JFS News Archive

As we approach cooler fall weather, most of us are fortunate to be returning to a life that looks pretty normal – filled with family, friends, school, and social activities. But for many of our clients at Jewish Family Services, the long-term effects of the pandemic are still very real -- leaving them struggling to afford food and basic necessities, dealing with isolation and mental health ... read more

Food insecurity in the Kansas City area affects almost 1 in 5 families. But more families are turning to food pantries because of rising inflation that is straining household budgets. With higher prices for housing, gas and especially food, many families are truly struggling to put food on their table. At the same time, food pantries like JFS are trying to meet these needs while coping with ... read more

Courtney Landy was a relative newcomer to the Kansas City area in 2017 when she first learned about Jewish Family Services (JFS) at its annual trivia Bash.  “I am an avid trivia player so, it was a great opportunity to learn about the great work JFS does and meet other young professionals in the area,” Landy said. “While I sadly did not prove triumphant that night, I did meet some amazing ... read more

JFS and volunteers greeted guests with kindness and helped connect them to local resources, including access to fresh produce and tips for energy savings at our first KesherMobile event on July 7 at Evergy Connect, near the 18th & Vine District in Kansas City, MO. Thank you to all the wonderful community partners who joined us at our first pilot including Evergy, Kanbe’s Markets, Harvesters KC ... read more

“May you live until 120" is a traditional Jewish blessing in remembrance of Moses’ long life. Jewish Family Services is proud to celebrate the achievement of serving the community for 120 years. It seems surreal, but JFS has served the greater Kansas City community for longer than cars have been on roads or before airplanes first flew in the sky. Thanks to the dedication of our supporters, ... read more

Please join Jewish Family Services’ Priya program for an engaging, interactive discussion about the future of women’s health from the Jewish perspective. This special event will be held online at 6:30 p.m. on July 20, 2022. Our expert panel will discuss fertility treatment, women’s healthcare and rights in the wake of Roe v Wade being overturned. Hear the perspectives of a local doctor, ... read more

Noah Slabotsky is an energetic guy who puts his passion into whatever he does, whether it’s work, play or volunteering for his community. Back in high school at Blue Valley North, you could find him playing basketball and tennis. Slabotsky took to the drums accompanying his older brother Danny, the guitarist of the family. “I kept a mediocre beat on the drums,” said Slabotsky with a ... read more

For 55 years, Doctor Ed and Phyllis Belzer have called Kansas City their home. “We came to Kansas City in 1967 from Omaha to begin my pediatric practice,” said Doctor Ed Belzer. The Belzers began volunteering for Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City (JFSKC) more than ten years ago. They started as JET Express drivers and transferred over to the JFSKC Food Pantry, where they have ... read more

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month. To commemorate this special month, JFS is honoring ALL of our dedicated and invaluable volunteers! “Volunteers have become the lifeblood of all JFS programs. We are so fortunate to have so many amazing volunteers without whom, we could not have our personal pantry service or have the JET Express program at all,” said Don Goldman, Jewish Family Services ... read more

AdventHealth Shawnee Mission has named Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City one of 11 beneficiaries of its professional golf tournament’s matching gift program: Play It Forward. Play It Forward supports 501©(3) organizations in the Kansas City community by providing a platform to raise new money and gain awareness through their causes. This initiative allows the nonprofits to receive ... read more