Jewish Family Service of Tidewater

“Leave the world in a better place than how you found it.” This core tenet of Judaism guides Jewish Family Service of Tidewater (JFS), a nonprofit dedicated to helping people in need in Hampton Roads. 

The JFS spectrum of services includes guardianship, counseling, home-delivered meals, a food pantry, transportation, and support for Holocaust survivors.

Despite its name, JFS is not a religious organization. “We’re founded in Jewish principles and values, but you do not have to be Jewish in order to participate in any of our programming,” says Brooke Rush, director of development at JFS.

The largest of its programs, Personal Affairs Management, was created to prevent the exploitation of elderly and vulnerable adults in need of a guardian or conservator. “We are what’s called a guardian of last resort, which means that every other option has been exhausted, and a person doesn’t have family to care for them,” Brooke says. “They are deemed by the court to be incapacitated, and our agency is called to be their guardian.” 

Case managers from JFS serve as many as 2,000 clients statewide. Most are elderly, and many have some type of disability. “Our case managers become their family and know everything about them the way they would about their own grandmothers,” Brooke says.

JFS held a Challah Bake where people of all ages helped bake challah rolls that were delivered to seniors in assisted living during Rosh Hashanah. 

JFS offers counseling services on a sliding fee schedule. All are certified trauma counselors and typically help clients navigate life after a loss. In addition, JFS and another local nonprofit partner offer therapy for children and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one. That program is called Peace by Piece.

Jewish Family Service was celebrated during a Virginia Beach City Council meeting for their impactful service throughout Hampton Roads. Mayor Bobby Dyer is at far left.

“It’s a beautiful program,” Brooke says. “They just celebrated their 25th anniversary last year and had some of the children who aged out of it return to speak about the positive impact on their lives.” 

The JFS food pantry in Virginia Beach is open to community members on Tuesdays and Thursdays for one hour beginning at 10 AM. JFS runs that service in partnership with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. The pantry contains a kosher section for those with dietary restrictions.

“We also do some Jewish outreach,” Brooke says, referring to gift bags put together for Passover, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, and Rosh Hashanah. These holiday-themed bags go to Jewish seniors who reside in assisted living or other care facilities. Depending on the occasion, the bags include honey, small dreidels, and Hanukkah cookies. 

Community donations are vital for JFS to continue its mission. Financial donations are appreciated. Nonperishable food and cleaning items stock the food pantry. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals and bags and provide transportation. “Anyone who can support us in any type of way is just so meaningful and so impactful,” Brooke says. “You can see your community dollars at work.”  

Brooke says JFS is grateful for support from TowneBank and their vice president and private banker Meagan Parker. “TowneBank has been such an amazing partner and steward of our client information and our client needs,” Brooke says. “It’s meaningful to have TowneBank as a sponsor and partner. It’s great to be tied to a business that is so well known and has such a great reputation in the community.” 

The history of JFS dates back to 1902 when nine women in Norfolk established the Hebrew Ladies Charity Society to care for people in the community who had an unmet need. Jewish Family Service has stayed true to that original mission and became incorporated in 1946. 

“Everything we do goes back to those nine women and their mission to make sure their neighbors had everything that they needed,” Brooke says. “They provided care and compassion, clothing, aid, and shelter, and they provided hope for people.” 

For more information, visit JFSHamptonRoads.org.

Jewish Family Service of Tidewater volunteers help keep the JFS food pantry stocked with nutritious items for the whole family.