The Federation’s Annual Campaign is the lifeline of our Jewish community, supporting a network of local, national and international agencies that provide a wide variety of educational and social services for those in need. From feeding the hungry to helping the unemployed, from supporting families in crisis to funding Jewish education and Israel experiences, the Federation is focused on addressing the most pressing issues facing the community. Even during these difficult economic times, when the Federation’s highest priority is helping people in financial crisis feed their families, pay their rent and get back on their feet, the Federation continues to ensure that the programs and institutions that enrich Jewish life in Western Massachusetts, in Israel, and around the world, remain vibrant and strong.
For more than 85 years, the Jewish Federation has been raising funds to meet the ongoing needs of the community. The Federation offers a wide array of programs for all ages, including:
- Rachel’s Table, which works to alleviate hunger and reduce food waste in our local area;
- The Anna P. Housen Israel Desk, which promotes and educates our community about Israeli society and culture, with the goal of strengthening our ties and commitment to the Jewish homeland;
- PJ Library
- Try A Synagogue, a program to encourage membership in the three local synagogues by offering new members a greatly reduced membership rate
The mission of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, as the Pioneer Valley’s central Jewish communal organization, is to ensure the continuity and well-being of a vibrant Jewish community in the Pioneer Valley, Israel, and the world. Guided by the values of Torah (Jewish learning), klal yisrael (the responsibility of each Jew for another), tikkun olan (repairing the world), and tzedakah (justice and philanthropy), the Federation, together with its local and worldwide partners, educates and advocates for and supports Jews locally, nationally, and internationally, by: planning and evaluating strategically, raising and allocating funds, and developing, inspiring and providing leadership.
Name of Organization:Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts
Number of Paid Staff:6 ft, 5 pt
Number of Volunteers:350
Total Organizational Expenses:$3,461,960
% of Organizational Overhead Expenses:13%
One gift to the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts touches so many lives! For more than 85 years, the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts has been raising funds to meet the ongoing needs of the community. The Federation funds and supports a community-wide network of organizations that care for people in need in Western Massachusetts, in Israel, and in 70 countries around the world, and nurtures and sustains the Jewish community today and for future generations. From feeding the hungry to helping the unemployed, from supporting families in financial crisis to funding Jewish education and Israel experiences, the Federation is focused on addressing the most pressing issues facing our community. Even during these difficult economic times, when the Federation’s highest priority is helping people in financial crisis feed their families, pay their rent and get back on their feet, the Federation continues to ensure that the programs and institutions that enrich Jewish life remain vibrant and strong.
This is the text of a thank-you card that was received by one of our beneficiary agencies:
Dear Amy,
I would like to thank the Jewish Family Service for helping me through a very difficult time. I was without any resources when I called you, and you so generously sent me a $250 gas card, which helped me to get to and from Boston for doctors’ appointments. Since then, I have received help via the Social Security System, thank G-d. It is comforting to know that the Jewish community is still there to lend support when needed. I had lost faith in my Jewish brothers and sisters for a long time. I hope someday to be on the giving end again.
B’Shalom,
Health
Hunger & Nutrition
Interfaith
Poverty
Special Needs
Spirituality
There are several different volunteer opportunities for teens to get involved with Federation. The Federation has several annual events, including Super Sunday, which benefit from teen involvement. Super Sunday is the Federation’s annual phone-a-thon, and teens volunteer to make phone calls to donors to ask for their support, provide babysitting services on that day for volunteers, and serve as volunteer “runners”, performing a variety of duties to ensure that the event runs smoothly.
In addition, Rachel’s Table, one of the Federation’s programs, offers a gleaning program for teens to rescue thousands of pounds of nutritious produce from local farms. The volunteers harvest the produce and bring it to agencies that feed the homeless and hungry, directly helping those in need. Rachel’s Table has its own Teen Board, whose goal is to educate young people about issues of hunger and poverty and to involve them in being part of the solution through collecting food, raising money, and advocating for issues regarding hunger.
Name:Deborah Peskin
Title:Communications & Women’s Philanthropy Director
Address:1160 Dickinson Street Springfield, MA 01108
Telephone:413) 737-4313
Email:dpeskin@jewishwesternmass.org
Website:www.jewishwesternmass.org