It is with abundant gratitude that we thank our collaborative partner, the Holiday Dreams Foundation, led by founders and current JFS board member Jonathan Gerber and former JFS board member Leslie Gerber, for working with JFS to provide holidays gifts to client families in the Family Assistance and Immigrant Services programs!
One of our favorite Hanukkah traditions at JFS of Metrowest is partnering with the Holiday Dreams Foundation to bring joy and support to children and families who need it most. The Holiday Dreams Foundation works with JFS to collect wish lists from client families in our Family Assistance and Immigrant Services programs. Wish list forms encourage specificity, asking for a child’s hobbies, interests, and favorite toys, games, and TV shows. The forms also urge families to share educational (i.e., books and school supplies) and seasonal clothing needs.
Thanks to the Holiday Dreams Foundation’s generosity, volunteer shoppers go carefully through the wish lists, purchasing each item. Volunteers often go above and beyond, shopping as if it was for their own family, finding additional presents based on a child’s interests. For example, last year, a shopper received a wish list with several warm items. After completing the order, the volunteer continued shopping for the family, purchasing extra blankets, winter clothing, and new bedding that matched the child’s color and theme preferences.
Further, the program offers parents the “gift of giving.” JFS deliberately delivers items unwrapped, allowing parents to participate in the ritual of preparing their childrens’ gifts. One client, a mother of two, noted the program helped her return to her Jewish roots and connect her children to a meaningful holiday tradition.
We look forward to many more years of making holiday wishes come true!
Many families set aside one night of Hanukah to give gifts of tzedakah, reinforcing the value of helping others at a time when we celebrate with family and friends. This year, a generous JFS supporter is making that sentiment a community-wide opportunity by matching donations made during [insert dates]. Please join us in helping our community finish the calendar year in a position of strength by making a donation to JFS this Hanukah.
- Read previous JFS Hanukkah stories here.
- For volunteer opportunities, please Contact Gail Gregory, Manager of Volunteer Services and Community Engagement at ggregory@jfsmw.org