly surprised and entertained! From the opening Rolling Stones song, "You Don't Always Get What You Want," we were jazzed and eager to hear more! Not only were they excellent singers, but also very energetic performers. Being part of a performance like that was inspirational to us, being in our 30s, to see an example of healthy aging and that you can have fun at any age!

It was important for JFS at Home to sponsor this event as it not only targeted a senior audience, but it provided an educational outlet for people to see that seniors make a positive contribution to our community. The concert program says it best, "It is possible to age gracefully. It is possible to grow old without growing boring." We agree!

-Kim Finnestead and Alaina Green, JFS at Home

And the Reel Hope Movie is...

All the movie buzz lately is about the highly anticipated New Moon, the second installment of Stephenie Meyer's successful Twilight romance series. Everywhere you look lately, someone is talking about this movie! Our local Fox affiliate, KDVR has a dedicated section on its Web site!

Guess what? You can be among the first to see New Moon at JFS's fundraiser, Reel Hope-Take 14 on December 3rd!

Join us as we honor Brent and Julie Morse, and David Friedman at Reel Hope-Take 14, on Thursday, December 3rd at 6:30 p.m. at the Regal Cinemas Continental Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m. and early arrival is advised for best seating. In addition to the movie screening, the festivities will feature the awards presentation, a JFS agency video, dinner, and dessert reception.

Learn more and buy tickets today!

Become a JFS Facebook Fan by November 23rd and be entered to win 2 tickets to Reel Hope!

November is Family Caregiver Appreciation Month

Governor Ritter has proclaimed November to be Colorado Family Caregiver Appreciation Month to honor the contributions that family caregivers make to help their loved ones who are not able to care for themselves.

It is a reality today, more than ever, that many of us are caring for a spouse, an older parent, or other family member while also taking care of our own children, working full time, and holding down other responsibilities. According to the American Geriatrics Society’s Foundation for Health in Aging, as many as 44 million Americans care for older parents, in-laws, grandparents, and other older loved ones.

Some older adults need only a little assistance from family caregivers such as help with shoveling snow, or rides to and from the grocery store. Others need a lot of help with daily activities like eating, bathing, dressing, taking medications, and managing money. Over time, an older adult often needs increasing help from caregivers.

While caring for an older family member can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime, it can also be stressful and frustrating. This is especially likely if the older adult has dementia or needs around-the-clock care. Sometimes, providing care for an older relative can be extremely distressing and lead to “caregiver burnout.”

JFS at Home, the 24/7 homecare division of Jewish Family Service, can provide a needed respite for family caregivers and help avoid fatigue and burnout. Whether a caregiver needs a break for just a few hours per week or ongoing care is required, JFS at Home can step in and take on a variety of tasks from personal care assistance to companionship. All JFS at Home caregivers are carefully screened, well credentialed, bonded and insured employees, providing peace of mind for everyone involved.

JFS at Home has had many success stories involving family caregivers. For example, the homecare service is currently providing care for a woman with dementia and makes it possible for her husband of more than 55 years to get out of the house a bit. He says, “I didn’t know where to turn for help, and because of JFS at Home, I can leave my wife with the caregiver and have some time for myself.” He has been doing the cooking, cleaning, and personal care by himself for years and as he has aged, it has become more difficult for him to keep up with all that is needed to do. JFS at Home has helped lighten his caregiver responsibilities and improve the couple’s quality of life.

For more information about JFS at Home, please call Cathy Grimm at (303) 750-4000.

Friends, Family, Food, and Laughter...a Great Prescription for a Wonderful Evening!

Earlier this week, Colorado Senior Connections (CSC) held a Friends and Family party at Berkshires at Lowry. CSC enhances the physical and emotional well-being of elderly apartment residents by providing wellness, recreational, social, physical, and mental health services, as well as resources to outside community agencies. Through this program, seniors continue to grow and learn, remain independent, and enhance their quality of life by making new friends and creating a sense of community.

The goal of this party was to educate the residents' friends and family members about how CSC benefits the seniors. The party also raised money for the program's wellness clinics run by a nurse from Dominican Sisters Home Health Agency.

Nearly 70 people attended this party where they enjoyed socializing with their neighbors, noshing on scrumptious hors d'oeuvres, and sipping wine generously donated by Springbrooke Retirement.

Dr. Brad Nieder, "the Healthy Humorist," provided comical entertainment and had the crowd rolling with laughter! He even provided some clever "prescriptions" for the guests. Thank you to Dr. Nieder for donating his time at this event.

Thank you to Celia Gruzalski, CSC activities and volunteer coordinator, for securing the entertainment, planning the party, and beautifully decorating the room!

View more photos from the party...

Here's a clip of the Healthy Humorist from the party

Provide Hope for Those in Need!

Our community counts on us to help those among us who have fallen on hard times. This year, your support is especially important to help people going hungry, living with a disability, seeking mental health guidance, and combating loneliness but not wanting to give up independence.

See how your support changes lives...

Sarah Sankey, Weinberg Food Pantry
"A friend told me about the Weinberg Food Pantry at Jewish Family Service. She said, 'You are pinching pennies - you need help.' And there was JFS with open arms. JFS helps me make it through the month and gives me more nutritional food like fruits and vegetables. I've been raising my 10-year-old granddaughter since she was three months old. God donated me to help her. Thank God to people who donate to Jewish Family Service - they help me and others!"

Laurie Greene, JFS Group Home

"I moved into the JFS Group Home when I was 38 years old - that was 25 years ago! I've lived there longer than any of the other residents. I also do mailing work at SHALOM Denver. I've been there for 10 years now! And I volunteer in the JFS office every Friday doing shredding and I pick up the Group Home mail while I'm there. I like that I finally have my own room after the Group Home remodel a couple years ago, and that we're all like a big family. We eat together every night, do lots of fun activities, and have surprise outings. Last night we got to go out to dinner!"

Mary Preston, JFS Counseling Center

"My daughter passed away in February at the age of 46 from a medical complication after surgery. I was so distraught and didn't know where to turn for help. One night I got out the phone book and left messages at about 10 different counseling places. Jewish Family Service was one of the only ones that called me back - and the only one that didn't simply ask questions about my insurance and how I would pay for counseling. I was very impressed with JFS, but since I'm Catholic, I asked if I needed to be Jewish to get services. I was relieved when they said, 'no.' JFS truly has changed my life. I never went to therapy before and Elena Glekas, my counselor, works miracles! After weekly sessions for three to four months, I feel like a different person. One of my other daughters died in 1977 at the age of 12 and I never grieved for her. Elena helped me heal from both deaths and improve my relationships with my remaining six children. Elena is one of the greatest gifts God ever gave me!"

"Sam Fisher," JFS Senior Solutions
"I recently moved from West Palm Beach, Florida to Allied Jewish Apartments in Denver. My son and family live in Boulder. We learned about Jewish Family Service through a cousin in California and made an appointment with Mirella in the JFS Senior Solutions department. Jewish Family Service assists me in many ways. They have made me feel comfortable as I adjust to my home in Denver and help me socially, as well. It's been great having a qualified social worker to come and review my problems with me and they have recently assigned a Friendly Visitor volunteer to come keep me company one day a week. JFS is a wonderful organization that is only interested in helping people. Thank you for the help that you have given me."

These are just four of the 22,000 lives JFS touched last year. We have comforted people in the Denver area for 137 years - through economic, personal, and family crises. Please help us continue this tradition of improving lives and rebuilding hope by making a contribution today!