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The October 7th massacre by Hamas in Israel and the skyrocketing incidents of antisemitism that has followed affects many in our community. WJCS, along with our partners UJA-Federation of NY, Ohel, The Jewish Board of Family and Children Services, and Common Point Queens, are here to assist you. If you or someone you know, including those who are here from Israel, are in need of emotional support and/or case management, please fill out this form and someone will contact you.
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Our WJCS Shelanu participants have been busy! They've gone bowling, made trips to sports games, celebrated Succot and Thanksgiving together, visited their talented artist friend, David Stahl, at his studio, and are enjoying each other's companionship as well as support from the WJCS team. Shelanu is a program which provides social connection for young Jewish adults, ages 18-35, with autism spectrum disorders.
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At our New Rochelle Parent-Child Center, children and parents engage in art, singing, reading, building, and other fun activities. The theme for the day pictured below was "All About Us." It celebrated the diversity that enriches our community,
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Thank you to all our donors who contributed to making our Annual Have a Heart for the Holidays Drive a success. A special thanks to Linda Plattus and Carol Richards Mermey, who hosted beautiful luncheons to support the drive. We're so grateful to our many supporters, including Flames of Giving, Cuddy & Feder, Congregation Emanu-El, and The Leffell School. Because of your generosity, we distributed toys to young children and gift cards to older youth, bringing smiles to over 1,000 children from under-resourced communities in Westchester.
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WJCS staff is out and about sharing information about our programs to residents in our community. The WJCS Crime Victims Advocacy & Support Services Program (CVASSP) staff took part in Hastings Pride, Rye Town Park Pride, ADA 33rd Anniversary Celebration, Mount Vernon National Night Out, Jewish Heritage Festival, Office of Victim Services (OVS) Conference, and Yonkers Palisades Towers.
Wilhelmina Harris, Coordinator of WJCS Peer Services, and Justina Kenyon and Shana Henry, WJCS Peer Specialists, represented WJCS at the YWCA's Community Health and Wellness Fair in Yonkers. Mayor Mike Spano joined the kids for games and activities!
WJCS joined the town of Cortlandt at the first Military and Veteran Family Day at Charles Cook Pool.. We hosted a table and provided resources, answered questions, and increased awareness about the importance of mental health support services for our military community.
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WJCS has launched a new program called Inclure in partnership with the harris project. We bring together high school youth so they can enjoy supportive, social, recreational, and wellness activities in a safe, substance-free space. Inclure is made possible by the NYS Legislature and NYS Office of Mental Health. Additional support is provided by the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health. Stephanie Marquesano, the founder and president of the harris project (below, left) and Joan Vogt, LMSW, a clinician at WJCS's Peekskill clinic, were invited to the White House as part of National Recovery Month in September.
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Celebrating holidays with Holocaust survivors living in Westchester is always special and meaningful. More than 90 Holocaust Survivors and their relatives and aides celebrated Sukkot at WJCS's Holocaust Survivor Luncheon hosted at Westchester Reform Temple. We recently gathered again for a joyous Hanukkah celebration. As always music, dancing, and delicious food were part of the festivities. Thank you to our partners, UJA Federation-NY, Claims Conference Against Germany, and Westchester Reform Temple for joining with us to create these momentous occasions.
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WJCS Center Lane has been busy! We hosted a Halloween LGBTQIA+ party and held a fabulously successful Youth Pride event, called Trunk or Treat, in October to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month. Our Gender Euphoria Clothing Swap, funded by Westchester Community Foundation, was enjoyed with great enthusiasm!
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They say "it takes a village." Thank you to our wonderful community and corporate partners in joining in our mission to help our Westchester neighbors overcome their challenges and regain their strength for a better future. |
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Congratulations to Dorothy Thompson, Assistant Director of the WJCS ParentChild+ Home Visiting Program, who recently graduated from the Non-Profit Westchester Emerging Leaders program, Dorothy was new to working in Westchester when she started working at WJCS in October 2022. "I appreciate that NPW connected me with an intentional, supportive, and collaborative community who are all working for the betterment of Westchester," she said.
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Check out our video below, highlighting our vast array of programs and services to help people of all ages and backgrounds in Westchester.
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WJCS Programs & Services: Transforming Lives Together
We help people in need overcome life’s challenges through our 100+ WJCS programs & services in Westchester County!
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