Summer Happenings at WJCS! |
Catch Up on the Season’s Highlights and Happenings |
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WJCS ParentChild+ of Yonkers families celebrated the end of their program year at a picnic filled with singing, dancing, and arts and crafts. A big special thank you to the WJCS NextGen Council for their support in making this picnic possible, WJCS Board Member Steven Beckman for leading a sing-a-long with his acoustic guitar, and Made with Love Studio of Scarsdale for supplying a popsicle-themed craft! (left)
WJCS NextGen volunteers packed 60 Summer Sunshine Kit tote bags filled with bubbles, sunglasses, sunscreen and more, for families participating in for families participating in the ParentChild+ program of Yonkers that were distributed at their end-of-year picnic celebration! (right)
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Over 30 Mastercard employees gathered at their Headquarters in Purchase to donate and assemble 60+ Summer Kits that will be distributed to families in our WJCS Early Childhood Programs. The kits included beautifully decorated tote bags, sunscreen, beach towels, bubbles, pails and shovels, playdoh, and other outdoor activities for children to enjoy!
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Families from Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester’s ECC (a WJCS Project SEED Site) donated new pajamas and age-appropriate books in both English and Spanish for children and families served by WJCS Early Childhood programs, including ParentChild+ and our Early Childhood Centers in Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and Yonkers.
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WJCS hosted its 6th Annual Holocaust Survivor Day Luncheon at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale in partnership with KAVOD and Concerts in Motion. The event brought together nearly 50 Holocaust Survivors and 20 Second Generation Survivors living in the Westchester community, along with their family members and caregivers, to celebrate and honor their lives, resilience, strength, and, legacy.
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We were proud to host a special reception celebrating our newly launched Survivors Among Us Exhibit, a photographic and storytelling project honoring Holocaust Survivors living in Westchester County. In attendance were community leaders, donors, supporters, and many of the Survivors featured in the exhibit along with their family members. Guests had the opportunity to hear reflections from participants and celebrate the extraordinary strength and perseverance of those whose stories are captured within it.
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WJCS Shelanu & Supper Club participants have been busy, from celebrating at their first-ever carnival and enjoying a BBQ in the park, members have enjoyed coming together for great food, games, prizes, and lots of fun! (left)
In partnership with Shames JCC on the Hudson and The Butler Foundation, WJCS Wellness Program members enjoyed a night of baking key lime pie with a group of 15 participants. (right) |
WJCS Center Lane's Annual 2026 Prom for youth and allies was a huge success! Participants danced the night away and enjoyed a delicious dinner, crafts, games, and most importantly, community. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and supported our youth. |
WJCS POINT members performed in a sold out production of The Wizard of Oz for their annual Theater for Action at the Play Group Theatre! (above) POINT participants were visited by police officers and K9 officer Leo from the City White Plains Department of Public Safety. (below)
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Our partners at Deloitte celebrated their Annual Impact Day at WJCS's Yonkers site. Participants painted our space and hosted a pop-up food pantry while learning about the critical services WJCS provides for our Westchester community!
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WJCS Board President William Shirley and WJCS NextGen Council Leaders Amanda & Steven Beckman lead a Family Volunteer Day to create beautiful planters for all 12 of our Community Residences throughout Westchester. It was such a meaningful intergenerational volunteer project, bringing together WJCS leadership of all ages to spread joy, brighten our residences, and create something beautiful for the clients we serve!
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WJCS Chief Psychologist & Director of the WJCS Trager Lemp Center for Trauma and Resilience Liane Nelson, Ph.D. was honored at Westchester Magazine's Healthcare Heroes 2026 Luncheon. |
WJCS staff members attended the City of Yonkers' 2026 Pride Festival to share resources for the LGBTQ+ community as well as our wide range of services available for Westchester residents of all ages and backgrounds. |
WJCS Director of Engagement & Culture Stephan Spilkowitz represented us on Capitol Hill and moderated a congressional briefing with Representative Mike Lawler on The Professional Student Degree Act. Spilkowitz met with members from the offices of Congressman George Latimer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and Representative Andrew Garbarino to discuss this critical issue while also advocating for expanded funding of the Crime Victims Fund, Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and modernization of the SSI Savings. These issues impact trauma survivors, people with disabilities, and nonprofit organizations.
This advocacy effort was organized by our partners at The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, bringing together 41 nonprofit leaders from 17 states who met with nearly 100 congressional offices. We are so proud to represent Westchester and be part of this nationwide network which serves over 2 million people from all backgrounds! |
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WJCS staff from all over the agency kicked off summer at Ridge Road Park in Hartsdale for their Annual 2026 Staff BBQ & Picnic! The day was filled with massages from professional masseuses, delicious food, ice cream truck, crafting, field day games, and raffle prizes including beach day baskets to bonus PTO days. What a well-deserved day of great food, fun, and connection! |
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| We are so proud that WJCS has been recognized as a Top Workplace in New York 2026 from City & State Magazine for a second year in a row! |
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SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY IN YONKERS |
WJCS affiliate, Family Service Society of Yonkers (FSSY), is looking for volunteers of all ages to join the Summer Reading Buddies program in Yonkers. More than 350 children are hoping to be connected with a volunteer. This is a great opportunity to do service this summer and make a difference in a child's life.
Volunteers do not need to commit to the whole summer. They can sign up for one day, both days, or whichever dates work for their schedule. If they have vacation planned or need to miss a week, that is completely fine. We are grateful for any time they are able to give!
To learn more, please contact FSSY Volunteer Recruitment Manager Alexis Heck at 914-200-3886; AHeck@fssy.org. |
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Our WJCS 2026 Back-to-School Drive is in full swing! Help us to provide children, youth, and families with the tools they need to succeed. If you wish to support, please click here to make a donation.
WJCS is grateful for our partnership with UJA Federation of New York and Supplies for Success, which provide over 300 backpacks for our clients. |
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Contact Us
Westchester Jewish Community Services
845 N Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603
914-761-0600
www.wjcs.com
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| Strengthening Lives. Shaping Futures. |
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