By Miriam Graham • J-Pride Coordinator
Here we sit at the precipice of a new year. Its beginnings are subtle, but bodily felt; a shift in the weather, the edge of Pesach (Passover), the flowing of maple sap, the anniversary of the first time we were told to stay home. We are moving into a seas[...]
By Leah Persky, PhD & Certified Family Life Educator • Family Life Education Manager
I don’t think I have ever spent so much time in my house, and I know this is true for so many of us. The cleaning, cooking, dishes, laundry….did I say dishes? It has been a strange mix of emotions on[...]
Gift program makes holidays brighter for people of all ages
With needs at an all-time high, and the extra challenge of operating while needing to follow COVID safety protocols, JFCS’ Hag Sameach program achieved what is arguably its most successful year yet in 2020!
More than 1,040 indi[...]
By Leah Persky, PhD & Certified Family Life Educator • Family Life Education Manager
This year has been one of the hardest times in recent memory for millions of Americans and people across the globe. The challenges we have faced and will continue to face in the months ahead are almo[...]
With food insecurity at record-high levels in the Twin Cities, JFCS has added to its food security services by fighting hunger in new ways this fall. These efforts include securing food donations, emergency food box deliveries, outreach to local food shelves and legislative advocacy plans. &n[...]
Embracing winter sports, indoor hobbies and hygge
By Natalie Quiring-Oleson, MSW, LICSW • JFCS Counselor
It seems fall is coming closer to an end, with patches of snow remaining in yards reminding us of the snowstorms of October. Temperatures have fallen considerably, which means yet ag[...]
By Leah Persky, PhD & Certified Family Life Educator • Family Life Education Manager
As I look back to March, at the beginning of the pandemic, it really hits me just how many challenging and different kinds of decisions parents and families have had to make over the past six months. When[...]
Finding motivation during the 'dog days of summer'
Have you noticed that the “dog days of summer” are here? That’s an old expression meant to identify how many of us begin to feel as summer slowly simmers towards fall. When I was a college kid working at summer camp, I remember the “[...]
By Leah Persky, PhD & Certified Family Life Educator • Family Life Education Manager
What are parents dealing with lately? Well, a lot! They are agonizing over questions of safety; childcare; figuring out how best to engage in physical distancing this summer; thinking about how we can educ[...]
Most of us are familiar with the famous line from Confucius that says, “May you live in interesting times.” How very true for what has become known as “The time of COVID.” One day, we will look back and recall how our “normal” lives were suspended. We might also feel some disbelief at t[...]