Caregivers Support Group offers compassion, understanding

JFCS is proud to offer a wide range of support groups that enable participants to come together, build new skills, and share their experiences with others who understand. The summer session of our Caregivers Support Group is slated to begin on Wednesday, July 17, at 2:00 p.m. on Zoom. Facilitated by an experienced JFCS clinical [...]

Is It Depression or Dementia? Recognizing the Difference.

By Gail Belfer, MSW, LCSW, CDP - Director of Holocaust Survivor Services & Advocacy Many individuals are concerned when they notice changes in their personality, mood, and behavior - or in their loved ones. They worry that these changes are symptoms of dementia and may delay going to the doctor because they are afraid of [...]

Project SEARCH Interns Give Back to our Community!

Project SEARCH is a nationally recognized high school transition program that prepares young adults with disabilities for success in the workplace. Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) is proud to be the community rehabilitation provider for Project SEARCH at both Jefferson Health and TD Bank. During their year at TD Bank, the Project SEARCH interns [...]

Support groups allow those facing challenges to heal through shared experience

The JFCS Faye Manger Counseling Department offers a wide range of support groups that allow individuals facing life challenges to gather together and heal through shared experience. Our groups enable participants to build community, find connection with others who have experienced similar circumstances, and form supportive networks. We will be offering three support groups starting […]

It’s okay if you’re not okay. JFCS is here to help.

The traumatic images of brutality and loss coming out of Israel have undoubtedly taken a toll on our community’s mental health. Many South Jersey residents have close personal ties to Israel, including family and friends living there, while others simply feel a strong emotional connection to the Jewish homeland. Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) [...]

Nine-year old Samuel Schatz spreads kindness to community members in need

Many kids look forward to their birthday party with great excitement, imagining presents, cake, and fun with friends. Cherry Hill resident Samuel Schatz is a typical kid in many ways. A student at Kellman Brown Academy, he loves theater, soccer, Roblox, and his boxing classes at the Katz JCC. But in 2018, when his sixth […]

Café Connection engages individuals with memory challenges – no diagnosis required!

Café Connection: A Memory Café was created in 2016 by Samost Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS), the Katz JCC, and Jewish Senior Housing and Healthcare Service (JSHHS) to sup port individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other cognitive impairments, as well as their care partners. Often fearing rejection and stigma, care partners worry that the […]

Respite care program offers relief for parents of children with special needs

The needs of children with developmental disabilities are as diverse as the families who care for them. JFCS strives to provide a wide range of options to help parents and caregivers meet their children’s needs while maintaining the stability and wellbeing of the entire family. The JFCS Self-Hired Respite Care service gives families short-term relief […]

Av 5786 / June 2026

This week, we welcome the Jewish month of Av – a time that holds both sorrow and the possibility of renewal. In Hebrew, Av means “father,” and we often add the name Menachem, meaning “comforter.” This tradition reminds us that even in our darkest moments, solace is possible. Av includes some of the most difficult days in Jewish [...]

When School Ends, Hunger Doesn’t

Something significant is happening across South Jersey this summer, and it’s affecting far more families than many people realize. As the cost of living continues to rise, households are being pushed to the brink. Groceries cost more. Rent costs more. Utilities cost more. And at the same time, thousands are losing access to critical food [...]

Volunteer Spotlight: Stefanie Jeffreys

Stefanie was raised in Cherry Hill and currently resides in Mount Laurel with her family and her dog, Ahava. Stefanie previously worked in our Disability Services Department's SAIL program and helped deliver groceries for the Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantry. In 2026, Stefanie returned to JFCS to provide volunteer medical rides for older adult [...]

Caring for the Caregiver: Support Group Launches on July 16

Caring for a loved one can be one of life's most rewarding experiences, but it can also be overwhelming. Many caregivers juggle emotional, physical, and financial responsibilities while putting their own needs aside. To help local caregivers find support and connection, Jewish Family & Children's Service is offering a new session of its Caregivers Support [...]

Honoring Our Teachers: Holocaust Survivor Day Celebrations in South Jersey

It's often said that Holocaust Survivors are our teachers—but the responsibility of carrying forth their stories belongs to all of us. Each June, communities around the world come together to celebrate Holocaust Survivor Day, a time dedicated not only to remembrance, but to honoring the lives, resilience, and enduring contributions of those who survived. While [...]

Our Promise Is a Place for Everyone at JFCS

As June arrives and Pride Month lights up communities across the country, we take a moment not only to celebrate history, but to reaffirm something deeply important: Everyone deserves to feel seen, supported, and genuinely at home–here at JFCS and beyond. Pride Month traces back to June 1969, when a police raid at the Stonewall [...]

Cherry Hill Celebrates Pride with Film Screening and Discussion

In celebration of Pride Month, the South Jersey community is invited to a special evening of film, conversation, and connection at the Cherry Hill Public Library. Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS), in partnership with the Cherry Hill Public Library and Cherry Hill Township, will host a screening of No Straight Lines, a compelling documentary [...]

Ann Miller Honored with Prestigious Lay Leadership Award!

Pictured (left to right) are: Margo Orlin, JFCS Board President; Melanie Stoopler, JFCS Associate Executive Director; Ann Miller; Cori Cherkas, JFCS President-Elect; Jill Hammel, JFCS Associate Executive Director. Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) is proud to congratulate Ann Miller, recipient of The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies’ Lay Leadership Award of Excellence. This [...]