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A community leader empowering people to achieve fulfilling lives.

We urgently need your help now to support Afghan Evacuees coming to Western Massachusetts!

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Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts provides exceptional social services, grounded in Jewish values, to support individuals and families from diverse religious, cultural and economic backgrounds.

Our programs strengthen our community by strengthening the individual–from resettling refugee families, to supporting New Americans to become self-sufficient, counseling young adults through life’s transitions, equipping older adults to age well, protecting elders from abuse, leading caregiver support groups, and helping individuals enhance their Jewish connections.

Jewish Life

Enriching the quality of life for individuals in the Jewish community of Western Massachusetts.

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Older Adults

Serving the unique needs of older adults, their families, and/or caregivers. 

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Behavioral Health

Supporting individual and family resilience.

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New Americans

Helping refugees resettle and thrive in our community.  

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Citizenship & Immigration

Assisting immigrants and refugees to become US Citizens. 

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Volunteer

Engaging community members, offering internships, and placement for AmeriCorps staff, to help our newest neighbors succeed.

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Latest Updates

Help Us Prepare to Meet the Needs of Afghan Evacuees!

All over the country, refugee resettlement agencies are beginning to welcome Afghan evacuees, many of whom are arriving little other than the clothing on their backs. Close to 1600 Afghans will be resettled in the State of Massachusetts. Here at JFS we are expecting to receive 150 evacuees, including a group of 60 who will resettle in Pittsfield.

Evacuees will need our immediate help with housing, food, and employment. We are mobilizing to meet the need – and we need you to join us as volunteers, donors, organizers, and advocates – to make sure they are resettled with compassion, resources, and a path to carve out a future here in Western Mass.

Please help us welcome Afghan Evacuees by making a generous donation to JFS. Your donations will go directly to assist Afghan evacuees joining our community.

JFS Distributed COVID Relief Funds to 148 Immigrant Households

JFS distributed nearly $128,000 to 148 households. Over $75,000 went directly to landlords for rental assistance, nearly $40,000 was paid to utility companies, and families also received assistance for technology to access school and training, as well as for food security and transportation. JFS is thrilled to be a link between The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and refugee and immigrant families, and thanks The Community Foundation for helping families during this critical time.

Psycho-Social Support Group for Nepali-Speaking Bhutanese Community Helps Foster Connections

JFS staff and lead facilitators Reeta Rana and Durga Giri met weekly with 24 members of the Springfield-area Bhutanese community. Facilitated in Nepali, participants met on Zoom to share their experiences during the pandemic. Covering topics ranging from fostering resiliency to practicing coping techniques, the nine week program provided an important outlet for participants to discuss mental health and find support.
The program had 100% attendance and graduation, which speaks to the talent of the facilitators and the need to unpack stress and trauma in the wake of the pandemic. Coordinator Durga Giri was proud of the turnout for the program, and that “finally [participants] were able to share their difficulties and hardship they went through, and share among other participants.”
Thank you to HIAS for funding this important program.

JFS Offers a Free Tag Sale for Refugee Families

On Saturday, June 26th, JFS held a free tag sale for refugee families. Our parking lot was filled with clothing, shoes and household items for the whole family. If families couldn’t find what they were looking for, our volunteers were standing by to search for items in our storage area–like an ironing board, or specific clothing items. Kids were thrilled by the selection of toys!
Caring Health Center was also on site providing clients with information about Covid-19 vaccines, SNAP benefits and more. JFS continues to build vaccine education into all program components–and is lucky to have a walk-in vaccine clinic just across the parking lot from our Lenox St office.
A huge thanks to our amazing JFS volunteers! Special thanks goes to Rebecca Steinberg for capping off her year of AmeriCorps by leading the tag sale, and we’re very pleased that she has now joined us as a full-time Employment Specialist after closing out a great and impactful AmeriCorps year.

Read Past Newsletters

How You Can Help

Help Welcome Afghan Evacuees

  • Help us fill our storerooms by purchasing items from our WISHLIST. Please designate delivery to JFS, 15 Lenox Street, Springfield, MA 01108, and add a gift receipt so that we can thank you! If you have any questions, contact Evan Bixby at e.bixby@jfswm.org, or call (413) 737-2601.
  • Housing is a primary focus. We are looking for affordable apartments, Airbnb or vacation homes, accessory dwelling units, and are even considering hosts that are willing to cohost a family in their homes.
  • Volunteer to help evacuees and SIVs successfully acclimate to their new community. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out an application here.
  • Welcome Afghans as a Faith-Based Group or Team. Host Organization Support Teams (HOSTs) organize to welcome and support newly arrived Afghan evacuees. To learn more, click here.
  • We are seeking pro bono legal assistance to help our new clients become asylees.
  • Help us expand our outreach to potential donors. Direct your neighbors and friends  looking for ways to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan to our website, and share our Facebook posts.

See how a family like yours is welcoming refugees.

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About Us

We provide exceptional social services, grounded in Jewish values, to support individuals and families from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.
Our Mission

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Ways to Give

In response to COVID-19, our offices are closed to the public. You can reach our staff by phone at 413-737-2601 or email info@jfswm.org.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Prevention: Multilingual Resources