Turning Gratitude into Action
Happy Thanksgiving! As we look ahead to gathering with loved ones and celebrating this season of gratitude, we are especially grateful for you, our community. This year has been challenging for both JFCS and our neighbors. As the social safety net has been stretched to its limits, more people are turning to us for support. At the same time, federal funding cuts have also slashed critical resources that help sustain our work.
Throughout it all, you’ve been a source of strength. Your generosity, advocacy, and partnership have helped us continue fulfilling our mission and responding to the growing needs of the community.
Your generosity reflects the ancient belief that a community has an obligation to care for one another.
As Giving Tuesday approaches on December 1, we invite you to join us in building a stronger, more compassionate community where everyone is valued and supported. Your gift will help JFCS provide stability, dignity, and opportunity for our neighbors in the year ahead.
Please join us on December 1 and help us meet our shared responsibility of caring for the most vulnerable members of our community.
If you would like to make a donation before Giving Tuesday, you can do so using the button below.
Expanding Our Legal Advocacy for Unaccompanied Children
In July, JFCS joined a federal lawsuit in Pennsylvania to help ensure that unaccompanied immigrant children receive the legal safeguards that are intended to protect them. Since then, our concerns for these children have only grown.
While our attorneys continue to work tirelessly to defend the children we represent, they cannot combat this problem alone. Therefore, in October, JFCS joined a second federal lawsuit, this time on a national scale, alongside organizations across the country to advocate for the fair treatment of unaccompanied children in court.
You can learn more here about the latest development in this national lawsuit. The courts’ recent ruling will give unaccompanied children a meaningful chance to seek safety in the United States while the case moves forward.
JFCS, our attorneys, and the children we represent are deeply grateful for your support during this challenging time. As we continue to fight for these vulnerable children, your continued support helps make this work possible.
Welcoming Our Neighbors with Warmth
As colder weather approaches, JFCS was grateful to receive around thirty handcrafted blankets from the Pittsburgh chapter of Welcome Blanket, a national project that invites crafters to create handmade blankets as a warm welcome to new immigrants in the United States. Attached to each blanket is a note from the crafter that shares a personal immigration story or a welcome to the recipient.
The Pittsburgh chapter of Welcome Blanket collected more than 100 blankets from local and out-of-state contributors, which were displayed at the International Sculpture Center in Lawrenceville earlier this year.
We are grateful for the donation of these beautiful blankets and appreciative of all the many organizations, partners, and individuals who participated in the project. We distributed these gifts to immigrant families in time for the chilly weather, sharing both practical support and a heartfelt welcome from the community.
We were also honored to have our volunteers participate in this project last January during a blanket-making event hosted by the International Sculpture Center, organized by Barb Grossman of Scrapwerx.
For more information about Welcome Blanket, their mission, and their impact, visit welcomeblanket.org.
To see more pictures of the blankets and their messages, and to read about the project’s life here in Pittsburgh, click the button below.
New Sandwich Generation Caregiver Support Group
The Sandwich Generation Caregiver Support Group is designed for family members who are simultaneously raising children and caring for aging loved ones. Join our supportive space to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of balancing multiple caregiving roles.
Share your experiences and feelings, learn new strategies for self-care, and prevent caregiver burnout with peers who are familiar with your unique challenges. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Email Stefanie Small (ssmall@jfcspgh.org) for more information and to register.
UpStreet is Here For Teens
At UpStreet, we recognize that the end of the year can bring added pressures for teens and young adults. While this time of year can be joyful, it can also feel overwhelming. UpStreet therapists are here to help teens navigate these ups and downs by providing barrier-free mental healthcare through a variety of services that support individuals ages 12 to 22 throughout this season and beyond:
- Drop In Space: A welcoming space where teens can relax, enjoy a snack, connect with peers, or talk with a therapist. Open Mondays-Thursdays, 12-5pm and Fridays, 12-4pm at 5844 Forward Ave.
- Chat Online: Teens or parents can connect with our Clinical Mental Health staff on our website for immediate, brief support. While not a replacement for therapy, our chat can help individuals navigate challenges in the moment. Available on weekdays, 10am-8 pm and weekends, 2-10 pm.
- In-Person or Virtual Therapy: One-on-one counseling services designed to help adolescents and young adults work through challenges, build coping skills, and achieve their personal goals. We are currently welcoming new clients and have immediate openings available. Individuals, Parents, or Guardians can complete our intake form to get started. We accept insurance and Medical Assistance.
At UpStreet, we know that when teens receive the mental health support they need, they are more equipped to overcome challenges, build strong relationships, and thrive in all areas of life.
For more information about our services, please reach out to zwelsh@jfcspgh.org or 412-738-5615.
Volunteer at the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry!
Are you looking for a way to give back to your community in a meaningful way? The JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry is looking for volunteers! For more than 25 years, the Pantry has been a vital resource for families and individuals in our community. Our volunteers play an essential role in helping us sort donations, stock shelves, build emergency bags, and shop with individuals and families who rely on the Pantry for support.
Now, as more people than ever turn to the Pantry for assistance, the need for volunteers continues to grow.
We’re looking for community members to fill weekly daytime shifts and help keep the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry running.
For information about specific shift availability, or questions about the volunteer process, please contact Jess Gold at jgold@jfcspgh.org.
Commemorating 10.27.18 as a Community
Each year, JFCS participates in a commemorative day of service coordinated by the 10.27 Healing Partnership to honor in spirit and in action the eleven people who were killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting on October 27, 2018.
On October 25, people gathered at volunteer sites throughout the city to support their neighbors, remembering those lost through acts of kindness. At JFCS, volunteers created no-sew blankets and hygiene kits to distribute to the individuals JFCS serves, providing warmth and comfort for the months ahead.
We were deeply moved by the incredible turnout and are grateful to everyone who joined to show that love and kindness are stronger than hate. Together, we can honor those we lost by building a more compassionate world.
The Giving Corner
When you donate tangible items, you are providing comfort, dignity, and practical support to individuals and families in our community. A warm coat, a pack of diapers, or a box of cereal can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.
Through this Giving Corner, we will share our most urgent needs for donated items and essential goods. As those needs evolve, we will update our requests to ensure that your generosity has the greatest impact.
This month, JFCS is looking for the following donations:
Food Items
- Cereal
- Tinned fish
- Nutritional supplements
- Sealed, shelf-stable foods
Personal Items
- Feminine hygiene products
- Diapers of all sizes, from infant to toddler
- Personal hygiene supplies
Clothing
- Winter coats for men, women, and children
- New or clean, gently worn coats are welcomed
To coordinate food donations, please call 412-421-2708.
For all other types of donations, please call 412-422-7200.
Thank you for your generosity in providing for our neighbors and contributing to the safety and stability of our community!
Get the support you need today
JFCS is here to support you through life’s changes and challenges. Whether you’re interested in caregiver support, grief support, career support, or help with other life challenges, we’re here for you. Head to our website to get the help you need, today.