Volunteer News from the Desk of Dana Shapiro

Quarterly Newsletter: January 2026

Dear Volunteer Community,

By now you have probably heard the news that as of Jan. 1, Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis and Jewish Family Service of St. Paul are now operating as one – Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minnesota (JFCS)! This new chapter gives us the chance to grow our impact and engage more people in meaningful ways, while staying rooted in the relationships and values that have always guided our work. We’re especially excited to welcome 300 volunteers from JFS to our community – there are so many ways for you to get involved, connect with others, and make a difference alongside our now 1,200+ volunteers. 

The start of the year often invites some reflection – especially during a challenging season. Jewish tradition reminds us that community is both our strength and our responsibility, and I see that every day in the care, commitment, and hope our volunteers bring to JFCS and to one another. Thank you for all that you do! And if things are feeling heavy right now, please know that you are not alone in this - we're here for you and you're welcome to reach out anytime.

Click here to read the rest of Dana's column.

In this edition:

• Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Heidi Gedis-Grimsby
• Current volunteer needs: Can you help?
• Program recaps: Annual Benefit and Hag Sameach
• JFCS tribute cards

I am here to help support you in your volunteer engagement at JFCS, so feel free to reach out at any point if there's anything I can do to help!

L'shalom,

Dana Shapiro

Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager

dshapiro@jfcsmn.org | 952-417-2112 | www.jfcsmn.org/volunteering/



VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: MEET HEIDI GEDIS-GRIMSBY

Our January volunteer spotlight features Heidi Gedis-Grimsby, whose longstanding dedication to JFCS has helped shape key community initiatives, from the Annual Benefit to Hag Sameach. Through her leadership and service, Heidi exemplifies the spirit and impact volunteers bring to our work every day. Get to know her story and what inspires her to give back.

Click here to read Heidi's full spotlight

Heidi's advice to someone thinking of volunteering with JFCS: Why are you waiting?! Just step in and do something to help others! It's amazing how small your own problems become when you are helping alleviate problems for others.

CURRENT VOLUNTEER NEEDS: CAN YOU HELP?

Join us for a Puppy Parade

Sunday, Feb. 22, 1-2:30 p.m.

Sholom West Campus, St. Louis Park

Meeting details will be shared with registered participants.

JFCS is teaming up with Sholom Senior Living to bring joy and pet therapy to older adults living at Ackerberg Sholom West Camps in St. Louis Park. This is a family-friendly event. Bring your pup (all sizes welcome!) and sign up (even if you don't have a dog) to join us for an afternoon of conversation and community.

Learn more and register here

Connecting with older adults in the community

We are seeing a growing number of requests for these volunteer services to support older adults in our community currently enrolled in JFCS's Senior Services programs and we appreciate your consideration and sharing this with others who may be interested. It is important that volunteers in these roles are good with holding confidentiality and boundaries, and have the ability to listen and relate to people in a warm and friendly manner.

Household Financial Management - Offer 1:1 assistance on a regular basis to adults 60+ who need help managing their finances, including managing budgets, bills, organizing mail, and handling financial documents. Clients must be engaged in the process and cognitively able to partner with the volunteer. Read the job description here.

Outreach Visiting - Provide 1:1 social connection and emotional support at least twice a month to adults 60+ who are socially isolated or have other needs. Visits take place at the individual's home and depending on circumstances, may also take place driving them around town. Choose activities you both enjoy such as visiting, reading, playing games in their home, having coffee, lunch, seeing a movie, etc. Read the job description here.

Can you help fulfill one of these client needs? Respond back and submit volunteer application here.

Volunteer with Hag Sameach leading up to Passover

Each year, JFCS provides individuals and families in need with a gift bag of ritual Passover foods and other meaningful items to help celebrate this holiday. As part of JFCS' Hag Sameach (Happy Holidays) program, this gift is often an individual's or family's only opportunity to obtain the ritual items to celebrate the rich traditions of Passover. Please consider volunteering to deliver Passover gift packages as a Delivery Visitor or Delivery Drop Off volunteer in late March!

Learn more and sign up here

HAG SAMEACH PROGRAM RECAP

JFCS' Hag Sameach (Happy Holidays) 2025 Winter Holidays program was an amazing success! In total, we provided personalized holiday packages for 895 people! This included: 

• 257 family referrals, with 649 individuals  
• 46 individuals from JFCS' Caring Connections program serving Jewish adults with disabilities
• 5 hospitals for 46 individuals  
• 9 Memory Café referrals for 15 individuals. Our Memory Café program that serves people with memory loss and their caregivers.
• 112 self referrals for 139 individuals  
• 19 Shamash Adopt-A-Family experiences 

Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers (individuals and groups of all ages) who helped make this year a success, as well as all the program’s donors. We couldn’t do it without you! Hag Sameach offers assistance with gifts and essential items year-round, making donations vital all year. Additionally, volunteer opportunities are available throughout the year.

Click here to learn about the many ways you can engage with Hag Sameach this year.

ANNUAL BENEFIT RECAP

An exciting and inspiring evening was had by all at the JFCS 37^th Annual Benefit on Dec. 6, 2025, at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest. There were new food options, a bourbon tasting, a fun raffle, and live music from the 70’s Magic Sunshine Band.

The program included remarks from the Annual Benefit Co-Chairs, Heidi Gedis-Grimsby and Sonia Ungerman, Board President Howard Hoffman, and JFCS CEO Judy Halper. This year’s Friends of the Family Award honored Judy Halper, recognizing her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthening families, building community, and fostering Tikkun Olam, as well as in celebration of her retirement at the end of 2025. The award acknowledged her remarkable tenure and lasting impact on JFCS. Through the Fund-a-Need, generous supporters raised significant dollars for the JFCS Innovation Fund, providing flexible resources that allow JFCS to respond quickly to emerging needs, strengthen existing programs, and ensure we are Here for all. Always.

JFCS is grateful to our dedicated volunteers who play a crucial role in making this Benefit successful by contributing time, skill, and passion. This year, the BBYO group selling raffle tickets created excitement and much success. 



The JFCS 37^th Annual Benefit raised $819,000 and had over 515 people in attendance.

Click here to watch the Fund-A-Need video from Dec. 6.

Send a thoughtful tribute with a JFCS Card

JFCS tribute cards are a simple and meaningful way to mark life's special moments - celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or graduation; honor a loved one's memory; send well wishes; express gratitude; or recognize a special accomplishment.

Donations of any amount are welcome. You can choose to direct your gift to a specific JFCS program or fund, or have it go where it's most needed.

Click here to learn more about tribute cards and let JFCS send a card on your behalf.